King/Dynamite Entertainment 2016
Written by Jeff Parker & Jesse Hamm
Illustrated by Jesse Hamm
Coloured by Grace Allison
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Ming the Merciless wanted Earth. He smashed our technology and sent a bevy of Beast-Men to finish the job. He failed. Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mandrake The Magician were stronger than he anticipated. Now, Ming has returned...with a better plan.
Last issue a new continent appeared on Earth. Ming is back and raised this continent but for what purpose and how did he survive the events of the last series? Those questions and more are addressed this issue. Actually I have to say i’m really liking the way this one is going so far, though I miss Jungle Jim. The writing is smart and flows nicely and the pacing and story development are done extremely well.
Earth learns that Ming is back and the powers that be have to decide what to do about it. After all he’s already destroyed any seafaring vessels that have approached. Meanwhile Flash and the gang are on the continent. When we see them Ming’s got a projection of himself and he’s there to welcome them all. Of course he’s also Ming and boy does he like to hear himself talk. So there’s a great monologue from him telling us not only how he survived Dale’s treachery but how he got to Earth as well.
If there’s ever something to really love it’s a well written and delivered villain monologue. I’m here to tell you that you won’t find a better one around these days than this one right here. It just covered all the bases, it exudes the kind of bravado that is typical Ming and above all it’s just utterly brilliant.
The interiors are okay. The use of page layouts through angles and perspective are well done. There’s some nice creativity and imagination on display in the use of the threats to the gang on the new continent. You definitely get an older vibe from the work that is more akin to the old school serials that used to proliferate newspapers.
Speaking of I really do like that the series keep bleeding into one another much like those old time serials. It’s like we’re getting a look at what the world is going through again when they have to go to the movies to get their news and listen to the radio for entertainment. There’s a great sense of history that’s on display here alongside the whole humanity will survive and thrive despite what they’ve been through.
The way we keep getting to see these characters keep soldiering on and moving forward through the stories and characterisation is wonderfully done. These are old time heroes acting the way we haven’t seen in ages and it’s nice to see them acting and behaving this way. The creative team really has captured the King spirit and has been able to really move them into the present while keeping that spirit alive and well.