APRIL USHERS IN THE MERCILESS RISE OF MING!

Art: Alex Ross

PRESS RELEASE:

SPINNING-OFF FROM FLASH GORDON - ZEITGEIST…THE PREQUEL COMIC BOOK SERIES, MERCILESS - THE RISE OF MING #1!

IN STORES APRIL 2012!!!

Art: Alex Ross

January 11th, 2011, Runnemede, NJ - The iconic legend Flash Gordon made his dynamic splash back into comics with Dynamite Entertainment with Flash Gordon - Zeitgeist!  Spinning off from that series is the prequel comic book series, Merciless - The Rise of Ming #1, which is written by Scott Beatty and drawn by Ron Adrian, with an incredible cover from Alex Ross and is in stores April 2012!  In issue #1, Prince Ming begins his rise to dominion over the entirety of Mongo! But who (or what) was Ming before he was 'Merciless'? Find out here as the origin of one of science fiction's preeminent villains is presented in all its diabolical details! Be sure to get Merciless - The Rise of Ming #1 in April 2012!

 

Art: Alex Ross

"In most heroic fiction, we (the readers, that is) never really question why the villains do very bad things. It's always just assumed that evil is as evil does," says writer Scott Beatty. "Ming is one of the great antagonists of science fiction. In many ways, he's archetypal and the model for all intergalactic despots to follow. But he's not just Ming. Everybody knows he's Ming the MERCILESS. And he's successful at being just that. Ming has a plan. For EVERYTHING. Readers of FLASH GORDON can think of MERCILESS: THE RISE OF MING as "required reading" for the series' central conflict. It's a primer that reveals not just who Ming the Merciless is--well before he ruled all of Mongo--but just what he did to get there... and WHY he did it."



Art: Alex Ross



Art: Alex Ross

"Scott [Beatty] has taken the groundwork laid by Eric [Trautmann] and Alex [Ross] in Flash Gordon and gone back in time to tell the tale of the Rise of Ming," states Dynamite Editor Joe Rybandt. "This is the direct precursor to the story in Flash Gordon and presents the definitive origin of the universe's most merciless dictator."

Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction adventure comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip.

The original Flash Gordon comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. The story begins with Earth bombarded by fiery meteors. Dr. Zarkov invents a rocket ship to locate their place of origin in outer space. Half mad, he kidnaps Flash and Dale, whose plane has crashed in the area, and the three travel to the planet Mongo, where they discover the meteors are weapons devised by Ming the Merciless, evil ruler of Mongo.

For many years, the three companions have adventures on Mongo, traveling to the forest kingdom of Arboria, ruled by Prince Barin; the ice kingdom of Frigia, ruled by Queen Fria; the jungle kingdom of Tropica, ruled by Queen Desira; the undersea kingdom of the Shark Men, ruled by King Kala; and the flying city of the Hawkmen, ruled by Prince Vultan. They are joined in several early adventures by Prince Thun of the Lion Men. Eventually, Ming is overthrown, and Mongo is ruled by a council of leaders led by Barin. Flash and friends return to Earth and have some adventures before returning to Mongo and crashing in the kingdom of Tropica, before reuniting with Barin and others. Flash and his friends would travel to other worlds and frequently return to Mongo, where Prince Barin, married to Ming's daughter Princess Aura, has established a peaceful rule (except for frequent revolts led by Ming or by one of his many descendants). The long story of the Skorpii War takes Flash to other star systems, using starships that are faster than light.
 

Scott Beatty has worked extensively for the popular comic book publisher DC Comics since the mid '90s. He is perhaps best known for his work on several encyclopedic guides to superheroes.  He has also worked writing comic books, recently contributing to the Wildstorm reboot World's End with the series Wildstorm: Revelations and Number of the Beast.  Other projects include Buck Rogers, The Last Phantom, and Merciless - The Rise of Ming for Dynamite Entertainment.

Join the conversation on Twitter with #FlashGordon and on Dynamite Entertainment's twitter page at http://twitter.com/DynamiteComics

To find a comic shop near you, call 1-888-comicbook or visit www.comicshoplocator.com

For art and more information, please visit: www.dynamite.net

Dynamite Entertainment Releases an Extended Preview of FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1

Wraparound Cover Art: Francesco Francavilla

Cover: Alex Ross

Dynamite Entertainment has released a preview of the upcoming FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1, which debuts November 30^th wherever you buy your favorite comic book entertainment.

Click on images for a larger view.

Cover: Francesco Francavilla

FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1
32 pages FC • Full issue introductory price $1.00 • Teen +
Written by ERIC TRAUTMANN
Plot and Art Direction by ALEX ROSS
Art by DANIEL INDRO
Covers by ALEX ROSS (75%), PAUL RENAUD (25%), FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA (1-in-10), WAGNER REIS (1-in-25)
"Negative Effect Art" Retailer Incentive cover by ALEX ROSS
"Retro Original Art" Retailer Incentive cover by FRANCESCO FRANCAVILLA
"Black & White" Retailer Incentive cover by PAUL RENAUD

Cover: Wagner Reis

"Sketch Art" Retailer Incentive cover by ALEX ROSS
The year is 1934, a time of two-fisted swashbuckling, of fearsome threats and wild adventure—and of ever-growing threats on the horizon.

Three valiant humans -- Flash Gordon, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov -- are plucked from the Earth, traveling to the distant planet Mongo. Their exploits are legendary, battling the machinations and terror schemes of the dreaded emperor Ming, the All-Seeing Ruler of Mongo. But they did not fight alone…

Written by Eric Trautmann (Vampirella, Red Sonja), from a story and designs by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Project Superpowers), and illustrated by Daniel Lindro (Sherlock Holmes: Year One).

To learn more about Dynamite Entertainment, please visit http://www.dynamite.net/.

Cover: Paul Renaud

Look for FLASH GORDON: ZEITGEIST #1 in stores November 30^th.

ARDDEN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS. FLASH.

NEWS. FLASH!!

FLASH GORDON : THE VENGEANCE OF MING COMING SEPTEMBER 2011
INVASION OF THE RED SWORD TPB - COMING THIS FALL 2011

With the next exciting Flash Gordon series on the launching pad (The Vengeance of Ming #1 - due September '11), Ardden can also reveal that its Collected Edition of The Mercy Wars is almost out of print and due to go back to press this fall for the book market and with a brand new cover too!

The Mercy Wars has gained great reviews and critical acclaim and collects the hard to find issue zero and issues #1 to #6 of the mini series released in 2009. Written by Brendan Deneen with art by Paul Green, Flash Gordon: The Mercy Wars #1 sold a staggering 15,000 copies of its debut issue in July 2008 and since then fans have just loved Ardden's twist on a the classic sci-fi hero.

The follow-up collected edition, The Invasion Of the Red Sword, is also written by Deneen by this time Eduardo Garcia provides the interior artwork, with colors by JOK and will be 160 pages with additional material and priced at $19.99.

Ardden has something planned for the New York Comic-con this fall for Flash fans - so make sure you're they're to "pick up" the excitement!

FLASH GORDON : THE INVASION OF THE RED SWORD #2 - OUT NOW!!
ISSUE #3 IN JULY!

Thank you everyone who have been emailing us about the next issue of Flash Gordon IOTRS... well, you'll be pleased to know that issue #2 is out now, with issue #3 in stores very soon.

Both Brendan and yours truly would like to let you know that Flash will return with another series very soon and after IOTRS is wrapped up in August. We're so pleased with the feedback we're getting - and the fanbase we've built - that we'd love to keep it going for another 1000 issues, but Brendan has a definitive story that will end after 24 issues and as they say "all good things come to an end."

We'd also like to thank you for the emails that amassed after another indie publisher announced that it too would be publishing Flash Gordon. We're none too worried as we know that when we all look back in a few years we'll all agree that Ardden's Flash was the best one out there. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery -- and we tend to agree! :)

Moving on... we have lots planned. The last few months have been rather busy for us with several new indie signings, one of which has caught the eye of several international publishers and studios. But for now... Flash is our main goal and to make sure you love what we're doing each and every month.

FLASH GORDON : INVASION OF THE RED SWORD #2
Writer: Brendan Deneen
Artist: Eduardo Garcia
Price: $3.99
Full Color

To learn more about Ardden Entertainment, please visit http://limited-edition-comix.com/atlas/index.htm