DYNAMITE ANNOUNCES "KING" CROSSOVER EVENT UNITING COMIC STRIP HEROES:
Dynamite Entertainment has announced via a press release that it will kick off 2015 with a celebration of the 100th anniversary of King Features Syndicate, the print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation. This celebration, dubbed the "King" event, will include new limited series starring King Features Syndicate comic strip heroes Flash Gordon, Madrake the Magician, Prince Valiant, The Phantom and Jungle Jim. These five limited series, which begin in January 2015, will culminate in a large crossover event in May.
The creators involved in the five "King" series include writers Ben Acker and Ben Blacker with artist Lee Ferguson on "Flash Gordon"; writer Roger Langridge and artist Jeremy Treece on "Mandrake the Magician"; writer (and line editor) Nate Cosby and artist Ron Salas on "Prince Valiant"; writer Brian Clevinger and artist Brent Schoonover on "The Phantom"; and writer Paul Tobin and artist Sandy Jarrell on "Jungle Jim." The first issue of each "King" mini will feature an interlocking cover by Darwyn Cooke. These issues will additionally receive variant covers from Rob Liefeld and "Prince Valiant" artist Ron Salas.
The press release features quotes from the creators involved, who all speak of these leading characters' rich comic strip history.
"I'm taking pains not to contradict the history of [Mandrake the Magician], while at the same time keeping it fresh and accessible to newer readers," said writer Langridge. "I want this version of Mandrake to be for all his fans, both new and old, taking what went before and building upon it."
"Prince Valiant" #1 cover by Darwyn Cooke
"My love of 'Prince Valiant' stems primarily from the art," said 'Prince Valiant' artist Ron Salas. "Hal Foster's work on 'Prince Valiant' is immense -- from character work, exciting fights, and battle scenes; to amazing vistas of mountain ranges, forests, and marshlands; to grand imposing castles from Arthur's time... I am incredibly honored to be following in their footsteps in my own way, forging a 'Prince Valiant' of my own."
"This incarnation of Flash [Gordon] is all about boundless energy and the inability not to fight the good fight," said "Flash Gordon" co-writer BenAcker, "while this incarnation of Ming is so pervasively, institutionally evil that a star war between them seems inevitable to me."
"I am very excited to be working on 'The Phantom,'" said artist Brent Schoonover. "He's always been on my ‘Comic Book Bucket List' of characters to draw in an official capacity."
"Being a part of the treasure trove of the King Features Syndicate puts me solidly in a universe of incredible adventure, and to add to it by tossing Jungle Jim onto the planet Arboria, and pitting him against Ming the Merciless and a few other surprises," said "Jungle Jim" writer Paul Tobin. "Luckily, readers will find that Jungle Jim has a few surprises of his own, and that he lives up to his name more than ever before."
Dynamite Entertainment's "King" event launches in January 2015.
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