Flash Gordon has been a staple in the world of superheroes for nearly 100 years, gracing us on film, television, comics, radio, novels and more. Now, the space adventure returns to comics written and illustrated by Jeremy Adams and Will Conrad respectively.

Flash awakes on a secret prison planet somewhere in the galaxy. Upon learning that Dale Arden is the subject of an assassination plot, he’s forced to break out and make his way across the galaxy to save her. Along the way, he encounters old friends, new threats, and a greater mystery surrounding WHO is pulling the strings of this universe.

First introduced in 1934 to compete with Buck Rodgers, Flash Gordon has stood the test of time and the creative team behind Mad Cave Studios’ latest comic has been able to create something new with the character while also keeping his legacy and feel in place.

The writing from Jeremy Adams is wonderful, delivering great dialogue and narrative that feels truly like a Flash Gordon story. Flash has a long and rich history that has spanned over 90 years, but there are a new generation of readers that may only know the character by name. The choice to do an origin story would’ve been easy while allowing new fans to jump on. However, what Adams did with giving us a story where Gordon wakes up on a secret prison planet seemed like the right choice. Adams jumps right into the action and setting a well-executed pace while also balancing the action and quieter moments.

Pairing well with Adams’ script is the artwork from Will Conrad, who perfectly captures the essence of Flash Gordon brining the historic character to life in each panel. Conrad gives us futuristic landscapes and dynamic fight scenes to really feel the action jumping off the page. I feel the energy and excitement of Flash Gordon back in comics making it easy to get lost in the story.

Longtime fans of Flash Gordon will be thrilled on how this new comic series captures the spirit of the original stories while adding new layers of intrigue and plenty of action. Plenty of nods to classic elements, while freshening up others to bring the stories into the modern day. It’s clear that Adams and Conrad have either a deep love for these characters and their world or they have done their research.

I was eagerly awaiting this debut issue after Mad Cave Studios made the announcement and I was not disappointed. Flash Gordon is such an iconic character and seeing him back in the pages of a comic book is truly exciting. This first issue gave us taste of the action and if the series goes where I expect it to go we are in for a truly amazing ride with Flash Gordon.

Flash Gordon #1 hits local comic shops on July 24, 2024 from Mad Cave Studios.