Publisher: Dynamite Comics
Writer: Jeff Parker
Art: Evan Shaner
Release Date: 6th August 2014

Dynamite’s latest addition to its growing stable of pulp heroes has set a pretty unrelenting pace from the outset, forgoing the incremental pace of a typical origin story and instead dropping readers right into the action. It’s only in this latest issue that we find out why Flash and his fellow ‘Terrans’ find themselves on Mongo to begin with. The issue brings the first story arc of the series to a close and establishes Flash as a subversive influence on the colonies of Mongo, inspiring rebellion on the forest world of Arboria.

For me, this latest incarnation of Flash faithfully captures the essence of Alex Raymond’s original idea, Jeff Parker resisting the temptation to reinvent the character from scratch. There are, of course, a few minor revisions; Flash is now an extreme sports enthusiast, and fencing champion (he was originally a Polo player, before being cast as an American Football quarterback in the 1980s movie), but he is still very much the fearless man of action we’ve come to expect. When others are thinking and talking, Flash is acting and doing, sometimes to his detriment and those around him, but always with characteristic enthusiasm. The only other noticeable change is to the character of Dale Arden, now cast as a scientific journalist and no longer a mere damsel in distress. The change serves to enhances the dynamic of the central trio, and makes her the perfect filter between the highbrow intellect of Zarkov and the more action oriented Flash.

Clearly evocative of Alex Raymond’s classic ‘clear line’ style, Evan Shaner turns in some great artwork here, featuring a cool retro futuristic design for Mongo’s technology and structures. His interpretation of Flash reminds me of of Buster Crabbe (star of the early TV serials), and Prince Barin bears a striking resemblance to Timothy Dalton’s ’80s movie version. I particularly like how Ming is depicted as an almost omnipotent being, his image dominating almost every panel he appears in. If I were being critical at all, it would be regarding the decision to have blue-skinned men living in a forest, the colour would perhaps be more suited to characters living in a ocean or snow-bound environment.

A rip-roaring slice of high adventure, that combines elements of the character’s rich history to great effect.

Rating: 4/5

---

The writer of this piece was: Martin Doyle
You can follow Martin on Twitter
You can check out more of Martins reviews and thoughts on random retro things over at Retromuse