If you read my review for issue one then you know that I was a bit down on the issue. As a newcomer to the Flash Gordon franchise I thought that it could have done more to introduce the world and characters to people like me. Outside of that I thought the issue was pretty good, told a good story and had some amazing art. So does issue two do more for newcomers like me or does it continue to push forward without giving more context to the read?
This issue starts off with a flash back to when Flash was a kid talking to his father. After a touching scene where the dad instills some wisdom into the child we quickly move to the present where Flash and his fellow prisoner, Daranek, are being chased by a creature inside the catacombs of the prison they are trying to escape. They quickly find a solution to this problem, and we weave our way into a very interesting situation. To answer my question from above I thought Jeremy took more time in this issue to introduce Flash Gordon to us and give some context to his character. What I really enjoyed about how he did it was through the events of this issue and not through boring exposition. He manages to do all of this while also moving the story along at a brisk pace. This same tactic is also done for other reoccurring characters from the Flash Gordon universe as well. I enjoyed seeing story build on the myth of Flash Gordon and setting him up to once again defeat impossible odds. All together this issue turned me around on this series just after this one issue.
Preview Pages
The art team of Will Conrad and Lee Loughridge return for this issue and continue what they started in issue one. What made this issue’s art better for me was the fact that the story took place in multiple locations instead of just one dark damp cell. This gave the artists a chance to do more inside the panels of the issue. The variety of scenery made the action feel more intense and the moments of drama feel grander. But my favorite part of the art from this issue is all the different aliens lifeforms they got to play with in the story. As far as comic book art goes it is hard to find a team doing a better job than in these two issues.
I really felt that this series, after issue one, was going to go down a path that catered solely to longtime fans of the IP. After reading issue two I now see that they want to bring newcomers along for the ride as well. My only critique would be that more of this should have been done last issue but I understand that comics is the art of longform storytelling. This issue cements Flash Gordon as a series I will be looking forward to every month moving forward. This is a comic for people that enjoy action packed comics, science fiction action, and great looking art.
Flash Gordon #2 will be available at your local comic shop and digitally September 4th 2024. All preview pages, cover art, and the review copy of this title were provided by Don’t Hide PR, and Mad Cave Studios.
As a quick PS to this review. On the same day as Flash Gordon #2 there will also be a comic titled Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 on the shelves. As you might be able to tell by the title this comic will release once every 3 months and this time is coming out on the same day as the flagship title. I got the chance to read it and would say for people wanting more Flash Gordon this is the comic for you. It is an anthology series that features three stories, not all in continuity.
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Comic Review: Flash Gordon #2
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Writer-Jeremy Adams
Artist-Will Conrad
Colorist-Lee Loughridge
Letterer-Taylor Esposito
If you read my review for issue one then you know that I was a bit down on the issue. As a newcomer to the Flash Gordon franchise I thought that it could have done more to introduce the world and characters to people like me. Outside of that I thought the issue was pretty good, told a good story and had some amazing art. So does issue two do more for newcomers like me or does it continue to push forward without giving more context to the read?
This issue starts off with a flash back to when Flash was a kid talking to his father. After a touching scene where the dad instills some wisdom into the child we quickly move to the present where Flash and his fellow prisoner, Daranek, are being chased by a creature inside the catacombs of the prison they are trying to escape. They quickly find a solution to this problem, and we weave our way into a very interesting situation. To answer my question from above I thought Jeremy took more time in this issue to introduce Flash Gordon to us and give some context to his character. What I really enjoyed about how he did it was through the events of this issue and not through boring exposition. He manages to do all of this while also moving the story along at a brisk pace. This same tactic is also done for other reoccurring characters from the Flash Gordon universe as well. I enjoyed seeing story build on the myth of Flash Gordon and setting him up to once again defeat impossible odds. All together this issue turned me around on this series just after this one issue.
The art team of Will Conrad and Lee Loughridge return for this issue and continue what they started in issue one. What made this issue’s art better for me was the fact that the story took place in multiple locations instead of just one dark damp cell. This gave the artists a chance to do more inside the panels of the issue. The variety of scenery made the action feel more intense and the moments of drama feel grander. But my favorite part of the art from this issue is all the different aliens lifeforms they got to play with in the story. As far as comic book art goes it is hard to find a team doing a better job than in these two issues.
I really felt that this series, after issue one, was going to go down a path that catered solely to longtime fans of the IP. After reading issue two I now see that they want to bring newcomers along for the ride as well. My only critique would be that more of this should have been done last issue but I understand that comics is the art of longform storytelling. This issue cements Flash Gordon as a series I will be looking forward to every month moving forward. This is a comic for people that enjoy action packed comics, science fiction action, and great looking art.
Flash Gordon #2 will be available at your local comic shop and digitally September 4th 2024. All preview pages, cover art, and the review copy of this title were provided by Don’t Hide PR, and Mad Cave Studios.
As a quick PS to this review. On the same day as Flash Gordon #2 there will also be a comic titled Flash Gordon Quarterly #1 on the shelves. As you might be able to tell by the title this comic will release once every 3 months and this time is coming out on the same day as the flagship title. I got the chance to read it and would say for people wanting more Flash Gordon this is the comic for you. It is an anthology series that features three stories, not all in continuity.
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