Flash Gordon #6, June 1967
Al Williamson had been the regular artist on this series of Alex Raymond’s space hero, although he only drew three of the first five issues. With his departure — to draw the Secret Agent X-9 newspaper strip — King handed the reins over to Reed Crandall. Probably most well-known for his long stint drawing Blackhawk for Quality (DC took it over later), Crandall’s photo-realistic style was also a regular feature at EC during the 1950s. For much of the 60s he found work on the educational Treasure Chest title, though he found time to contribute to more mainstream titles for the likes of Tower (THUNDER Agents) and Warren. And, obviously, King.
His Flash Gordon wasn’t Al Williamson’s, nor was it Alex Raymond’s, but it was highly effective, and he proved a worthy successor. Sadly, he never really got into his stride as the remainder of the run was blighted by reprints. Nonetheless, this cover provides a marvelous example of his style, and the interior work is every bit as good. This is well worth seeking out.
©2010 King Features Syndicate
What I want to know is what that weird character between the L and the A in “FLASH” is. It looks something like a cedilla. Charlton inherited the title and kept it for the first couple of issues, then tried an apostrophe, and finally ended up making it a jug handle on the A.
It’s Flash’s quiff, isn’t it? Clearly making a bid for solo stardom; one cruelly dashed by the fickle finger of fate…
And we never saw it in the 1980 either. Or Sam Jones own voice for that matter.
Alas, poor Sam Jones.
Still, I enjoyed that Flash Gordon movie a heck of a lot more that Jones’s mid-80s tv show The Highwayman. The only show ever that I just had to switch off — my brain could not take the full horror of trucks turning into helicopters…
Talk about a ‘mash-up’ trying to mix both concepts from Knight Rider(there was a big truck in it don’t forget) and Airwolf.