Flash Gordon Annual 2014
Written by Chris Eliopoulos, Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, Jeff Parker and Nate Crosby
Art by Chris Eliopoulos, Faith Erin Hicks, Lee Ferguson, Jeremy Treece, Craig Rousseau
Colors by Jeremy Treece, Marissa Louise, Omi Remalante
Letters by Chris Eliopoulos, Simon Bowland,
Cover art by Marc Laming & Jordan Boyd
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 26, 2014
Cover Price: $7.99

Flash Gordon Annual 2014 is a really more than just an annual. It’s a love letter to the franchise from the creators that all had their work published in it. And, boy, there sure were a lot of them. With five different stories covering the whole Flash Gordon universe, almost nothing goes untouched. But, is it worth the $7.99 price tag and your time?

Writers Chris Eliopoulos, Ben Acker, Ben Blacker, Jeff Parker and Nate Crosby all turn in different stories covering everyone from baby Flash Gordon to Dale Arden to teenage Flash and beyond. Eliopoulos’s story in particular was a favorite of mine, and while not naming names, he manages to sneak a beloved character in his story that will make you laugh out loud. Parker and Crosby also bring a pretty big cameo shocker this theirs, but it’s not these things that make the book good, they just make it better. There’s honestly something for EVERYONE in this book. Whether you’re male or female, young or old, brand new fan or have been an admirer of the character since you were a kid, these stories will both thrill you and warm your heart.

On the art front, this is a pretty star-studded line up as well. Faith Erin Hicks is the perfect choice to draw a charming and action-packed Dale Arden adventure, and Jeremy Treece draws a Professor Zarkov story that you probably won’t ever forget, and with good reason! It’s really nice to see Craig Rousseau back at work and he turns out a really nice story of teenage Flash Gordon, and Lee Ferguson makes an alien planet look both fascinating and unique.

Even if you aren’t a regular reader of Flash Gordon (and shame on you, if you’re not, because you’re really missing out!), that’s OK. Every story in this book takes place before the events of both the Kings Watch mini-series and the Flash Gordon title that spun out of it. Do yourself a favor and buy this comic!