Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic [Paperback]

Mark Schultz (Editor), Sergio Aragones (Introduction), Al Williamson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2009

Flash Gordon, introduced as a Sunday newspaper comic strip by King Features Syndicate in 1934, remains after more than 70 years, one of the best-known and most beloved epics of heroic fantasy produced in America. Initially envisioned and drawn by the brilliant Alex Raymond, the strip's melange of alien wonders, beautiful damsels, interplanetary evil and peerless derring-do remains potent today, as witness its many adaptations in print, motion pictures and television. It has been cited by no less a popular fantasist than George Lucas as a primary influence on his Star Wars series. Beyond the lasting impact of the strip's heroic themes, the drawing skills of Raymond inspired a small army of succeeding cartoonists to take up his illustration-based stylistic mantle. Al Williamson is arguably the foremost of these acolytes, widely acclaimed as the artist who best exemplifies the original spirit of Raymond's creation, as well as being the most distinctive and lyric. His vision of the character, formed in childhood and deeply personal, captured the hearts of Flash Gordon readers like no other. Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic, collects all the major works of the artist featuring the character. At 256 pages, it encompasses Williamson's three stints of depicting Flash in comic book format: the legendary King Comics stories from the 1960s, the 1980 adaptation of the Universal Flash Gordon motion picture, and the Marvel Comics miniseries of 1994. In addition to these classics of sequential storytelling, Al Williamson's Flash Gordon features Williamson's Flash drawings done for commercial illustration and prints, his assists on the Flash Gordon comic strip, a variety of Flash images contributed to amateur publications, and a selection of largely unpublished images spanning his interest in the character from childhood to the conclusion of his career. With an introduction by Sergio Aragones, text by Mark Schultz, and images reproduced directly from the artist's original drawings, this long-overdue collection of evocative artwork documents the lifelong impact that Flash Gordon had on Williamson and the particular impact that Williamson had on Flash Gordon.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Al Williamson was born in New York City in 1931. Williamson's professional credits are both legion and legendary. Developing an elegantly illustrative cartooning style, he first came to prominence with the highly influential EC comics line of the 1950s. His much beloved work in the mid-'60s on King

Mark Schultz has been cartooning, illustrating, and writing for over twenty years. He is best known as the creator of the award-winning speculative adventure comic book Xenozoic Tales, which has been adapted to television as the animated series Cadillacs and Dinosaurs. Schultz is the recipient of fi

Sergio Aragones has won every major award in the field, including the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award, and the Will Eisner Hall of Fame Award. He has appeared in Mad magazine since the mid-'60s. He also produced 16 best-selling original Mad paperback books. His comic book work has receiv

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Flesk Publications (January 15, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933865121
• ISBN-13: 978-1933865126
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #868,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 256 pages of artistic storytelling bliss, July 29, 2009

By 

Richard A. Tucker "Tucker at large" (Pembroke Pines, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic (Paperback)

Al Williamson's take on Flash Gordon is loved by most comic artists and the delight of almost anyone who has seen them. To collect them in this one volume is a dream come true for a lot readers and creators who enjoy or work in the sequential storytelling medium.
The production here is typical of Flesk Publishing in that it's excellent! The love for Williamson's work exudes from every page.
What has to be said about Al Williamson's work on Flash Gordon is that he was the next logical and creative step in the long career of Flash Gordon in publishing. Dan Barry did a great job before him but the comic strip format was very limiting.
Williamson's visuals -in the more open format of the comic book page- were much more closely allied to that that of the character's creator, the legendary Alex Raymond.
Collected here, as near as I can tell, are all of Williamson's Flash Gordon including hard to find comic book stories from the sixties (including the Union Crbide color strips), the adaptation of the cult film favorite from producer Dino De Laurentis in 1980, and the last Al Williamson Flash Gordon which was written by this book's writer, Mark Schultz, for Marvel Comics back in '94-95. While the latter story was only comprised of 2 issues it's a complete story and a contemporary take on Flash Gordon that doesn't so much stray from the original but shows the natural growth in the medium as well as a Mongo that's growing up with Flash's altruistic influence helping to guide its citizens.

A side note- The adaptation of the film has to be seen to be believed. The film's controversial camp elements are strangely absent in this sincere but also fairly strict adaptation (Bruce Jones apparently decided not to be too strict, revising the script for the medium instead of copying the film's script). If you like the film you'll love the adaptation, and if you don't like the film you'll LOVE the adaptation. Bruce Jones adapted the script while Al Williamson provided the art with an assist from Rick Veitch, Carlos Garzon and Alden McWilliams (thanks, Mark).
Regardless of what your opinion of this film may be this adaptation is sure to please you.

The text of this volume is provided by artist and writer Mark Schultz and it's not slavish towards the Al Williamson. It's an honest and well informed background of the work of the artist, the history of the character and the ins and outs of the comic strip/book medium.
The reproduction of the art, including dozens of samples of sketches, studies, unfinished drawings and promotional art along with the full production pages is without comparison. A lot of the pages appear to be reproduced from the original artwork.
The introduction by the great Sergio Aragones is succinct and at the same time a loving acknowledgement of the artform and Al Williamson's contribution to that art and its medium.

While the heroism in this volume may seem dated, it is not. Even in our jaded society we still root for the underdog because the underdog is all of us, in one way or the other. Flash Gordon is the kind of tale that cuts through the nuances and allows us to enjoy the sheer fun of being the guy who can do what's right, against all odds. Bloodied, battered and betrayed he stays true to his heart, and manages to live to fight for a better day. It's clear that his motives are to help everyone. He needs his friends and they need him, always helping each other out a tight spot.
In the end, he is us, as well as who we want to be, even if only in the confines of our imagination and the printed page.

When it comes beautiful, exotic and dangerous escape it doesn't get any better than this.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The wait is finally over., August 8, 2009

By 

Kelly Gold "mrleadfoot" (Shelby, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic (Hardcover)

Flesk delivers a primo book. The bulk of the artwork is from scans of Al Williamson's original artwork which he has retained in his personal collection. It runs the gamut of Mr. Williamson's association with Flash Gordon from childhood and adolescent artwork to the obvious professional work he has done. Beautiful book with some of the images in color but the majority is in black and white. I had hoped that it would have been done in color but it doesn't disappoint either way. Sergio Aragones writes a nice intro and the text by Mark Schultz is very informative.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Al Williamson at his peak, and with beautiful production values, November 26, 2009

By 

Scott R. Dunbier (San Diego) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic (Paperback)

This in an extraordinary book. While one reviewer complained of the art being in black and white, I could not be more pleased--Here we start with Flash Gordon #1 in 1966. Williamson was 35 years old and in his absolute prime. Some pages are obviously shot from copies but many of the pages are reproduced from originals. This is a book to savor, to pour over and enjoy over time, a book to come back to again and again. While the 1960s Flash is the highlight, the 1980 movie adaptation is also terrific. If you are a fan of great art and Al Williamson I can't give this book a higher recommendation--buy it.