FLASH GORDON

In Bennett’s middle-grade graphic novel, the iconic space adventurer Flash Gordon is reimagined as an amnesiac girl embroiled in revolution on an alien planet.

Dale Arden is the steward of the Ark, a spaceship full of plants, animals, and the (possibly) last human survivors of an uninhabitable Earth (“We had to leave, all of us”). His lonely vigil is interrupted when the ship is struck by an escape pod containing Flash Gordon, a freckle-faced girl with endless curiosity and energy but no memory of her identity. When the Ark crashes on planet Omnia X, the new friends find themselves at odds with the “Merciless Emperor” Prince Azimuth, who dominates the planet’s kingdoms with his rage-powered dark magic. Flash is shocked to discover the tyrant is no older than she is, while Azimuth’s sister, Princess Aura, is even more surprised by the fear her brother has for their unexpected visitor. Seeking to use this, Aura saves the girl from the gladiatorial arena and takes her to Arboria, a land of rebellious tree-folk and gallant knights led by the honorable Captain Barin. But as the determined Flash readies herself to save Dale and liberate Omnia, she is blind to the Princess’ own ambitions and the unsettling reason behind the Prince’s fixation on her. Johnson’s illustrations, delightfully influenced by shojo manga, are rich with detailed characters set against simple, colorful storybook-style backgrounds, capturing expressive facial expressions—even during an intense battle with a giant, razor-toothed axolotl. Bennett, who has worked on some of Marvel’s and DC’s biggest properties, displays her talent for inclusive storytelling—this universe is filled with more than just the white and green faces so many space operas feature. The spirit of Alex Raymond’s original creation is here, too; there’s an intoxicating combination of sword-and-sorcery tropes with laser guns and flying saucers. The book never talks down to its audience, and this heartfelt adventure will be great for kids to share with parents, or even for longtime fans looking for a reminder of what made them love Flash Gordon—and comics—in the first place.

A vibrant, inclusive reinvention of Flash Gordon that blends heart, action, and curiosity.