I’m sure I’ve mentioned at some time that one of my most memorable comic experiences growing up was Alex Raymond’s “Flash Gordon.” It started off as far as I can tell with a way for my parents to keep my brother and I quiet as we moved. I was given volume one and my brother volume two of the original series. The artwork was amazing , the story was great and for the longest time I tracked down the entire 5 volumes that had been published leading up to Flash, Dale, & Zarkov’s return to Earth. After that as a kid I figured the story ended. It wasn’t until later that I discovered that there were more adventures (including a return to Mongo). This of course after I had lost the original compendiums I had purchased growing up. And then there’s the film versions… Buster Crabbe’s Serials and the 1980 version which drips of camp, but actually isn’t that bad when it comes to paying homage to the art of Alex Raymond and his ideas of what Mongo looked like. Tonight I have the chance to see that film again on the big screen as the opening event for Indy Pop Con. So take a walk with me down memory lane…
Flash – a-ah – saviour of the universe
Flash – a-ah – he’ll save everyone of us
Flash – a-ah – he’s a miracle
Flash – a-ah – king of the impossible
He’s for everyone of us
Stand for everyone of us
He’ll save with a mighty hand
Every man every woman
Every child – with a mighty flash
Flash – a-ah
Flash – a-ah – he’ll save everyone of us
Just a man
With a man’s courage
He knows nothing but a man
But he can never fail
No one but the pure in heart
May find the golden grail
Oh oh – oh oh
Flash
If you want a modern take on what really would happen to a spacefaring hero returning to Earth after saving a planet I highly recommend Mark Millar’s “Starlight.” Fantastic story, that I hear might become a film in the near future… sadly, I don’t think Queen will be doing the soundtrack.