Mad Cave Studios revealed that the comics world of Flash Gordon is expanding with a new Defenders of the Earth series. The new title, which features writing by Dan DiDio and art from Jim Calafiore, explores a team roster that resembles the classic 80s cartoon, including Flash Gordon. Keeping in line with the aesthetic and tropes of the saturday morning cartoon era, the press release describes the crux of Defenders of the Earth as “contemporary issues and timeless themes, while tackling relevant topics of gender, familial expectations, and the ethical dilemmas of modern heroism.”
In the press release, DiDio discussed taking influence from the TV series, stating:
“As a fan of the original animated series, I was excited by the opportunity to work on this title. I’m hoping to build on some of the show’s classic elements and move them in new directions while exploring the personalities and lives of the characters that make the series great. One of the best aspects of the series was finding a way to unite the show’s four disparate, iconic stars following the end of their war with Ming. What sets it apart from other books featuring Flash Gordon, Mandrake, The Phantom, and Lothar is the added generational aspect of the story—that’s the fun part of writing. The father/son relationships of Flash and Rick, and Lothar and LJ; the father/daughter relationship of The Phantom and Jenna; and the mentor/protege relationship of Mandrake and Kshin are really the heart of the story. What makes and breaks these families is key to saving the world from a new and more deadly challenge.”
Alongside the reveal of the book, Mad Cave also shared a first look at the first covers for the series. Calafiore illustrated the main cover while Djordje Djokovic and Andy Clarke provided the first two variant covers. All three can be seen below.
Calafiore spoke about the artistic opportunities that came with the series, stating:
“I don’t say that I’m so old that I read the original strips back in the day, but every artist knows these classic characters and have been influenced by them and their creators. A lot of great artists have worked on them over the years. The challenge, and the fun, is having my name added to the list.”
Defenders of the Earth #1 will be in comic stores and digital platforms on Wednesday August 14.