Exciting news has been announced today as King Features Syndicate and Mad Cave Studios reveal a significant publishing deal to revive the beloved Flash Gordon character in 2024, just in time for his 90th birthday. Described as a “master publishing partnership,” the agreement will include reprints, new material, and a special line of publications targeting younger readers through Mad Cave Studio’s middle-grade imprint, Papercutz.
According to the press release, King Features Syndicate, a division of Hearst and home to many beloved entertainment characters, is partnering with Mad Cave Studios to develop a comprehensive range of new narratives, comics reprints, and graphic novels featuring the iconic hero Flash Gordon. The initial release of the Flash Gordon stories is scheduled for 2024. The collaboration aims to bring thrilling adventures, imaginative worlds, and epic storytelling to fans of all ages, ensuring Flash Gordon’s position at the forefront of the comic and graphic novel industry.
Christina Nix Lynch, the Licensing Director at King Features, expressed her excitement about the partnership, stating, “Flash Gordon has always been a powerhouse in the comics universe as one of the first action heroes. We are thrilled to have Mad Cave Studios as a partner, as they are not only true Flash fans but also publishing experts. This program will provide a long-awaited, regular stream of new and classic content for readers spanning generations.”
Mark Irwin, the Senior Vice President of Mad Cave Studios, added, “From the incredible art of Alex Raymond to the adventures of the Defenders of the Earth, and the cult classic film led by Sam Jones, Flash Gordon holds a significant place in the history of comics and storytelling. Mad Cave and King Features are delighted to work together to bring Flash to our readers while also expanding the Flash Gordon legacy.”
Flash Gordon, created in 1934 by Alex Raymond, was an iconic character in its time. The strip enjoyed immense success, spawning various tie-ins and spinoffs. Although the popularity of the strip waned with the decline of comic strips in newspapers, Flash Gordon’s influence can still be seen in the creation and design of early superheroes such as Superman and Batman. The character also inspired comic serials worldwide, including Edgar Jacobs’ precursor to Blake & Mortimer in Belgium and Mike Butterworth & Don Lawrence’s epic scifi series, The Trigan Empire, in the UK.
Flash Gordon has had a long-standing presence in different forms of media, including TV series, stage plays, novels, and radio serials. The character even starred in a cult classic 1980 movie with a soundtrack by British rock band Queen. The most recent Flash Gordon comics were produced by Dynamite Entertainment in the 2010s, with a crossover event with Archie in 2020.
With this new partnership between Mad Cave Studios and King Features, the future of Flash Gordon looks promising and could mark a significant comeback for the character. More updates on this exciting collaboration are expected to be released soon.