Blogging Austin Briggs’ Flash Gordon - Part Twelve, “The Atomic Age”

“The Atomic Age” was the twenty-fifth installment of the Flash Gordon Sunday comic strip serial for King Features Syndicate. Originally published between October 7, 1945 and March 17, 1946, “The Atomic Age” sees Flash, Dale, and Dr. Zarkov taking the battle to Kang the Cruel, son of Ming the Merciless who deposed Prince Barin from the throne of Mongo. Armed with weapons from King Radon, Flash sends word to the Freemen to gather at the border to prepare for an assault on Mingo City. Believing he is only facing foot soldiers, Kang orders a combined air assault and ground assault to wipe out the army of Freemen. The emperor discovers too late that the Freemen are protected by a force field barrier. While the atomic rays they are armed with make short work of Kang’s tanks and rockets. Facing certain defeat, his own men turn on the Emperor and take him hostage. Flash is given a hero’s welcome when the Freemen arrive in Mingo City for having liberated Mongo from the despot. As is common with Austin Briggs’ tenure on the series, his pace is far too fast and much drama is sacrificed to the detriment of the story. TO CONTINUE READING THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE VISIT THE BLACK GATE ON FRIDAY.