The original Defenders of the Earth animated series brought four of the world’s biggest heroes together for epic adventures, with a roster that included Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Lothar. That all-star team returned in Mad Cave Studios’ new Defenders of the Earth comic series, but the fun isn’t done yet, as we’ve got your exclusive first look at a brand new series in the universe, which will also bring a fan favorite villain back into the mix.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Writer Dan DiDio (OMAC, Metal Men) is teaming up with artist Alex Sanchez (Star Wars, Godzilla vs. Power Rangers), colorist JUANCHO! (The Phantom, Endless Night, and letterer Carlos M. Mangual (Shazam!, Batman vs. Robin) for a new mini series titled Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny, and it promises to be the supergroup’s most dangerous and epic mission yet.
Things pick up after the devastation of Mongo, which was caused by Ming the Merciless, but Ming isn’t the one on trial. Instead, it’s the Defenders who are on trial, and their heroic resumes might not be enough to get away from this unscathed. Meanwhile, the next generation of heroes following in their footsteps are venturing out to find Rick’s missing mother, and that will lead them right into danger from a familiar threat.
Who that threat will be is being kept under wraps at the moment, but we know it’s a fan favorite villain from the original animated series, so longtime fans will definitely want to pay attention. While we don’t know who they are yet, we do know they will collide with Dale, K’Shin, Zuffy, LJ, and Jedda when they start investigating Kro-Tan’s (the son of the villainous Ming) old secret base, and though he’s not there, someone else is lurking in the shadows.
An Exciting Return
“I was excited to write Defenders of the Earth for one more story,” said Dan DiDio. “In this mini-series, we built on events from the earlier series and took the Defenders on their first adventure on the planet Mongo, where we brought back a fan favorite from the animated series. I also looked forward to working with Alex Sanchez, whose art perfectly captured the alien world and its races.”
“I was very excited to be working on this project and alongside such a talented creative team,” said Alex Sanchez. “I have been a Flash Gordon and Defenders of the Earth fan since the movie and cartoon series from the eighties. This was a pro bucket-list accomplishment I got to cross off, and I already enjoyed the wonderful narrative Dan crafted. It was action-packed, expertly paced, and with intelligent dialogue. I was honored to be along for the ride with the entire Mad Cave personnel.”
What Is Dark Destiny?
Mongo is a shattered empire—and it’s at least partly Flash Gordon’s fault. The Defenders of the Earth may have saved their home planet, but Mongo paid a hefty price for Ming the Merciless’s games. Now the tolls come due—and it’s the Defenders who will pay it.
And while the Defenders face their former friends and allies, their offspring face challenges of their own. Determined to find Rick’s missing mother, Dale, the Gordon child, and his friends K’Shin, Zuffy, LJ, and Jedda investigate a former secret base held by the son of Ming. Kro-Tan may be gone, but the danger is not. A fan-favorite villain goes after the Second Gen Defenders!
Dark Destiny raises the stakes for both generations of heroes. While Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake, and Lothar stood trial for the devastation left in the wake of Ming’s downfall, their children set out on a dangerous mission of their own—searching for Dale Gordon and uncovering threats once thought vanquished. Packed with courtroom intrigue, fractured alliances, and a fan-favorite villain targeting the next generation, this series delivers high drama, pulse-pounding action, and emotional depth that proves why the Defenders of the Earth legacy still thrills.
Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny #1 hits comic stores and digital platforms on December 10th.
What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!
Most Viewed
-
Image courtesy of Lucasfilm -
Image courtesy of Stage 6 Films
