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The Complete Flash Gordon Library #1
Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo: Sundays 1934-37
Beginning the complete library of the greatest science fiction hero of all time.
Volume One will spotlight the work of Alex Raymond, legendary for some of the finest storytelling of the 20th century. Raymond illustrated the Sunday strips until 1944; with his clear and much-imitated style forming the original aesthetic of the most popular and easily recognised science fiction hero for decades to come.
Introducing Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, Dr. Hans Zarkov, and Ming the Merciless, this volume will catapult readers to the deadly planet Mongo.
These are the strips that influenced George Lucas to create Star Wars, and which illustrator Al Williamson said were "the reason I became an artist."
Volume One will spotlight the work of Alex Raymond, legendary for some of the finest storytelling of the 20th century. Raymond illustrated the Sunday strips until 1944; with his clear and much-imitated style forming the original aesthetic of the most popular and easily recognised science fiction hero for decades to come.
Introducing Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, Dr. Hans Zarkov, and Ming the Merciless, this volume will catapult readers to the deadly planet Mongo.
These are the strips that influenced George Lucas to create Star Wars, and which illustrator Al Williamson said were "the reason I became an artist."
206 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2012
12 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
About the author
Alex Raymond
719 books39 followersAlexander Gillespie Raymond was an American comic strip artist, best known for creating the comic Flash Gordon in 1934. The serial hit the silver screen three years later with Buster Crabbe and Jean Rogers as the leading players. Other strips he drew include Secret Agent X-9, Rip Kirby, Jungle Jim, Tim Tyler's Luck, and Tillie the Toiler. Alex Raymond received a Reuben Award from the National Cartoonists Society in 1949 for his work on Rip Kirby.
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Alex Raymond attended Iona Prep on a scholarship and played on the Gaels' football team. He joined the US Marines Corp in 1944 and served in the Pacific theatre during World War II.
His realistic style and skillful use of "feathering" (a shading technique in which a soft series of parallel lines helps to suggest the contour of an object) has continued to be an inspiration for generations of cartoonists.
Raymond was killed in an automobile accident in Westport, Connecticut while driving with fellow cartoonist Stan Drake, aged 46, and is buried in St. John's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Darien, Connecticut.
During the accident which led to his untimely demise, he was said to have remarked (by the surviving passenger of the accident) on the fact that a pencil on the dashboard seemed to be floating in relation to the plummet of the vehicle.
He was the great-uncle of actors Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon.
Born in New Rochelle, New York, Alex Raymond attended Iona Prep on a scholarship and played on the Gaels' football team. He joined the US Marines Corp in 1944 and served in the Pacific theatre during World War II.
His realistic style and skillful use of "feathering" (a shading technique in which a soft series of parallel lines helps to suggest the contour of an object) has continued to be an inspiration for generations of cartoonists.
Raymond was killed in an automobile accident in Westport, Connecticut while driving with fellow cartoonist Stan Drake, aged 46, and is buried in St. John's Roman Catholic Cemetery in Darien, Connecticut.
During the accident which led to his untimely demise, he was said to have remarked (by the surviving passenger of the accident) on the fact that a pencil on the dashboard seemed to be floating in relation to the plummet of the vehicle.
He was the great-uncle of actors Matt Dillon and Kevin Dillon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 14, 2022
Flash Gordon: On Planet Mongo collects the Sunday strips from 1934 to 1937.
I'm passingly familiar with Flash Gordon from the cartoon when I was a wee fellow and the Defenders of the Earth cartoon when I was slightly less wee. I've been trying to read more of the revered comic strips and threw this on my Christmas list because I'm allegedly hard to buy for.
So a comet, or more correctly, a rogue planet is headed for Earth. Flash Gordon, his soon to be girlfriend Dale Arden, and Doctor Zarkov board a rocket and find themselves on Planet Mongo and at odds with its ruler, Ming the Merciless.
The story is a Planetary Romance in the old sense, a never ending series of adventures mixing medieval weapons, rayguns, and monsters. Flash goes from one battle to the next, kicking ass and taking names, and protecting his main squeeze Dale from all the alien bad guys who want to marry her. The stories are a little repetitive but Alex Raymond probably didn't intend for me to read three years worth of strips in a week.
The art is the star of the show here, no mistake about it. I knew Alex Raymond by reputation but had no idea he was this skilled. His artistic footprints are visible even on today's comics. Once the strip gets going, the artwork plateaus into a style I see reflected later in Alex Toth, Russ Manning, Wally Wood, and a lot of other greats from the EC era and beyond.
Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo is an eye opening look at a Golden Age great. Four out of five stars.
I'm passingly familiar with Flash Gordon from the cartoon when I was a wee fellow and the Defenders of the Earth cartoon when I was slightly less wee. I've been trying to read more of the revered comic strips and threw this on my Christmas list because I'm allegedly hard to buy for.
So a comet, or more correctly, a rogue planet is headed for Earth. Flash Gordon, his soon to be girlfriend Dale Arden, and Doctor Zarkov board a rocket and find themselves on Planet Mongo and at odds with its ruler, Ming the Merciless.
The story is a Planetary Romance in the old sense, a never ending series of adventures mixing medieval weapons, rayguns, and monsters. Flash goes from one battle to the next, kicking ass and taking names, and protecting his main squeeze Dale from all the alien bad guys who want to marry her. The stories are a little repetitive but Alex Raymond probably didn't intend for me to read three years worth of strips in a week.
The art is the star of the show here, no mistake about it. I knew Alex Raymond by reputation but had no idea he was this skilled. His artistic footprints are visible even on today's comics. Once the strip gets going, the artwork plateaus into a style I see reflected later in Alex Toth, Russ Manning, Wally Wood, and a lot of other greats from the EC era and beyond.
Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo is an eye opening look at a Golden Age great. Four out of five stars.
December 10, 2021
Releer los primeros comics de Flash Gordon muchos años después de mi adolescencia ha sido una experiencia curiosa. Por un lado, me ha servido para desmitificarlos en cierta medida, porque el recuerdo que tenía de ellos era bastante idealizado. Tengo que decir que el apartado gráfico me sigue pareciendo bastante bueno: los dibujos son magníficos y muy atrayentes. Otra cosa es el argumento. Ahora me ha parecido absolutamente delirante, con cada giro de la trama más absurdo e inverosímil que el anterior, con unos villanos que parecen tontos de remate, con personajes que pasan de enemigos a amigos de Flash Gordon por motivos absolutamente ridículos (a veces incluso sin motivo aparente), con todas las chicas cayendo enamoradas de él nada más verlo, con cantidad de cosas sacadas de la manga...
Aun con todo, hay que tener en cuenta que estos comics se iniciaron en 1934, que su autor demuestra una imaginación desbordante, que han sido precursores e inspiradores de muchos otros comics y películas, que Flash Gordon es un personaje que forma parte del imaginario colectivo de más de una generación... y, qué demonios, que he disfrutado volviendo a leer sus aventuras. Pese a todos los defectos del argumento y de los personajes, la verdad es que he pasado un buen rato con este primer tomo, y tengo intención de continuar releyendo los siguientes.
Aun con todo, hay que tener en cuenta que estos comics se iniciaron en 1934, que su autor demuestra una imaginación desbordante, que han sido precursores e inspiradores de muchos otros comics y películas, que Flash Gordon es un personaje que forma parte del imaginario colectivo de más de una generación... y, qué demonios, que he disfrutado volviendo a leer sus aventuras. Pese a todos los defectos del argumento y de los personajes, la verdad es que he pasado un buen rato con este primer tomo, y tengo intención de continuar releyendo los siguientes.
August 15, 2024
Gran iniciativa de Salvat para dar a conocer por solo 2’99€ las Newspaper Strips (tiras de prensa) de "Flash Gordon", una space opera fantacientífica creada en 1934 por Alex Raymond, autor completo, que luego pasaría a ser solo dibujante con la llegada de Don Moore en el verano de 1935.
Salvat ha reeditado el material elaborado por la editorial Titan books. Lástima que se vean muchas viñetas con el coloreado algo pixelado, pero aún así se disfruta en muchas páginas el magnífico dibujo de Raymond. Este último es, sin ninguna duda, junto a Harold Foster y Esteban Maroto, mi dibujante clásico favorito.
La otra pega es que el argumento es algo simplón, ya que hay numerosos estereotipos (el guaperas que se mete en líos, el científico listo y loco, la bella damisela en apuros, el villano oriental de turno, etc), y un uso excesivo de la misma estructura narrativa de “persecución del enemigo”, “me atrapan o bien cogen a mi chica”, “guerreo o me/la libero”, “aparición amigos que me ayudan/enemigos que me traicionan”, y así se van repitiendo sus aventuras.
Lo bueno a destacar es el hecho de que Flash se topa con aliados inesperados de otras tribus y razas distintas a la terrícola, el uso de artefactos e inventos “sofisticados” del Dr Zarkov, y la evolución evidente del dibujo de Raymond, de más arcaico a más detallado pues, aparte de dibujar a Flash, también hizo "Jungle Jim" y "Agente Secreto X9", y se dedicó a la ilustración de Westerns de Ernest Haycox y otras obras pulp, lo que hizo que cogiera soltura en su trazo y mejorara su técnica, pasando de la estructura de 12 viñetas por página, a innovar y ocupar dobles viñetas o medias páginas, etc…
Como último apunte, decir que no solo vienen las tiras dominicales (Sunday strips) de una de las creaciones pulp de ciencia-ficción más originales de la época, sino que también hay numerosos extras al inicio y al final de este primer tomo. Así, sabemos que Flash Gordon fue concebido por Alex Raymond a petición de King Features Syndicate para hacer competencia al Buck Rogers de Philip Francis Nowlan (National Newspaper Service Syndicate).
Lástima que acabe en cliffhanger la última tira fechada en abril de 1936 pero, por suerte, en el mismo quiosco de la Plaza Nueva de Sevilla también tenían el siguiente tomo a 7’99€, El tirano de Mongo, por lo que sigo teniendo lectura entretenida de Flash para rato.
Salvat ha reeditado el material elaborado por la editorial Titan books. Lástima que se vean muchas viñetas con el coloreado algo pixelado, pero aún así se disfruta en muchas páginas el magnífico dibujo de Raymond. Este último es, sin ninguna duda, junto a Harold Foster y Esteban Maroto, mi dibujante clásico favorito.
La otra pega es que el argumento es algo simplón, ya que hay numerosos estereotipos (el guaperas que se mete en líos, el científico listo y loco, la bella damisela en apuros, el villano oriental de turno, etc), y un uso excesivo de la misma estructura narrativa de “persecución del enemigo”, “me atrapan o bien cogen a mi chica”, “guerreo o me/la libero”, “aparición amigos que me ayudan/enemigos que me traicionan”, y así se van repitiendo sus aventuras.
Lo bueno a destacar es el hecho de que Flash se topa con aliados inesperados de otras tribus y razas distintas a la terrícola, el uso de artefactos e inventos “sofisticados” del Dr Zarkov, y la evolución evidente del dibujo de Raymond, de más arcaico a más detallado pues, aparte de dibujar a Flash, también hizo "Jungle Jim" y "Agente Secreto X9", y se dedicó a la ilustración de Westerns de Ernest Haycox y otras obras pulp, lo que hizo que cogiera soltura en su trazo y mejorara su técnica, pasando de la estructura de 12 viñetas por página, a innovar y ocupar dobles viñetas o medias páginas, etc…
Como último apunte, decir que no solo vienen las tiras dominicales (Sunday strips) de una de las creaciones pulp de ciencia-ficción más originales de la época, sino que también hay numerosos extras al inicio y al final de este primer tomo. Así, sabemos que Flash Gordon fue concebido por Alex Raymond a petición de King Features Syndicate para hacer competencia al Buck Rogers de Philip Francis Nowlan (National Newspaper Service Syndicate).
Lástima que acabe en cliffhanger la última tira fechada en abril de 1936 pero, por suerte, en el mismo quiosco de la Plaza Nueva de Sevilla también tenían el siguiente tomo a 7’99€, El tirano de Mongo, por lo que sigo teniendo lectura entretenida de Flash para rato.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2013
Flash Gordon strips from 1934 to 1937. A nice display of artwork by Alex Raymond. The story arcs are standard comic pulp thrills. But the artwork is stellar.
June 7, 2023
Do yourself a favor:
Get those IDW books!
I know they're more expensive but they are :
- Bigger! (in original format!)
- Sharper!
- Jungle Jim! (which is awesome an sich!)
Don't say I didn't tell ya!
Get those IDW books!
I know they're more expensive but they are :
- Bigger! (in original format!)
- Sharper!
- Jungle Jim! (which is awesome an sich!)
Don't say I didn't tell ya!
March 26, 2016
I was surprised at how closely the Buster Crabbe Flash Gordon movie serial adheres to its source material, presented in sumptuous style in this collection. Created as an answer to the science fiction, space opera adventures of the Buck Rogers newspaper serial, I think Flash's adventures owe a greater debt to the planetary romance and lost world genres of Edgar Rice Burroughs' John Carter and Caspak novels, the war-torn planet of Mongo with its many-coloured peoples standing in for Barsoom, and the wild lands tormented by giant monsters (Devourosaurus being a particular personal favourite!) reminiscent of Caprona.
There's also a Ruritanian feel to some of the political machinations and empire building plots; an unreflective acceptance of Flash's imperialistic ambitions. Ming is 'Merciless' and a despotic tyrant, but when he promises to make Flash a king, only to reveal that the promised country is not held under his sway, Flash glibly recruits an army and takes his weapons of mass destruction to slaughter and subdue a people of whose existence he had previously been unaware, and whose right of self-determination is not considered and clearly of no consequence to him. Published in the mid 1930s, it sadly seems that many politicians still hold these attitudes today.
Anyway, dubious politics aside, the adventures are inevitably episodic and wholly action-oriented, with no character development and the main motivations given as obsessive passions of love, hate and revenge. This is a weakness or a strength depending on one's preferences. For me it's a venture into juvenile escapism that I sometimes feel the need for. While the story lines are fairly static and formulaic, though not without charm, the artwork definitely does evolve. Tightly contained in gridiron panels for the initial six months of the original publication schedule, there starts to be a slight freeing of the page layout, although it takes a further six months or so for Raymond to really gain confidence (if, indeed, that was what was previously lacking, rather than, perhaps, some restriction of the newspaper medium he was working in) and to start presenting his panels in a more fluid, less linear fashion. The detail and intricacy of the artwork certainly benefits from the change, capturing a certain epic sweep which looks like it might be story boards for Hollywood historical blockbusters like Ben Hur.
Naturally, the book ends in the middle of an adventure - Flash is always enmired in some plot, the resolution of one thread leading immediately into another perilous cliffhanger. I could easily go on to read the next volume without pause, while at the same time feeling no urgency to do so: every pause in reading has been at a pivotal moment of danger, so I've become inured to that narrative device. Whether or not I'm there to read it, I'm confident that Dale will be kidnapped, that Flash will hunt down and kill/befriend the abductor, that whatever life-threatening position Flash finds himself in, Zarkov will build a ray-machine out of brown paper and string which will save the day. The only question in my mind is whether, after four years of prevarication and more romantic entanglements with exotic women than Captain Kirk could shake a phaser at, Flash will ever make good on his promise to marry Dale!
There's also a Ruritanian feel to some of the political machinations and empire building plots; an unreflective acceptance of Flash's imperialistic ambitions. Ming is 'Merciless' and a despotic tyrant, but when he promises to make Flash a king, only to reveal that the promised country is not held under his sway, Flash glibly recruits an army and takes his weapons of mass destruction to slaughter and subdue a people of whose existence he had previously been unaware, and whose right of self-determination is not considered and clearly of no consequence to him. Published in the mid 1930s, it sadly seems that many politicians still hold these attitudes today.
Anyway, dubious politics aside, the adventures are inevitably episodic and wholly action-oriented, with no character development and the main motivations given as obsessive passions of love, hate and revenge. This is a weakness or a strength depending on one's preferences. For me it's a venture into juvenile escapism that I sometimes feel the need for. While the story lines are fairly static and formulaic, though not without charm, the artwork definitely does evolve. Tightly contained in gridiron panels for the initial six months of the original publication schedule, there starts to be a slight freeing of the page layout, although it takes a further six months or so for Raymond to really gain confidence (if, indeed, that was what was previously lacking, rather than, perhaps, some restriction of the newspaper medium he was working in) and to start presenting his panels in a more fluid, less linear fashion. The detail and intricacy of the artwork certainly benefits from the change, capturing a certain epic sweep which looks like it might be story boards for Hollywood historical blockbusters like Ben Hur.
Naturally, the book ends in the middle of an adventure - Flash is always enmired in some plot, the resolution of one thread leading immediately into another perilous cliffhanger. I could easily go on to read the next volume without pause, while at the same time feeling no urgency to do so: every pause in reading has been at a pivotal moment of danger, so I've become inured to that narrative device. Whether or not I'm there to read it, I'm confident that Dale will be kidnapped, that Flash will hunt down and kill/befriend the abductor, that whatever life-threatening position Flash finds himself in, Zarkov will build a ray-machine out of brown paper and string which will save the day. The only question in my mind is whether, after four years of prevarication and more romantic entanglements with exotic women than Captain Kirk could shake a phaser at, Flash will ever make good on his promise to marry Dale!
April 18, 2015
If I had to describe myself, I'd say I was a casual FG fan. I was a big fan of the 80's movie and the late 70's cartoon when I was a kid. I'd watched the old serials in the post Star Wars scifi boom. But I'd never read the original comic strips.
This book collects the first few years of the comic, with Flash and his lady love Dale Arden being kidnapped by Dr. Zarkov to the planet Mongo. There they fall under the sway of Ming the Merciless, Emperor and Supreme Intelligence of Mongo, with Flash Dale and Zarkov falling into one pitfall after another, finding friends and foes among the many creatures of Mongo as they seek to survive for one more day.
It's hard to say if I liked this or not. It is a newspaper comic strip from the 1930's and as a result is quite a bit different from comics of today. The storytelling is disjointed, with a stop-start feel due to the episodic nature of the strips. Still the story, though different than other adaptions is still recognizable. It owes a lot to Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian Tales. I found the early chapters to be slow moving but after a while the story soon speeds up to a lightning's pace. But the story can be dated and melodramatic at times. Ming and his hordes of evildoers have a distinctly Asian cast to them. Dale is the quintessential damsel in distress, constantly swooning or confessing her love for Flash. Though she is the basis for countless heroines, she can be a bit tiresome.
The true star here is the art. Alex Raymond was truly ahead of his time with the level of detail in his artwork. Flash is the predecessor of Superman, Batman and all the rest and the evidence is right here. The art fills in a lot of the story's shortcomings.
If you are a scifi fan or Flash Gordon fan who wants to check out the roots of the genre, then this is for you. If you are a more casual fan, you might be better served by the modern adaptions.
This book collects the first few years of the comic, with Flash and his lady love Dale Arden being kidnapped by Dr. Zarkov to the planet Mongo. There they fall under the sway of Ming the Merciless, Emperor and Supreme Intelligence of Mongo, with Flash Dale and Zarkov falling into one pitfall after another, finding friends and foes among the many creatures of Mongo as they seek to survive for one more day.
It's hard to say if I liked this or not. It is a newspaper comic strip from the 1930's and as a result is quite a bit different from comics of today. The storytelling is disjointed, with a stop-start feel due to the episodic nature of the strips. Still the story, though different than other adaptions is still recognizable. It owes a lot to Edgar Rice Burroughs Martian Tales. I found the early chapters to be slow moving but after a while the story soon speeds up to a lightning's pace. But the story can be dated and melodramatic at times. Ming and his hordes of evildoers have a distinctly Asian cast to them. Dale is the quintessential damsel in distress, constantly swooning or confessing her love for Flash. Though she is the basis for countless heroines, she can be a bit tiresome.
The true star here is the art. Alex Raymond was truly ahead of his time with the level of detail in his artwork. Flash is the predecessor of Superman, Batman and all the rest and the evidence is right here. The art fills in a lot of the story's shortcomings.
If you are a scifi fan or Flash Gordon fan who wants to check out the roots of the genre, then this is for you. If you are a more casual fan, you might be better served by the modern adaptions.
November 14, 2014
This book definitely has its historical interest going for it. It explains well why E.E. "Doc" Smith, talking about the balance of action, characterization, and thought, is at pains to explain how the others slow down the action, and lament the action writers who don't bother with characterization to keep their heroes in peril. He wrote in this era. The rule appears to be that every strip must end, not with a turn to reward the reader, but with a full blown cliff-hanger. Indeed, at one point the river bearing them to a monster's maw just happens to sweep them on instead, and at another, Dale and Flash, tangled in a prehensile tree's vines, are saved by a chance lightning stroke.
How break-neck the action is, is shown by how we learn nothing of Dale's past, and of Flash's only that he's a Yale student and a polo player. And that they are madly in love is shown only by Flash's fighting for her and Dale's heroically offering herself to his captors to spare him. (To be sure, since everyone male lusts after her, and female after him, they are clearly very attractive.) The opening is particularly absurd, with a mad scientist pushing them into a rocket to go and deflect Mungo from crashing into earth. (Yes, it's Dr. Zarahov. No explaination is given for his change in character when he reappears many strips in.)
How break-neck the action is, is shown by how we learn nothing of Dale's past, and of Flash's only that he's a Yale student and a polo player. And that they are madly in love is shown only by Flash's fighting for her and Dale's heroically offering herself to his captors to spare him. (To be sure, since everyone male lusts after her, and female after him, they are clearly very attractive.) The opening is particularly absurd, with a mad scientist pushing them into a rocket to go and deflect Mungo from crashing into earth. (Yes, it's Dr. Zarahov. No explaination is given for his change in character when he reappears many strips in.)
January 27, 2021
This is a beautiful edition collecting the first serialised adventures of Flash Gordon. Definitely dated but exceptionally well drawn, especially in comparison to the other comic art that was available at the time. Alex Raymond’s creation has been around for close to a century now and is still as appealing as ever. Flash is an important piece of comic and pop culture history and this hardcover edition with an introduction by Alex Ross, an exploration of Raymond and his creation plus some unused illustrations and high quality paper is beautiful whether as a coffee table piece or for a fan of the pulp era of heroics. “Gordon’s Alive!!!!!!”
July 30, 2012
Sundays used to be a lot of fun. These strips are really a sight to behold--beautiful, magical things. Most strips are only a few panels long, and that was all a reader had until the next week. It's hard to imagine living in a world of such narrative slowness, but damn if it doesn't feel good.
February 7, 2019
Heute wird es richtig nostalgisch. Flash Gordon ist eine der beiden Sci-Fi-Figuren, die das Genre in den ersten Tagen prägten. Neben Buck Rodgers, der übrigens zuerst da war, übernahm Flash Gordon den Part des ultimativen Helden, der aber ganz menschlich daherkommt. Seine Abenteuer auf dem Planeten Mongo sind der Ursprung zahlreicher Science-Fiction-Phantasien, die wir als cineastisch aufbereitete Epen bereits seit Jahrzehnten genießen können.
Der österreichische Hannibal-Verlag hat sich nun besondere Verdienste um die Legende von Flash Gordon erworben. Mit einer grandiosen Ausgabe der Sonntagsseiten aus den Jahren 1934-1937 wird dem Weltraumabenteurer neues Leben eingehaucht. Alex Raymond wird es, wo auch immer er sich befindet, sicherlich mit einem Lächeln bemerken.
Inhalt:
Flash Gordon und seine Freunde Dale Arden und Dr. Zarkov landen auf dem Planeten Mongo und kämpfen gegen das diabolische Genie Ming, der gerade versucht den Weltraum zu unterjochen. Phantastische Kreaturen, skurrile Landschaften und immer wieder Kämpfe auf Leben und Tod lassen die Helden eine nicht enden wollende Reihe an Abenteuern erleben und bestehen.
Rezension:
Alex Raymond war sicherlich einer der größten Köpfe der frühen Fantasy- und Science Fiction-Literatur. Er hat so dermaßen viele Ideen in diesen Geschichten umgesetzt, so dass in den meisten Blockbuster-Hollywoodfilmen heutzutage Anklänge an den Großmeister zu finden sind. Es würde kaum wundern, wenn Flash Gordon plötzlich erscheinen würde und in Avengers 4 plötzlich Thanos besiegt. Superheldenstatus hat er längst.
Es handelt sich bei diesem Werk um die Sonntagsseiten aus der Zeit vom 01. Januar 1934 bis zum 18. April 1937. Natürlich ist es nicht einfach das darzustellen, da natürlich im Original immer wieder eine Woche auf die nächste Sonntagsseite gewartet werden musste. Es ist also ganz natürlich, dass quasi jede Seite mit einem Cliffhanger endet. Als Gesamtwerk kann das überladen wirken, aber die Historie erklärt es zur Genüge.
Flash Gordon muss ein Abenteuer nach dem anderen bestehen und immer wieder steht der unerbittliche Kampf um Leben oder Tod im Mittelpunkt. Ming schafft es nicht Gordon umzubringen, Gordon dagegen schafft es nicht Ming zu stürzen. So bleibt es, auch wenn es immer wieder neue Szenarien gibt, doch eigentlich immer wieder der gleiche Ablauf.
Die Neuausgabe brilliert durch hohe Papierqualität. Das Lesen des Buches ist ein wahres Vergnügen. Schnell wird man gefangen genommen von der faszinierenden und fremden Welt und erkennt den zeitlosen Charakter der Geschichten. Das Prinzip Gut gegen Böse funktioniert halt immer wieder, egal wie alt der Stoff auch sein mag.
Der Hannibal-Verlag lässt sich hier aber nicht lumpen und spendiert beim Bonusmaterial auch noch informatives Zusatzmaterial und seltene Zeichnungen Raymonds. Wer sich für die Hintergründe interessiert, kommt auch auf seine Kosten.
Was fehlt, ist lediglich die grandiose Filmmusik, die Queen damals geschrieben haben. Naja, es gibt ja YouTube.
Fazit:
Es handelt sich um eine rundum gelungene Ausgabe, die dazu reizt, sich erneut oder aber zum ersten Mal mit der Welt von Flash Gordon auseinanderzusetzen. Ich habe die Erzählung genossen, auch wenn sich die Themen und Situationen doch in ihrer Wiederholung häufen.
Ich schlage vor, am besten immer wieder eine Woche vergehen zu lassen, um dann erst die nächste Seite zu lesen. Das Feeling der 30er Jahre kommt zurück und es entwickelt sich Lesespaß für die nächsten Jahre. Außerdem handelt es sich um Band 1 der Reihe. Es kommt also noch mehr.
Ich vergebe 4/5 Punkten für diese gelungene Neuausgabe.
Alex Raymond, Don Moore. Flash Gordon: Auf dem Planeten Mongo. Hannibal 2018. Hardcover. 208 Seiten. 35 €
Der österreichische Hannibal-Verlag hat sich nun besondere Verdienste um die Legende von Flash Gordon erworben. Mit einer grandiosen Ausgabe der Sonntagsseiten aus den Jahren 1934-1937 wird dem Weltraumabenteurer neues Leben eingehaucht. Alex Raymond wird es, wo auch immer er sich befindet, sicherlich mit einem Lächeln bemerken.
Inhalt:
Flash Gordon und seine Freunde Dale Arden und Dr. Zarkov landen auf dem Planeten Mongo und kämpfen gegen das diabolische Genie Ming, der gerade versucht den Weltraum zu unterjochen. Phantastische Kreaturen, skurrile Landschaften und immer wieder Kämpfe auf Leben und Tod lassen die Helden eine nicht enden wollende Reihe an Abenteuern erleben und bestehen.
Rezension:
Alex Raymond war sicherlich einer der größten Köpfe der frühen Fantasy- und Science Fiction-Literatur. Er hat so dermaßen viele Ideen in diesen Geschichten umgesetzt, so dass in den meisten Blockbuster-Hollywoodfilmen heutzutage Anklänge an den Großmeister zu finden sind. Es würde kaum wundern, wenn Flash Gordon plötzlich erscheinen würde und in Avengers 4 plötzlich Thanos besiegt. Superheldenstatus hat er längst.
Es handelt sich bei diesem Werk um die Sonntagsseiten aus der Zeit vom 01. Januar 1934 bis zum 18. April 1937. Natürlich ist es nicht einfach das darzustellen, da natürlich im Original immer wieder eine Woche auf die nächste Sonntagsseite gewartet werden musste. Es ist also ganz natürlich, dass quasi jede Seite mit einem Cliffhanger endet. Als Gesamtwerk kann das überladen wirken, aber die Historie erklärt es zur Genüge.
Flash Gordon muss ein Abenteuer nach dem anderen bestehen und immer wieder steht der unerbittliche Kampf um Leben oder Tod im Mittelpunkt. Ming schafft es nicht Gordon umzubringen, Gordon dagegen schafft es nicht Ming zu stürzen. So bleibt es, auch wenn es immer wieder neue Szenarien gibt, doch eigentlich immer wieder der gleiche Ablauf.
Die Neuausgabe brilliert durch hohe Papierqualität. Das Lesen des Buches ist ein wahres Vergnügen. Schnell wird man gefangen genommen von der faszinierenden und fremden Welt und erkennt den zeitlosen Charakter der Geschichten. Das Prinzip Gut gegen Böse funktioniert halt immer wieder, egal wie alt der Stoff auch sein mag.
Der Hannibal-Verlag lässt sich hier aber nicht lumpen und spendiert beim Bonusmaterial auch noch informatives Zusatzmaterial und seltene Zeichnungen Raymonds. Wer sich für die Hintergründe interessiert, kommt auch auf seine Kosten.
Was fehlt, ist lediglich die grandiose Filmmusik, die Queen damals geschrieben haben. Naja, es gibt ja YouTube.
Fazit:
Es handelt sich um eine rundum gelungene Ausgabe, die dazu reizt, sich erneut oder aber zum ersten Mal mit der Welt von Flash Gordon auseinanderzusetzen. Ich habe die Erzählung genossen, auch wenn sich die Themen und Situationen doch in ihrer Wiederholung häufen.
Ich schlage vor, am besten immer wieder eine Woche vergehen zu lassen, um dann erst die nächste Seite zu lesen. Das Feeling der 30er Jahre kommt zurück und es entwickelt sich Lesespaß für die nächsten Jahre. Außerdem handelt es sich um Band 1 der Reihe. Es kommt also noch mehr.
Ich vergebe 4/5 Punkten für diese gelungene Neuausgabe.
Alex Raymond, Don Moore. Flash Gordon: Auf dem Planeten Mongo. Hannibal 2018. Hardcover. 208 Seiten. 35 €
February 27, 2019
Even though I am giving this three stars as a read - as a book I'd want in my collection I would give it 5 stars for the simple reason, it is a piece of comic strip history that has been flawlessly reproduced in a stunning format.
I had heard of Alex Raymond before but seeing his art captured like this and mature in front of my eyes over the 3 years this collection collects gave me a whole new appreciation of what a master he was and how he influenced so many future artists (I feel Joe Kubert, in particular, captured Alex's style the most).
If you are a fan of Flash Gordon then this is where it all began. It is amazing to see so many of the seeds of the character and the mythos being planted here. It is more impressive to see Alex's storytelling skills get stronger as the series goes on.
Why only 3 stars then? Well the art - by the end - is 5 stars at least. The writing and story? It is fun but it is limited because of the comic strip format and it is limited because Alex was developing the stories on the fly. The format, especially, precludes any intense character development or challenging plots. Dale loves Flash and Flash loves Dale. Why? Well, no reason, other than Flash is handsome (every female alien he meets wants to be his bride) and Dale is pretty. In the 1930's, that was enough for true love. Each weekly strip - about 8-12 panels (thankfully, less panels in the later years meant better art and easier to follow stories) had to advance the plot and end on a cliffhanger. Not a lot of room for complex ideas. So yeah, this isn't storytelling at its finest but it is still fun in its own way.
But get this book for the history. And for the art and genius that was Alex Raymond. 80 years later and it is still some of the finest art I have seen.
I had heard of Alex Raymond before but seeing his art captured like this and mature in front of my eyes over the 3 years this collection collects gave me a whole new appreciation of what a master he was and how he influenced so many future artists (I feel Joe Kubert, in particular, captured Alex's style the most).
If you are a fan of Flash Gordon then this is where it all began. It is amazing to see so many of the seeds of the character and the mythos being planted here. It is more impressive to see Alex's storytelling skills get stronger as the series goes on.
Why only 3 stars then? Well the art - by the end - is 5 stars at least. The writing and story? It is fun but it is limited because of the comic strip format and it is limited because Alex was developing the stories on the fly. The format, especially, precludes any intense character development or challenging plots. Dale loves Flash and Flash loves Dale. Why? Well, no reason, other than Flash is handsome (every female alien he meets wants to be his bride) and Dale is pretty. In the 1930's, that was enough for true love. Each weekly strip - about 8-12 panels (thankfully, less panels in the later years meant better art and easier to follow stories) had to advance the plot and end on a cliffhanger. Not a lot of room for complex ideas. So yeah, this isn't storytelling at its finest but it is still fun in its own way.
But get this book for the history. And for the art and genius that was Alex Raymond. 80 years later and it is still some of the finest art I have seen.
June 23, 2019
Nulla a che vedere con gli stili narrativi del fumetto odierno, senza dubbio, eppure le radici stanno qui.
Quella che Alex Raymond narra con precise illustrazioni più che con fumetti è avventura fantastica allo stato puro, alla base di molti dei lavori che seguiranno, fino ad oggi e anche fino ai prossimi trent'anni almeno.
Ma se lo stile di sceneggiatura è cambiato molto, anche per via dei cambiamenti del supporto mediatico (da mezze tavole domenicali a albi mensili di molte pagine, ad esempio, ma anche da carta grigia di quotidiano a carta bianca patinata) lo stile di disegno è ancora superbo e sarebbe difficile elencare tutti i disegnatori successivi che hanno copiato o si sono ispirati al segno grafico di Raymond in queste pagine. In Italia posso solo ricordare Galep e Ferri, co-creatori dei due fumetti più venduti dal dopoguerra ad oggi: Tex e Zagor.
Insomma, un capolavoro.
Un capolavoro invecchiato e non perfetto, ma non per questo invecchiato male, e i difetti, che saltano all'occhio se uno ha letto molti fumetti contemporanei, non sono poi tanti. Anzi, spesso dal paragone emergono maggiormente i difetti dei fumetti di oggi, specie nelle scene d'azione e nella costruzione del cliffhanger, della suspance fino alla prossima puntata. A volte anche quelle trame sembrano meglio orchestrate di quelle di oggi, soprattutto se parliamo di fumetti americani.
Insomma, il Raymond di Flash Gordon può ancora insegnare molto.
Quella che Alex Raymond narra con precise illustrazioni più che con fumetti è avventura fantastica allo stato puro, alla base di molti dei lavori che seguiranno, fino ad oggi e anche fino ai prossimi trent'anni almeno.
Ma se lo stile di sceneggiatura è cambiato molto, anche per via dei cambiamenti del supporto mediatico (da mezze tavole domenicali a albi mensili di molte pagine, ad esempio, ma anche da carta grigia di quotidiano a carta bianca patinata) lo stile di disegno è ancora superbo e sarebbe difficile elencare tutti i disegnatori successivi che hanno copiato o si sono ispirati al segno grafico di Raymond in queste pagine. In Italia posso solo ricordare Galep e Ferri, co-creatori dei due fumetti più venduti dal dopoguerra ad oggi: Tex e Zagor.
Insomma, un capolavoro.
Un capolavoro invecchiato e non perfetto, ma non per questo invecchiato male, e i difetti, che saltano all'occhio se uno ha letto molti fumetti contemporanei, non sono poi tanti. Anzi, spesso dal paragone emergono maggiormente i difetti dei fumetti di oggi, specie nelle scene d'azione e nella costruzione del cliffhanger, della suspance fino alla prossima puntata. A volte anche quelle trame sembrano meglio orchestrate di quelle di oggi, soprattutto se parliamo di fumetti americani.
Insomma, il Raymond di Flash Gordon può ancora insegnare molto.
January 8, 2020
Essa é uma edição especial da Pixel, linda, para colecionadores.
Alex Raymond foi um artista à frente de seu tempo e um pioneiro dos quadrinhos (ou melhor, das tiras dominicais).
Um de seus personagens mais importantes foi Flash Gordon, uma referência da ficção científica que merece a deferência pela criatividade de suas aventuras e pela beleza atemporal de sua arte. Ainda que obviamente muita coisa seja datada, é impossível não imaginar o deslumbre que os jovens leitores sentiam ao acompanhar tamanha sofisticação em arte e narrativa em 1936. Uma beleza que impressiona ainda hoje. Para os fãs das HQs e da ficção científica, vale ter essa obra encadernada em capa dura e formato especial que ainda conta com textos de apresentação do artista.
Alex Raymond foi um artista à frente de seu tempo e um pioneiro dos quadrinhos (ou melhor, das tiras dominicais).
Um de seus personagens mais importantes foi Flash Gordon, uma referência da ficção científica que merece a deferência pela criatividade de suas aventuras e pela beleza atemporal de sua arte. Ainda que obviamente muita coisa seja datada, é impossível não imaginar o deslumbre que os jovens leitores sentiam ao acompanhar tamanha sofisticação em arte e narrativa em 1936. Uma beleza que impressiona ainda hoje. Para os fãs das HQs e da ficção científica, vale ter essa obra encadernada em capa dura e formato especial que ainda conta com textos de apresentação do artista.
November 20, 2018
Zuerst einmal ist diese Sammlung sowas von liebevoll und wirklich herzlich gestaltet, mit einem informativen Vorwort zur Geschichte des Autors und der Entstehung (und auch wandlung) des Comics rund um Flash Gordon.
Das sich dieser mit der Zeit (sicherlich auch durch seinen Erfolg) in immer detailliertere Strips wandelte merkt man schon in diesem Band und kommt der Geschichte nur zu gute.
Lediglich mit der Art und Weise wie eben zu der Zeit erzählt wurde (alles geht schlag auf schlag und man kommt kaum zum Luftholen) fans ich ein wenig schade, ist aber sicherlich auch dem Geschuldete, dass ja die Leser jede Woche aufs neue dazu angehalten werden mussten weiter zu kaufen und zu lesen.
Dafür - weil es eben nicht so ganz mein Persönlicher Geschmack ist - der Stern Abzug.
Dennoch freueich mich sehr über diese Neuauflage und bin gespannt wie es mit Flash Gordon in den nächsten Sammelbänden weiter gehen wird.
Das sich dieser mit der Zeit (sicherlich auch durch seinen Erfolg) in immer detailliertere Strips wandelte merkt man schon in diesem Band und kommt der Geschichte nur zu gute.
Lediglich mit der Art und Weise wie eben zu der Zeit erzählt wurde (alles geht schlag auf schlag und man kommt kaum zum Luftholen) fans ich ein wenig schade, ist aber sicherlich auch dem Geschuldete, dass ja die Leser jede Woche aufs neue dazu angehalten werden mussten weiter zu kaufen und zu lesen.
Dafür - weil es eben nicht so ganz mein Persönlicher Geschmack ist - der Stern Abzug.
Dennoch freueich mich sehr über diese Neuauflage und bin gespannt wie es mit Flash Gordon in den nächsten Sammelbänden weiter gehen wird.
September 4, 2020
Clássico.
Lá no longínquo ano de 1934, as histórias do personagem Buck Rogers dominavam as tiras de jornais norte americanos gerando diversos produtos licenciados.
Seus concorrentes, vendo esse sucesso, corriam atrás de um personagem que batesse de frente com Rogers, e foi só depois de uma negociação para trazer John Carter para as tiras dar errado que ALEX RAYMOND conseguiu aprovação para desenvolver esse que se tornaria um personagem tão icônico, sendo responsável por influenciar uma grande parte do que consumimos hoje na cultura pop, FLASH GORDON.
Nesse volume, publicado aqui no Brasil pela EDITORA MEDIA PIXEL, acompanhamos os primeiros 3 anos de tiras desse personagem, aonde somos apresentados ao nosso herói, Flash Gordon, e seus companheiros, Dale e Dr. Zarkhov, enquanto eles desbravam o Planeta Mongo e enfrentam diversos perigos para sobreviver ao tirano Ming.
As histórias aqui tem um teor repetitivo baseada na apresentação do problema, conflito, suposta derrota do herói, reviravolta e gancho para a próxima tira, que pode até parecer cansativo, mas se analisarmos o contexto em que essas tiras foram escritas podemos aproveitar de forma completa a narrativa, afinal os autores precisavam fazer com que o público da época se interessassem ao ponto de comprar a próxima edição do jornal, dado que a publicação da tira era semanal.
Confesso que a personagem Dale Arden, interesse amoroso de Flash, me cansou um pouco no começo devido a forma que ela foi escrita como se para tudo ela dependesse exclusivamente do nosso herói, mas com o decorrer da narrativa a personagem foi ganhando mais profundidade ao ponto de, em vários momentos, ser ela a responsável pelo salvamento do grupo.
Enfim, Flash Gordon é um marco de uma época e quem gosta da nona arte deveria conhecer uma das obras que influenciou muito da Ficção científica como conhecemos hoje, afinal o próprio George Lucas, criador de Star Wars, afirmou que foi muito influenciado por Flash Gordon.
Esse é o primeiro volume da coletânea que eu consegui na última bienal do livro daqui de Pernambuco, afinal tanto esse quanto o segundo volume ja estão esgotados.
Lá no longínquo ano de 1934, as histórias do personagem Buck Rogers dominavam as tiras de jornais norte americanos gerando diversos produtos licenciados.
Seus concorrentes, vendo esse sucesso, corriam atrás de um personagem que batesse de frente com Rogers, e foi só depois de uma negociação para trazer John Carter para as tiras dar errado que ALEX RAYMOND conseguiu aprovação para desenvolver esse que se tornaria um personagem tão icônico, sendo responsável por influenciar uma grande parte do que consumimos hoje na cultura pop, FLASH GORDON.
Nesse volume, publicado aqui no Brasil pela EDITORA MEDIA PIXEL, acompanhamos os primeiros 3 anos de tiras desse personagem, aonde somos apresentados ao nosso herói, Flash Gordon, e seus companheiros, Dale e Dr. Zarkhov, enquanto eles desbravam o Planeta Mongo e enfrentam diversos perigos para sobreviver ao tirano Ming.
As histórias aqui tem um teor repetitivo baseada na apresentação do problema, conflito, suposta derrota do herói, reviravolta e gancho para a próxima tira, que pode até parecer cansativo, mas se analisarmos o contexto em que essas tiras foram escritas podemos aproveitar de forma completa a narrativa, afinal os autores precisavam fazer com que o público da época se interessassem ao ponto de comprar a próxima edição do jornal, dado que a publicação da tira era semanal.
Confesso que a personagem Dale Arden, interesse amoroso de Flash, me cansou um pouco no começo devido a forma que ela foi escrita como se para tudo ela dependesse exclusivamente do nosso herói, mas com o decorrer da narrativa a personagem foi ganhando mais profundidade ao ponto de, em vários momentos, ser ela a responsável pelo salvamento do grupo.
Enfim, Flash Gordon é um marco de uma época e quem gosta da nona arte deveria conhecer uma das obras que influenciou muito da Ficção científica como conhecemos hoje, afinal o próprio George Lucas, criador de Star Wars, afirmou que foi muito influenciado por Flash Gordon.
Esse é o primeiro volume da coletânea que eu consegui na última bienal do livro daqui de Pernambuco, afinal tanto esse quanto o segundo volume ja estão esgotados.
February 12, 2017
Growing up, if one had asked me, I would have said that Flash Gordon was my favorite space hero. I had seen some of the black and white serials, I saw the movie that came out, but I knew these were all based on a comic strip, and I loved comics. I had heard of Alex Raymond, and knew he was a great comic artist.
Recently, however, I realized that I knew of Raymond only through one page of a Smithsonian book of the history of comics. It was a great page - the Hawkmen swooping down on Flash - but it was only one. So I looked it up, and found this, the first of the three-volume set of all of Raymond's Flash Gordon strips. I immediately picked it up.
What I found was different than what I had expected - not bad, just different. For starters, I mistakenly thought that Flash was the original comic space hero, but that, it turns out, was Buck Rogers. Also, I thought that the strip must have been overrated, since the artwork at first was so-so and the pacing repetitive. However, relatively quickly, the writing and artwork came into their own, and I could see what had garnered all the praise for the artist all these years.
Another thing that I had previously thought was that the cheesy serials and movie were but pale reflections of the original storyline. Here I was again surprised - a lot of the filmed versions were actually dead on. Even the 1980 movie - scenes from that were lifted directly from the comic, it turns out (yes, I admit it, I watched the movie again for the first time since seeing it in the theater after reading this book!). Flash Gordon is pure pulp fiction, just in comic form. Adventure, rescues, daring escapes, lots of explosions (in fact, no one seems to be able to fly a rocket on Mongo without crashing it) - all take place in rapid-fire action. And every woman who meets Flash falls instantly in love with him. Although the same happens to Dale Arden, as well - every man she meets falls in love with her (Earthlings must be a big hit on Mongo).
There is a lot that can be compared to Buck Rogers, and it's easy to see that this was (as explained in the introduction) created to be a rival space hero comic strip. One thing that they have in common that I appreciated is gender equality - Dale Arden is no damsel in distress. In the very early strips she is, but she quickly adapts on Mongo to become just as fearless as Flash. She may not be a brawler, but she's good with a ray gun, and rescues Flash about as often as he rescues her. Quite progressive, I imagine, considering this was written in the 1930's!
All in all, it's good rolicking fun - it's one non-stop adventure after another, accompanied by great artwork. The story may not be deep but it is a page turner!
Recently, however, I realized that I knew of Raymond only through one page of a Smithsonian book of the history of comics. It was a great page - the Hawkmen swooping down on Flash - but it was only one. So I looked it up, and found this, the first of the three-volume set of all of Raymond's Flash Gordon strips. I immediately picked it up.
What I found was different than what I had expected - not bad, just different. For starters, I mistakenly thought that Flash was the original comic space hero, but that, it turns out, was Buck Rogers. Also, I thought that the strip must have been overrated, since the artwork at first was so-so and the pacing repetitive. However, relatively quickly, the writing and artwork came into their own, and I could see what had garnered all the praise for the artist all these years.
Another thing that I had previously thought was that the cheesy serials and movie were but pale reflections of the original storyline. Here I was again surprised - a lot of the filmed versions were actually dead on. Even the 1980 movie - scenes from that were lifted directly from the comic, it turns out (yes, I admit it, I watched the movie again for the first time since seeing it in the theater after reading this book!). Flash Gordon is pure pulp fiction, just in comic form. Adventure, rescues, daring escapes, lots of explosions (in fact, no one seems to be able to fly a rocket on Mongo without crashing it) - all take place in rapid-fire action. And every woman who meets Flash falls instantly in love with him. Although the same happens to Dale Arden, as well - every man she meets falls in love with her (Earthlings must be a big hit on Mongo).
There is a lot that can be compared to Buck Rogers, and it's easy to see that this was (as explained in the introduction) created to be a rival space hero comic strip. One thing that they have in common that I appreciated is gender equality - Dale Arden is no damsel in distress. In the very early strips she is, but she quickly adapts on Mongo to become just as fearless as Flash. She may not be a brawler, but she's good with a ray gun, and rescues Flash about as often as he rescues her. Quite progressive, I imagine, considering this was written in the 1930's!
All in all, it's good rolicking fun - it's one non-stop adventure after another, accompanied by great artwork. The story may not be deep but it is a page turner!
December 4, 2023
The impact that Flash Gordon has had on comic books, the world of science fiction, and on popular culture as a whole is immense. While the character lives on in a new series from Dynamite Entertainment, most people these days seem to know Flash Gordon best from the Queen song Flash from the 1980 feature film. That's how it started for me at least. Flash Gordon started out as a copycat competitor to Buck Rogers, but Alex Raymond's brilliant artwork quickly set it apart.
There is a great introduction in this book which gives the reader context of America at the time. Bear in mind that this strip predates television and all comic book superheroes. All of these wild scenarios, locales, aliens, and characters are without precedent. You had pulp heroes around this time such as the Shadow, Tarzan, and Doc Samson, but none of them flew around in spaceships, battled Hawkmen, or met and fought entire undersea kingdoms. Kingdoms that predate both the Sub-Mariner and his clone, Aquaman, by the way.
The writing and artwork are both excellent, especially for the era. This was a tough read for the first third of the book. I had a hard time getting into it. The artwork was great and kept getting better, but the story was dry. Once the writing clicked and there was a serial arc-driven continuity, I couldn't put the book down. If you can look past the faulty science and seemingly cheesy animal names and bear in mind how groundbreaking this stuff was you'll enjoy it. If you read it strictly by 2013 standards you might be disappointed in the story but not the artwork. Alex Raymond is, if not the greatest, in the top five greatest comic book artists of all time. No brag, just the facts.
One thing that I find kind of funny is how honor bound all of these primitive kingdoms are. Flash usually makes some sort of challenge, beats their king or top warrior, and is granted his freedom or the kingdom. These strips are quaint and fun, especially when taken in their proper historical context.
For decades these strips were in the hands of private collectors, lost to the mists of time. You could spend a lifetime trying to collect them all and still wind up empty handed. Here you can get high quality presentation at an affordable price, considering the restoration and high production values of this book. I give thanks to the original science fiction fans who saved these strips from oblivion.
I was surprised at how many scenarios from the 1980 movie were taken from these vintage strips. It makes sense, but it was still surprising since Hollywood always knows best. Now sing it with me: Flash! Aaah-aaaahhh!! Saviour of the universe! This material has been issued several times over the years from various publishers. Many fans seem to prefer the IDW books, but I am happy with this book.
BUYER BEWARE NOTICE: There is a recalled version of this book making the rounds. Titan originally published this in May of 2012 and the book omitted two strips and repeated two others. These were recalled and given out to retailers as comp copies. Many of these were dumped onto the secondary market and eBay. Compounding this problem is that the corrected edition, which was released in October of 2012, also states in the indicia that it was published in May of 2012. Titan did everything within their power to remove this inferior, defective book from the market. They should have pulped the run rather than give them out to dealers, as I have read multiple reports of people getting defective copies, even from the almighty Amazon.com.
There is a great introduction in this book which gives the reader context of America at the time. Bear in mind that this strip predates television and all comic book superheroes. All of these wild scenarios, locales, aliens, and characters are without precedent. You had pulp heroes around this time such as the Shadow, Tarzan, and Doc Samson, but none of them flew around in spaceships, battled Hawkmen, or met and fought entire undersea kingdoms. Kingdoms that predate both the Sub-Mariner and his clone, Aquaman, by the way.
The writing and artwork are both excellent, especially for the era. This was a tough read for the first third of the book. I had a hard time getting into it. The artwork was great and kept getting better, but the story was dry. Once the writing clicked and there was a serial arc-driven continuity, I couldn't put the book down. If you can look past the faulty science and seemingly cheesy animal names and bear in mind how groundbreaking this stuff was you'll enjoy it. If you read it strictly by 2013 standards you might be disappointed in the story but not the artwork. Alex Raymond is, if not the greatest, in the top five greatest comic book artists of all time. No brag, just the facts.
One thing that I find kind of funny is how honor bound all of these primitive kingdoms are. Flash usually makes some sort of challenge, beats their king or top warrior, and is granted his freedom or the kingdom. These strips are quaint and fun, especially when taken in their proper historical context.
For decades these strips were in the hands of private collectors, lost to the mists of time. You could spend a lifetime trying to collect them all and still wind up empty handed. Here you can get high quality presentation at an affordable price, considering the restoration and high production values of this book. I give thanks to the original science fiction fans who saved these strips from oblivion.
I was surprised at how many scenarios from the 1980 movie were taken from these vintage strips. It makes sense, but it was still surprising since Hollywood always knows best. Now sing it with me: Flash! Aaah-aaaahhh!! Saviour of the universe! This material has been issued several times over the years from various publishers. Many fans seem to prefer the IDW books, but I am happy with this book.
BUYER BEWARE NOTICE: There is a recalled version of this book making the rounds. Titan originally published this in May of 2012 and the book omitted two strips and repeated two others. These were recalled and given out to retailers as comp copies. Many of these were dumped onto the secondary market and eBay. Compounding this problem is that the corrected edition, which was released in October of 2012, also states in the indicia that it was published in May of 2012. Titan did everything within their power to remove this inferior, defective book from the market. They should have pulped the run rather than give them out to dealers, as I have read multiple reports of people getting defective copies, even from the almighty Amazon.com.
February 13, 2017
Raymond's art is excellently epic and worth reading the collection for but the writing on the strip gets old very fast, basically repeating the same story arc several times in different, fantastical locales (which are beautifully rendered by Raymond, along with all the monsters and action).
March 2, 2013
It’s interesting to read the adventures of Flash Gordon, given the influence he’s had on our culture. // Flash Gordon on the Planet Mongo// is the origin of Flash Gordon; these are his first adventures on Mongo, and how he established himself on the planet, met Dale Arden, and made enough allies to become a threat to Emperor Ming the Merciless. This is definitely from the pulp side of the aisle, and it’s easy to see why so many people have tried to get Flash right in the movies and television.
It’s interesting that the stories have aged relatively well. Although the comics are definitely not as well developed as comics today---this was before characters had real personalities and plots were downright byzantine---they are still fun to read. The artwork is gorgeous, and the elements, such as the clothing and vehicles, fit rather well with the universe. For someone interested in vintage comics, this book is a veritable treasure trove of great graphics. For others , this may make for an interesting afternoon of reading.
As originally written by Jamais Jochim for http://www.portlandbookreview.com/
It’s interesting that the stories have aged relatively well. Although the comics are definitely not as well developed as comics today---this was before characters had real personalities and plots were downright byzantine---they are still fun to read. The artwork is gorgeous, and the elements, such as the clothing and vehicles, fit rather well with the universe. For someone interested in vintage comics, this book is a veritable treasure trove of great graphics. For others , this may make for an interesting afternoon of reading.
As originally written by Jamais Jochim for http://www.portlandbookreview.com/
August 5, 2012
I've struggled to put a rating to this volume. On the one hand this is historical material, here lovingly restored by Peter Maresca. This volume reprints the sundays strips from 1934 until April 1937 and for material with over 80 years I doubt that we can ever expect it to look better than this and in places the artwork of Alex Raymond really does shine.
On the other hand this is pulp adventure from an era where there was no idea of politically correctness or otherwise meaning that the villains are usually colored guys, the white guys always save the day, etc. Most of the adventures have aged not so well and after awhile one gets tired of every woman falling for Flash or every tyrant wanting to marry Dale. But that is to be expected from material this old and unless one puts this into perspective it's very hard to recommend this to other than collectors or as a curio of an age gone by.
So this gets two stars for the quality of the edition, and the craftsmanship of Alex Raymond's pencils. It gets no stars for storytelling or thrills.
On the other hand this is pulp adventure from an era where there was no idea of politically correctness or otherwise meaning that the villains are usually colored guys, the white guys always save the day, etc. Most of the adventures have aged not so well and after awhile one gets tired of every woman falling for Flash or every tyrant wanting to marry Dale. But that is to be expected from material this old and unless one puts this into perspective it's very hard to recommend this to other than collectors or as a curio of an age gone by.
So this gets two stars for the quality of the edition, and the craftsmanship of Alex Raymond's pencils. It gets no stars for storytelling or thrills.
May 16, 2019
This thing is terribly plotted (literally like watching a badly-conceived dungeon crawl about nothing but killing monsters bearing treasure supplied by Looney Toons' Acme) with an unrealistic ecosystem (no herbivores in sight), terrible costumes (seriously, no warrior queen is going to wear a bikini 24/7 for reasons of practicality), next to no characterization (especially for the women, who mostly go about falling in love with Flash Gordon because he's blond), and a healthy dose of 1930's racism (Ming's glaringly yellow skin, and Flash being a special Earthman because he's a blond superman [*cough* Aryanism *cough*]). However, with a good videogame soundtrack, the fight scenes can be fun.
Considering this is the great granddaddy of all modern comics, I now understand why women are still portrayed as such skanks. It's sad to see that the industry is still driven by their hormones instead of their brains.
Hopefully, volume 2 gets better.
Considering this is the great granddaddy of all modern comics, I now understand why women are still portrayed as such skanks. It's sad to see that the industry is still driven by their hormones instead of their brains.
Hopefully, volume 2 gets better.
April 12, 2023
I never expected comics from the 30s to be this good.
Alex Raymond's art is amazing. The story gets better and better as it goes along.
Unfortunately the weekly newspaper format relies quite often on cliffhangers which is a bit tiring because we know as soon as we flip the page Gordon and his friends will find some way out of the trouble.
Flash Gordon relies on two fool-proof tactics to get out of death. 1) He's really handsome so all the princesses on Mongo instantly fall in love with him and prevent his execution. 2) He's really really really good at playing dead. This tactic gets him out of more situations than I care to count.
Dale unfortunately doesn't get much time to shine and is mostly just eye-candy and typically operates as a MacGuffin.
All that being said these strips are a lot of fun. I'm excited to read more and check out some of the TV shows and movies.
Alex Raymond's art is amazing. The story gets better and better as it goes along.
Unfortunately the weekly newspaper format relies quite often on cliffhangers which is a bit tiring because we know as soon as we flip the page Gordon and his friends will find some way out of the trouble.
Flash Gordon relies on two fool-proof tactics to get out of death. 1) He's really handsome so all the princesses on Mongo instantly fall in love with him and prevent his execution. 2) He's really really really good at playing dead. This tactic gets him out of more situations than I care to count.
Dale unfortunately doesn't get much time to shine and is mostly just eye-candy and typically operates as a MacGuffin.
All that being said these strips are a lot of fun. I'm excited to read more and check out some of the TV shows and movies.
April 4, 2013
I just read in the book 20 Master Plots: And How to Build Them about the adventure plot. It said that the focus of the advetnture plot was action rather than charactor (like the quest plot).
If that is the case then Flash Gordon succeeds wonderfully.
A grand adventure. Hokey perhaps, but to me, the hokey-ness contributes to the fun.
Alex Raymond's artwork helps make it all work.
There is also a great introduction by a favorite artist of mine Alex Ross. Followed by a fantastic second intro by Doug Murray, which truly transported me back to the day theese strips were originally published in newspapers around the country.
Marvelous work gentlemen!
If that is the case then Flash Gordon succeeds wonderfully.
A grand adventure. Hokey perhaps, but to me, the hokey-ness contributes to the fun.
Alex Raymond's artwork helps make it all work.
There is also a great introduction by a favorite artist of mine Alex Ross. Followed by a fantastic second intro by Doug Murray, which truly transported me back to the day theese strips were originally published in newspapers around the country.
Marvelous work gentlemen!
September 28, 2012
Even accounting for the extreme age of the material, this is seminal SF and the genre owes artist Alex Raymond a great debt. Weigh the lack of characterization and cultural or gender sensitivity against the artistry and creativity and it's still very worthwhile. It gets a little repetitive, and I would've liked to see Flash have a feeling, or Zarkov apologize for getting them into this mess, but they are men of their time. Dale Arden is lovely (of course), and I liked Prince Thun the Lion Man (somehow a guy who can fly a space-gyro and owns a thought projector helmet but still thinks an automatic door might be magic appeals to me). Ming's daughter Aura is charmingly insane, and wait till you see the poisonous squirrelons!
May 6, 2015
Flash Gordon is worth a read mostly for the incredible art. Raymond had a realistic style, and it looks fantastic. Much more detailed than most other strips of the day. Costume, location, and monster designs are all interesting. The writing is pretty good too. Raymond moves the story along smoothly and has some solid cliffhangers too. Flash is your classic hero and Ming's a great villain. Because it's a 1930's strip, there are some Asian stereotypes in Ming and his men, and much of the trouble the group runs into is caused by Dale's bad decisions. Still, it's a great read for sci-fi and comic strip fans.
August 29, 2015
The story has dated badly, but the artwork is still gorgeous. Each page is action-packed; no wonder the comic strip lent itself so well to episodic movie serials. I was suprised by how sensuous it all was: every princess lusting after Flash, and every Prince or King, starting with Ming, trying to take Dale as his wife. It gets funny after a while.
Highly recommended for those interested in the history of comics and SF.
Highly recommended for those interested in the history of comics and SF.
March 29, 2016
Oh Flash!
This is a great way to connect to the Flash Gordon comics - my son and I enjoyed reading a page each as we made our way through this collection. It reminds you of what a ground breaking comic series this was. (Though what's with having Flash go half naked for most of the strip - it's almost as much fun as Kirk and his top that always seemed to get ripped).
Enjoyable and fun - what more could you want?
This is a great way to connect to the Flash Gordon comics - my son and I enjoyed reading a page each as we made our way through this collection. It reminds you of what a ground breaking comic series this was. (Though what's with having Flash go half naked for most of the strip - it's almost as much fun as Kirk and his top that always seemed to get ripped).
Enjoyable and fun - what more could you want?
October 30, 2012
Always wanted to go back and experience these original newspaper strips that inspired so much science fiction film and writing over the years and the series hasn't disappointed. The small print is occasionally a little tough on the eyes, but these stories are great fun and the Alex Raymond artwork is inspired.
March 20, 2013
Unfortunately I found this volume rather disappointing. Ignoring the silly racism and sexism, there simply wasn't much of a story to speak of, nor were the characters ever more than superficial. The introduction is partially to blame, for it had upped my expectations by off-handedly comparing this to Hal Foster's Prince Valiant.
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