Flash Gordon 1988 #3

The Plot: "Sky City of the Hawkmen"

Following the escape from Mingo City, Flash, Dale, and Zarkov are separated. This issue introduces one of the most iconic factions in the Gordon mythos: The Hawkmen.

• Prince Vultan’s Debut: In this 1988 reimagining, Vultan is a massive, boisterous, and dangerous warlord. He isn't immediately an ally; he views Flash as a potential pawn to use against Ming or to sell back to the Emperor for a high price.
• The Sky City: Jurgens’ pencils shine here. The city of the Hawkmen is depicted as a floating fortress held up by massive anti-gravity turbines. The scale is immense, emphasizing the technological gap between Earth and Mongo.
• The Arena of the Air: Flash is forced to prove his worth in a zero-gravity environment. His background as an athlete is once again his saving grace, as he uses his spatial awareness to outmaneuver Vultan’s elite guard.
• Dale Arden’s Agency: Dale isn't just waiting to be rescued. She begins to use her skills as a reporter to uncover the friction between the different kingdoms of Mongo, realizing that Ming’s empire is a "house of cards" held together by fear.