On Friday, we asked what classic 80s cartoon series our readers most wanted to see return in comics form. While a lot of the series got multiple votes (unlike my beloved Filmation’s Ghostbusters), a few stood out among the voters, with the winner being a show that has almost had a comic adaptation. Almost.
Defenders of the Earth, the cartoon series featuring Flash Gordon, the Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and other King Features Syndicate characters (and many of their children), came in first with 13.7% of the vote. The series seems almost inconceivable looking back: a co-production between Kings Syndicate and Marvel, with a theme song featuring lyrics by Stan Lee, and 65 episodes produced, but all debuted between September 8 and December 5 of 1986. The reason I say that this almost got a comic is that Jeff Parker wrote a trio of miniseries featuring these characters: “Kings Watch,” “Flash Gordon: Kings Cross,” and “Kings Quest.” They’re all quite good.
M.A.S.K. came in second with 11.8%. The series based on the toy and the acronym for Mobile Armored Strike Kommand, had 75 episodes, bizarrely split into two seasons: 65 in season one, 10 in season two.
Third place was a tie with Silverhawks and Super Friends each receiving 9.8%. There have been some Super Friends comics in the recent past, but aside from a Marvel/Star 7-issue series in 1987-1988, there hasn’t been anything. That needs to change.
Check back on Friday for our next Reader Poll!
