MERCILESS: The Rise of Ming #1 (spoiler-free)

[positronic]

When the original Flash Gordon comic strip began, Flash Gordon landed on Mongo and met Ming, emperor of the whole planet. In Merciless: The Rise of Ming, DE asks the logical question: Well, just how did he become emperor of the whole damn planet, anyway? As in other comics where the history and backstory of a long-established villain is explored, whole new dimensions and layers of characterization are added, making the character much more interesting than he ever was before. This is another winner, and a worthy companion title to the main series Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist. In many cases "spinoff" series are perceived as (or are in actuality) hastily slapped-together attempts to cash in on the popularity of the main series. Not so here. This title is easily as good as Flash Gordon -- and that's saying something, since I consider FG one of the half-dozen best titles DE has ever produced.

[eric_trautmann]

When the original Flash Gordon comic strip began, Flash Gordon landed on Mongo and met Ming, emperor of the whole planet. In Merciless: The Rise of Ming, DE asks the logical question: Well, just how did he become emperor of the whole damn planet, anyway? As in other comics where the history and backstory of a long-established villain is explored, whole new dimensions and layers of characterization are added, making the character much more interesting than he ever was before. This is another winner, and a worthy companion title to the main series Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist. In many cases "spinoff" series are perceived as (or are in actuality) hastily slapped-together attempts to cash in on the popularity of the main series. Not so here. This title is easily as good as Flash Gordon -- and that's saying something, since I consider FG one of the half-dozen best titles DE has ever produced.

Yeah, Scott is doing a great job on Merciless. And I'll get him for it. ;)

-E

[BatHobbit]

OK I have not read Flash Gordon yet. I was thinking about it butt I typically like superhero/masked vigilante comics and I know that Flash is traditionally more of a space epic. Still with the news that Mandrake and Phantom make appearances I may pick this up since I would like to see a Dynamite/King universe established.