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    Dynamite Entertainment

    REVIEW: Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #1

    Stephen SchleicherBy Stephen SchleicherNovember 28, 2011Updated:November 28, 20113 Comments4 Mins Read

    He’s for everyone of us, stand for everyone of us! He’ll save with a mighty hand, every man, every woman, every child, with a mighty FLASH! Dynamite Entertainment takes readers back, back, back, waaaay back, to tell the tale of Flash Gordon taking on Ming the Merciless.

    FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1
    Plot and Script: Eric Trautmann
    Plot and Art Direction: Alex Ross
    Artist: Daniel Indro
    Colorist: Slamet Mujiono
    Letterer: Simon Bowland
    Covers: Alex Ross (75%), Paul Renaud (25%), Francesco Francavilla (1 in 10), Wagner Reis (1 in 25)
    Editor: Joseph Rybandt
    Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment
    Cover Price: $1.00

    Previously in Flash Gordon: Everything you knew about Flash Gordon is gonna get flipped on its head. No Buster Crabbe, no Playgirl-centerfold Sam J. Jones, and no T.V.’s Steve Holland.

    MING MEET HITLER

    Earth is being bombarded by fiery meteors, and the President has called for anyone who can assist with the crisis to help. SPLASHPAGE to Flash Gordon, a polo player, and Dale Arden, cartographer and researcher, parachuting to safety after their plane is hit by a flaming rock from space. The duo land at the doorstep of Dr. Hans Zarkov, who believes he can solve the meteor menace by kidnapping Flash and Dale in his rocket ship with a destination to Mongo.

    If this sounds familiar, it should, it is the basic plot of the first appearance of Flash Gordon in the funny pages way back in 1934. In a day and age where everything is getting a modern update to classic characters and tales, it is good to see Dynamite Entertainment, Eric Trautman, and Alex Ross paying homage to the source material.

    There are things that do get tweaked the original though; Zarkov is a stark raving over the top lunatic in this issue, which does so much more to explain how the trio end up on Mongo, and to give Earth a bad guy, and it is revealed that Ming and Hitler are in league with one another. Hitler serves as the proxy ruler for Ming in exchange for help in overthrowing the world. The issue closes out with the introduction of three new characters – Kimjo the Lion Man, Vulkor the Hawkman, but not THAT Hawkman, and Ziva Aljaani of the Golden People. They have been sent to Earth by what readers are lead to believe is a resistance group to track down and kill Hitler. So by the end of issue one, it looks like we are going to get parallel storytelling between the lost heroes on Mongo and the lost heroes on Earth. It should be interesting, though in the end, the story may not has much impact if the two groups don’t join forces at some point.

    ROSS MEET THE GOLDEN AGE (AGAIN)

    When the art shines, it does so because it too harkens back to the days of yesteryear and the source material. Dr. Zarkov’s spaceship is right out of the Golden Age, and the few shots we do see of Ming are the classic character one expects to see in the comics.

    Even though Ross isn’t doing the art in this issue, he did give guidance to Daniel Indro on the direction the art should take. For the most part, the issue is a success, though there are times when certain panels get too cluttered making it hard to discern what is going on. Of course this could also be the result of the watermarked preview copy sent to to us by Dynamite Entertainment.

    BOTTOM LINE: I’D BUY THAT FOR A DOLLAR (AND SO SHOULD YOU)

    Flash (AAAAAHHHH!) will save every one of us! And he’s gonna do it in the pages of Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist. The introductory issue is pretty solid as far as first issues go as we’re introduced to the key characters, the antagonist, and the world of the future (cira the 1930s). I like that the story takes pieces from the source, and adds a bit of its own flair. The art is solid, though overuse of the color red tends to make the pages seem muddy. For a dollar, there’s really no reason not to pick up this first issue, and once you do, you soon discover the story sucks you in. Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #1 earns 4 out of 5 Stars.

    Rating: ★★★★☆

    Alex Ross Dynamite Entertainment Flash Gordon Review
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    Stephen Schleicher
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    Stephen Schleicher began his career writing for the Digital Media Online community of sites, including Digital Producer and Creative Mac covering all aspects of the digital content creation industry. He then moved on to consumer technology, and began the Coolness Roundup podcast. A writing fool, Stephen has freelanced for Sci-Fi Channel's Technology Blog, and Gizmodo. Still longing for the good ol' days, Stephen launched Major Spoilers in July 2006, because he is a glutton for punishment. You can follow him on Twitter @MajorSpoilers and tell him your darkest secrets...

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    3 Comments

    1. tidge on November 28, 2011 6:32 pm

      The Sam J. Jones “Flash Gordon” is a great under-rated film, and I was shocked to see Alex Ross’ mad-on for it at a comic convention many years ago.

      The only legitimate criticism of the film that I’ll accept is that the soundtrack does battle *against* the film at times…but otherwise it is an incredibly witty script with canny (or is it campy, you decide!) acting and helluva great set/costume design.

      Thanks for letting me know about the existence of this book, if I can score an issue 1 it will go on my pull list.

      Reply
    2. emmanuel armas on November 29, 2011 10:28 am

      after 15 years alez ross shoudl step down his art now looks the same every time on every company and charactter

      Reply
    3. Eric Trautmann on November 29, 2011 7:33 pm

      Thanks for the kind words, guys. Glad you enjoyed the issue. :)

      -E

      Reply

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