Dynamite has just announced that Flash Gordon is the latest classic American hero that they’re bringing into the 21st century with a shot of new blood and adrenaline. The new series, sub-titled ZEITGEIST, will be bowing this November with a script by Eric Trautmann, art by Daniel Lindro and the guiding creative influence of none other than Alex Ross, and the plot shakes out a little like this…

As Flash Gordon's story begins, it is a time of two-fisted swashbuckling, of fearsome threats and wild adventure-and of ever-growing threats on the horizon. Three valiant humans -- Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov -- are plucked from the Earth, traveling to the distant planet Mongo. Their exploits are legendary, battling the machinations and terror schemes of the dreaded emperor Ming, the All-Seeing Ruler of Mongo. But they did not fight alone! And coming up, witness a startling meeting with Ming the Merciless! With the fate of our world helpless, can even Flash Gordon save us?

Seeing as how Ross has stated on numerous occasions that Dino De Laurentiis’ extravagant FLASH GORDON movie from the 80s is his all-time favorite movie, it honestly felt like only a matter of time before he’d do his spin on the character for Dynamite. The man works on such an unfathomably-superlative level of character design, it’s been a real treat to see him revamp the looks of all these legendary characters like Buck Rogers and the Shadow at Dynamite in the same way he essentially re-designed the entireMarvel and DC universes in EARTH X and KINGDOM COME.

Of course, Trautmann has much to say his part of this new vision, thusly intoning…

I've adored Flash Gordon for as long as I've been reading, and the opportunity to play with Alex Raymond's material -- in a way I don't think has been done before -- is truly exciting. The Raymond strips were just so plot-dense, with a sense of 'anything goes' that I look for -- often unsuccessfully -- in contemporary comics. And, of course, several times a week, I check my e-mail, and find a dozen amazing pieces of artwork from Alex Ross; I'd be hard-pressed to find someone who has a greater understanding of the characters, or who harbors more affection for them, than Alex... He's an exceptional 'vision holder' for our tale.

Flash's return to pop culture at this particular moment feels especially timely. The shanghaied spaceman's adventures have had a profound influence on the entire face of adventure fiction that endures to this very day. Not only is STAR WARS' Emperor Palpatine directly inspired by Flash's foe, Ming the Merciless, but you can be sure that AVATAR's only the latest story to be inspired by this timeless tale of an American everyman thrust into a faraway alien planet's political intrigue.

November can't come soon enough, for sure. To make the wait a little easier, how about you maniacs give all the comics' spectacular alternate covers a gander below...?

Gallery

Interesting stuff, Ross really does produce some beautiful art and indeed Earth X especially.

Oh man...I would LOVE to get this too. Gosh, Dynamite scores once again I say! So exciting!

Dynamite Entertainment continues to put materials that are of interest with characters and ideas I like but I only wished I could afford to get. Glad they aren't afraid to "run with the big dogs" and having Alex Ross involved sweetens the deal. Looks and sounds great!

Alex Ross and Dynamite continue to pay homage to the core of this medium The Shadow! Flash Gordon! Jack Kirbyverse! The Various forgotten Golden Age Stars! Green Hornet! Gives me a Pulpy Golden warm feeling. Ross is destined to leave behind a diverse and deep legacy of work that acknowledges the Importance of the medium and it's true essence. Bravo Dynamite!@MatKrenz said:

oh man, I am SOOOOO stoked to see Ross doing this. A most definite MUST HAVE.

Ross is incredible. I always consider any book he touches. I've been trying to get a copy of the Kingdom Come trade for as long as I can remember but they ran out at my local comics store (Europe). I won't give up tho! It needs a place on my shelf right next to Marvels :)

Outstanding, this I will be picking up.

FLASH! AHHHH OOOHHHH! Savior of the universe!
Dynamite is picking up titles that I want to read but as long as we don't get people like Kevin smith on to do the writing where he only does the work when he feels like it.

Looking forward to this, I'm still a fan of the Flash Gordon comic strips!

looks wonderful. cant wait

Sexyyyy

OMG !!! i hope this is as good as it could be.....LOVE Flash and the 80's film !

Something not covered by the article: possibly the most fun I've ever had writing a script.  
 
Something else: the first issue is only a dollar (for a full-length, 22-page issue).  
  
Mr. Deneen is quite correct; Flash Gordon isn't really "returning" to comics. Certainly Dark Horse, Titan, Checker and his own Ardden Entertainment have kept Flash Gordon "alive" for quite a while.  
 
That said, I (immodestly) think our version will knock your socks off.  
  
-E

I'm definitely getting this

Flash Gordon isn't "returning" to comics this November.  We've been publishing the character since 2008.  Our current Flash Gordon comic book series has been praised by Publishers Weekly, Aint It Cool News, and many others.

FLASH GORDON: INVASION OF THE RED SWORD #4 (the 12th issue of our ongoing series) hits comic stores next week. After INVASION concludes with issue #6, we have two more six-issue arcs coming your way, THE VENGEANCE OF MING and KING OF THE IMPOSSIBLE!


--Brendan Deneen

www.Ardden-Entertainment.com

Is this out yet?

I have to pick it up!