Hardcover Flash Gordon Anthologies Coming in August and December!

Dark Horse Comics is releasing its first FULL COLOR hardcover anthology of vintage Flash Gordon comics, Flash Gordon Comic Book Archive 1, on August 11! That's less than a month away people!! This is great news for pulp and sci-fi fans as these editions include art by classic writers/artists like Jack Lehti, Paul Norris, Frank Thorne, and more. (Thorne also worked on Mighty Samson which is getting it's own anthology in September.)

Here's the cover and some details:

• Release date: August 11, 2010 
• Vintage Flash Gordon from 1947 through 1953
• Full color,
• 312 pages
• Hardcover
• 6 5/8" x 10 3/16"

You can can also pre-order the book from Amazon.

The second installment is scheduled at the tail-end of December (really, after Christmas?!). Book two is the one that's probably going to ring familiar with people--it sports quite the creator pedigree: Al Williamson, Archie Goodwin, Gil Kane, and Mac Raboy. The look of these hearkens back to Flash's roots in the 1930s and Williamson's broad appeal instigated a bit of a resurgence of interest in the character.

Here's the cover and lowdown on Volume 2:

• Release date: December 29, 2010
• King Comics issues from 1966+
• Full color
• 312 pages
• Hardcover
• 7" x 10" 

Both books retail for $50, which is steep for any book, so pre-order if you can and get them for around $30.

I've collected several original comics, mainly from the King series over the years and I have to say they are a real treat. We've put them in heavy-duty slip cases and propped them up around our kitchen (which has kind of a retro sci-fi/space theme) along with some of Al's later work with Marvel.

I'm missing several issues, so these new anthologies will be a great way to see the whole series in one book and with a consistent presentation. These babies are going straight to the TOP of my wishlist!