Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #3
Plot & Script by Eric Trautmann
Plot & Art Direction by Alex Ross
Art by Daniel Indro & Ron Adrian
Colors by Slamet Mujiono
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covesr by Alex Ross, Paul Renaud, and Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: February 15, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Reading Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #3, I’m reminded why I love the character so much. It’s the ultimate fish out of water story, except the fish knows how to fight and has a sword and ray gun.

Since both Eric Trautmann amd Alex Ross are credited with the story, I guess I have to praise them both for coming up with, really, what this book is supposed to be. Remember movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark or Back to the Future 2, when there was a cliffhanger almost every two minutes? Imagine that kind of story, in comic form, and that’s what you have here. Absolutely edge of your seat reading. New characters are introduced, there’s danger everywhere. THIS is why the phrase “page-turner” was coined.

Lord of the Jungle #1
Written by Arvid Nelson
Illustrated by Roberto Castro
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Colored by Alex Guimaraes
Covers by Alex Ross, Ryan Sook, Paul Renaud, and Lucio Parrillo
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: January 18, 2012
Cover Price: $1.00

Just about everyone knows the basic premise behind the story of Tarzan. For some reason, that’s NOT the loincloth, he’s always been one of my favorite characters since I was a kid. That’s why, when I got the chance to review Lord of the Jungle #1, I jumped at it.

Writer Arvid Nelson had a pretty humongous task ahead of him. Since the 1940s pretty much any incarnation in any entertainment medium of the Tarzan character has been a bust. Thankfully, Nelson took what everyone knew about the character, chose the best parts, and wrote a comic.

Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #2
Plot & Script by Eric Trautman
Plot & Art Direction by Alex Ross
Art by Daniel Indro
Colors by Slamet Mujiono
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross, Paul Renaud, and Francesco Francavilla
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: January 4th, 2012
Cover Price: $3.99

Wow. I didn’t think it was possible that Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #2 could get any better or more exciting than the first issue. Yet, the creative team proved me wrong. I think it’s a secret plot by them and Dynamite to get us all to wet our pants with excitement. And, it’s working.

If licensed comics got the respect they deserved, writer Eric Trautman would be a superstar. The writing on this book is unbelievable. The action starts inside the front cover and doesn’t stop until the last page. Just like last issue, Trautman packs SO MUCH into each page and panel that you’re going to want to read this issue a couple of times just to make sure you’ve gotten everything there is to get.

Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #1
Plot and Script by Eric Trautmann
Plot and Art Direction by Alex Ross
Art by Daniel Indro
Colors by Slamet Mujiono
Letters by Simon Bowland
Covers by Alex Ross, Paul Renaud, Francesco Francavilla, and Wagner Reis
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 30th, 2011
Cover Price: $1.00

Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist #1 is really the perfect first issue. It introduces the characters and the world and gives you a sense of where the book is, and at the same time, will have you very anxious for the next issue.

With a plot by Alex Ross and Eric Trautmann, the issue is perfectly scripted by Trautmann. There’s a number of nods to previous incarnations of Flash Gordon, from the 1980 live-action movie to the incredibly done animated movie Flash Gordon The Greatest Adventure Of All produced by Filmation in 1982. And while this issue is sort of a love letter to these other Flash Gordon medias, it’s never distracting and it won’t take anything away from readers who haven’t seen them. It only provides cool Easter eggs for those of us that have.

Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris #8
Written by Arvid Nelson
Art by Carlos Rafael
Colors by Carlos Lopez
Letters by Marshall Dillion
Covers by Joe Jusko, Ale Garza, Paul Renaud
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: November 23rd, 2011
Cover Price: $3.99

My hat goes off to creative team of Warlord of Mars: Dejah Thoris #8. This team consistently turns out one of the most fun comics on the stands today. And it’s a shame that more people aren’t reading it. TONS of action, fighting, heroics, and more crammed into each issue!

Writer Arivd Nelson sure knows how to write women. These aren’t the standard “women with a grudge against all men” either. They’re solid characters, full of life and personality who just happen to be members of the fairer sex.