Flash Gordon #3 Review

Does this title have enough going to garner fandom? Read on to find out.

The official description from Dynamite:

THE MAN FROM EARTH vs. THE BEAST-MEN OF ARBORIA! Flash must be crushed in public to prove that all those who oppose Ming shall perish! Will Flash’s wits and wiles win the day, or might Ming massacre his menace? Full-throttle space epic action from dream team JEFF PARKER (Batman ’66, Aquaman), EVAN SHANER (Adventures of Superman) and JORDIE BELLAIRE (Moon Knight)!

You know that feeling you get when you realize that a recent interpretation of an aged property just brilliantly re-introduced a key character from the original and you had no idea it was coming? Well I didn’t but now I do because this creative team has brought in Thun and they did it in a way that was simply perfect.

Jeff Parker introduced all of us to the planet Arboria as our heroes pretended to be a team sent from Mongo in order to gain entry without garnering suspicion. There they discovered the frightening origins of the ferocious Beat Men (see: Kings Watch for more detail) which forced Flash Gordon to witness the horrors of Ming first hand. This issue picks up with an emotional crescendo as our intrepid hero leaps into action which sets the sage for some potentially dire consequences. All the while we see tactical skill, earn some laughs and gain insight into this dastardly enemy.

The art by Evan Shaner is exactly the type of work this comic book needs. From the first page to the final panel the talent offers a wide array of detailed renditions that never overburden the written word but instead lift it to new heights. And when the colors done by Jordie Bellaire are added to the mix the entire look and feel of this outing comes together. In short: the display is a masterful feat which suits the adventure at hand.

Flash Gordon #2 is a fun space odyssey that deserves a spot on your pull-list. Through the skill of its creative team it earns accolades as it comes highly recommended.