Cartoonist Scott Chantler Takes On His First ‘Flash Gordon’ Tale This November
by Brendan M. Allen
Mad Cave Studios, in partnership with King Features Syndicate, has announced Flash Gordon: Two Worlds — Vol. 1. This is the first installment of a two-part original graphic novel by cartoonist Scott Chantler, with colors by Kike J. Díaz.
Twenty-five years and sixteen books into his career, Chantler is taking on a major licensed character for the first time. This two-volume, standalone story returns Flash Gordon to the mid-century visual language and pulp adventure of Alex Raymond’s original comic strip and movie serials. Entirely separate from Mad Cave Studios’ other Flash Gordon series, Two Worlds looks backward to move the character forward, pairing classic heroics and adventure with an existential take on Flash Gordon and the world around him.
In a world where Flash Gordon never flew to space to stop him, Ming the Merciless rules over a conquered and devastated Earth. There, a nameless laborer looks to the sky and dreams of the hero he might have been.
On Mongo, the Emperor’s tormented bride, Dale Arden, cannot shake the memory of a man she saw briefly on an airplane years ago. Who was he? And why does it feel like they were meant to have met?
“Despite a 25-year career in comics, and fifteen books under my belt, something I’d never really done is put my stamp on a classic character,” reflected Chantler. “So I picked the most classic one I could think of. My late friend Darwyn Cooke had a real knack for this kind of material: he could tap into all the history, nostalgia, and playfulness of the characters while still finding something new, tough, and sophisticated to say with them. I’ve tried my best to do the same.”
Flash Gordon: Two Worlds – Vol. 1 goes on sale November 10th, 2026, in paperback (ISBN: 9781545834206 | $19.99) and hardcover (ISBN: 9781545834190 | $24.99) formats. Preorder through your local comic shop or bookstore.
