I remember seeing The Defenders of the Earth for the first time and it really appealed to the crossover fan in me. The Phantom, Mandrake and Flash Gordon seemingly had nothing to do with each other, representing different types of heroes and coming from different eras. That just made it all the more intriguing to see them together. It was ideas like that which inspired this blog.
Marvel ( or Star ) should have REALLY made this happen once they had the rights to publish the cartoon series!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like Phantom and Flash Gordon get a reboot or some treatment in a new comic or television show or movie but Mandrake is a bit more obscure. With the success of movies like Now You See It or the Prestige maybe it's time they updated Mandrake and brought him into the present day.
ReplyDeleteLove it. Small factual point: Lex Raymond created the Flash Gordon comic strip in 1934. Lee Falk created the Mandrake comic strip in 1934. Lee Falk also created the Phantom comic strip in 1936. The three characters are of the same vintage!
ReplyDelete"representing different types of heroes and coming from different eras"
ReplyDeleteDespite the fact that the Phantom was based in the jungles of Africa and Flash Gordon adventured on the planet Mongo, all three series are set in the same era. You may be thinking of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
Huh, I always figured Flash for a future guy I guess.
ReplyDeleteFlash Gordon was likely the inspiration for characters like Adam Strange, Peter Quill, Corsair, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to both he and the Phantom having been created and illustrated by Lee Falk, Mandrake also had some adventures of an extra-terrestrial nature. So, in hindsight, his helping Flash Gordon against Ming the Merciless (on 1980's TV and, more currently, in Dynamite Entertainment comics) isn't really that far-fetched.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the generational story of the Defenders of the Earth, but felt the show was slightly misogynistic as all the wives/gfs were never seen. I think having all four families there and including Dale, Princess Narda, Karma (Lothar's girlfriend)and the Phantom's wife (Jedda's mother and a new character). And yes I know Dale was used as a matrix for the computer but having her in a physical form with a huge cast like that I felt would have given the DotE a really unique storyline. And I really wanted Ming to be much more of a threat. I think that everyone playing off their differences would have really strengthened the show as well.
ReplyDeleteOh and your cover is great as always, Ross! :)
Gregg
Thank you for this excellent cover. One of these days I'll have to get around to covering the Defenders of the Earth on the Defenders Fansite:
ReplyDeletedefendersfan.blogspot.com
A possible Mandrake/Dr. Strange team-up... or battle?
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