Summary

• Flash Gordon faces Ming's deadliest weapon, the Unraveler, capable of destroying planets like Earth.
• Mad Cave Studios revives Flash Gordon, introducing massive franchise plans and bringing classic strips back.
• Flash's battle with the Unraveler changes his universe forever, rivaling the Death Star in destructive power.

Warning: contains spoilers for Free Comic Book Day: Flash Gordon #0!

Flash Gordon has just made his epic return to comics, and has unveiled the franchise’s answer to the Death Star. Mad Cave Studios recently obtained the license to produce new Flash Gordon comics, and they kick off their run with a bang in Free Comic Book Day: Flash Gordon #0 by introducing Ming the Merciless’ newest weapon, one capable of destroying whole planets–and Earth is next.

Mad Cave Studios is planning a massive franchise around Flash Gordon, including bringing classic strips back into print.

Free Comic Book Day: Flash Gordon #0 is written by Jeremy Adams and drawn by Will Conrad. Work has just finished on Ming’s newest, and deadliest, weapon: the Unraveler. This massive planet-killer, once fired, will unravel the molecular structure of its target. Ming intends to use it on Earth. Outside of Ming’s citadel, Flash Gordon is leading an army, hoping to stop Ming before he can activate it.

Flash is seemingly killed, but it was all a ruse to get him into MIng’s fortress.

Once inside, he attempts to destroy the Unraveler–but destroys the planet Mongo in the process.

The Star Wars Franchise Owes a Huge Debt to Flash Gordon

Now, Star Wars Is Influencing Flash Gordon

It is only fitting that Flash Gordon acknowledges Star Wars, as Flash’s adventures were a massive influence on George Lucas. Created to compete with the popular Buck Rogers comic strip, Flash Gordon debuted on January 7, 1934. Created by Alex Raymond, Flash Gordon followed the titular hero as he and his allies Dale Arden and Doctor Zarkov as they fought against Ming the Merciless. Ming sought to not only kill Flash, but destroy Earth as well. With its emphasis on larger-than-life heroes and space opera elements, Flash Gordon has been a cross-generational, multimedia phenomenon.

The Unraveler is, in Ming’s words, his “greatest triumph,” and can be seen as the spiritual successor to the Death Star. Both are planet-killers and both were developed under the authority of cruel despots. Ming was nearly successful in destroying Earth with the Unraveler, but Flash’s intervention stopped him. However, Flash’s victory was short-lived, as his actions created a feedback loop that turned the Unraveler on Mongo. This was a shocking move, as Mongo has been one of the central planets in the Flash Gordon mythos, and it shows Mad Cave is committed to telling bold and exciting new stories.

The Unraveler Changes Flash Gordon's Universe Forever

Flash Gordon's Version of the Death Star Is The Most Terrifying Weapon He Has Faced

The introduction of the Unraveler raises the stakes in Flash Gordon’s life. In his 90 years of publication, Flash Gordon has faced some terrifying opponents and some powerful weapons, yet the Unraveler may be the most destructive one yet. It's only pop culture rival is the Death Star. Within minutes of being powered up, the Unraveler has already destroyed Mongo. While the full ramifications of that action will play out in Mad Cave’s new Flash Gordon title, it will no doubt send ripples throughout the universe.

Free Comic Book Day: Flash Gordon #0 is available now from Mad Cave Studios!