I never had the Flash Gordon comic strip in my local paper, and my first introduction wasn’t the cult hit movie or the old serials. It came from two sources. This cartoon:
…and the book I’m about to review. I suppose this is, by textbook definition, a “graphic novel”. It’s a comic book in novel form, although it’s actually three short stories. I picked this one up at my school’s book fair (which I think was my favorite thing about school since I loved to read even back then) when I was in elementary school, and I’m thinking that despite when the book was published it had to be around the same time as the cartoon. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what drew me to it. Then you have a guy battling a giant lizard with a sword while some tribal girl tried to not die. Third or fourth grade me? SOLD!
Doesn’t actually happen in the book, which is too bad.
Flash Gordon: The Ice Monster
Tom Doherty Associates (1966, 1968?)
WRITER/ARTIST: Al Williamson
For those of you not in the know, the Flash Gordon comic strip, created by Alex Raymond, involves the title character and his friends battling evil on the planet Mongo, mainly dealing with Ming the Merciless to stop his invasion of Earth. Their plan was to unite the various kingdoms against Ming. This story takes place after they succeeded and Mongo was at peace. You can learn more about the strip thanks to a review by my colleague at Reviewers Unknown, the Comic Strip Critic.
The Clutter Reports 