Publisher Mad Cave Studios and King Features Syndicate have announced they are partnering for new “Flash Gordon” comic books. While details are vague for now, Mad Cave’s license includes the rights for original comic books, and reprints of older ones. The line will include graphic novels from the publisher’s middle-grade imprint Papercutz, and begin in 2024, during the 90th anniversary of Alex Raymond’s classic space hero.
Christina Nix Lynch, licensing director of King Features, stated, “As one of the first action heroes, Flash Gordon has always been powerhouse in the comics universe. We’re delighted to have a partner like Mad Cave Studios on board who are true Flash fans as well as publishing experts. This program will bring a long-awaited, regular stream of new and legacy content to generations of readers.”
Mark Irwin, Mad Cave’s Senior Vice President, added, “From the incredible art of Alex Raymond to the adventures of the Defenders of the Earth, and on to the cult classic Sam Jones-led film, Flash Gordon is an integral part of both the history of comics and the actual DNA of storytelling. Mad Cave and King Features are not only happy to be working together to bring Flash to our readers but also to grow the Flash Gordon legacy.”
Flash Gordon debuted in a daily syndicated comic strip on January 7, 1934, which ran until 1992, and on Sundays until 2003. The character soon starred in a film serial in 1936, which would later inspire Star Wars, the success of which prompted the production of the Sam Jones film. Virtually every major comic book publisher has released their own “Flash Gordon” series, the most recent of whom was Dynamite Entertainment, who published an acclaimed run by Jeff Parker and Evan “Doc” Shaner in 2014. In 2020, the character headlined an Archie crossover special, and a weekly anthology to celebrate the movie’s 40th anniversary.
In further Mad Cave news today, the publisher announced the first comic from their recently announced partnership with Israeli animator and TV writer Amit Tishler. A four-part historical fantasy called “Edenfrost,” the series follows two Jewish children during the Russian Civil War from 1917 to 1922, as they call upon the power of a golem for protection after losing their parents in a pogrom. “In a harrowing journey through war-torn Ukraine, the duo will face the harsh reality of warfare, ethnic bias, and national pride as they fight for their own place in the world.” It features art by Bruno Frenda, with lettering by Taylor Esposito, and will begin sometime in November.
