The Defenders of the Earth are back in a new Flash Gordon series by Dan DiDio and Jim Calafiore from Mad Cave Studios. Inspired by the classic cartoon series, the comic “is not just about superheroes; it’s about the human struggles and triumphs behind the masks—drawing inspiration from contemporary issues and timeless themes, while tackling relevant topics of gender, familial expectations, and the ethical dilemmas of modern heroism.”
To celebrate the series, Comics Beat caught up with Didio and Calfiore over email. We asked all about their personal histories with the property, about how this incarnation of the characters compares to those in the past and about what readers can expect from the series. Are you checking out Defenders of the Earth? Be sure and let The Beat know in the comment section.
AVERY KAPLAN: Can you tell us about any personal history you have with Defenders of the Earth and Flash Gordon?
DAN DIDIO: I’ve always been a fan of animation, so I was interested in this series when it premiered, especially since it came from Marvel Studios and had Stan Lee listed as one of the story editors.
For Flash, I had watched some of the old serials but was never a huge fan. Probably because growing up in NYC, the papers there never carried Flash or even the Phantom or Mandrake, so I didn’t have that ongoing exposure to the character.
JIM CALAFIORE: Honestly, none with DOE. I wasn’t aware of the animated show (or Marvel’s series), which might be better in a way. I’ve no preconceptions to restrict me, other than being true to the established designs, to which we’re keeping pretty close.
Of course, with Flash, I’m a big fan of the original strips and what Alex Raymond did. And the Phantom has been part of the collective consciousness. Mandrake and Lothar were unknown to me.
KAPLAN: How did you come to be involved in this project?
DIDIO: I came into this project a little by accident. I stopped by the Mad Cave booth at SDCC to say hi to Mike Marts, and we got talking. He put the Defenders of the Earth bug in my ear, and while walking the floor of the show, I kept going back to speak to him as I worked through a concept for the series. By the end of the day, I had a pitch he liked.
CALAFIORE: I’ve worked with Mike Marts (EIC) have worked together for a long time, back to even before EXILES at Marvel. We were just catching up on e-mail, and he said he had something he thought I’d be right for.
KAPLAN: Do you have any personal creative routines or rituals?
DIDIO: Before I sit down to write, I like to take a 4 to 5 mile morning walk to work out my ideas. Then, when I sit down, I keep a TV on with either Twilight Zone or Columbo playing in the background. I find the dialogue and banter of those shows relaxing and a bit inspiring.
CALAFIORE: If you mean for work, I’m all routine; work the same hours every day, usually into the night. Process doesn’t change much. I try to work from page 1 to page 24 in order, and not do the “cool” page first. They might be more exciting to work on, but if I did them first, I’d be doing all the non-action/talking pages all together at the end. That can be enervating.
KAPLAN: How have your professional experiences outside of writing informed your work on this book (if they have)?
DIDIO: I’m constantly pulling inspiration from everything around me, both personal and professional. It helps me connect with the characters and situations, so no matter how fantastic events in your story get, there is something grounded and relatable.
KAPLAN: What goes into artistically balancing the human drama with the superhuman elements of this story? Does this come naturally, or do you approach it with a personal strategy?
CALAFIORE: It’s all part and parcel, just different emphasis. The action/super-normal sequences are more concentrated on the angles and dynamic fireworks, while the human moments are more focused on subtlety; body language and facial expressions. But it’s all just storytelling.
KAPLAN: Can you tell us a bit about the generational theme of this comic? Why was it important to explore this theme and how is it included in the book?
DIDIO: The generational stories were essential to the animated series, so it was important to continue them here. Also, given the size of the cast, it always for some great emotional beats. Each family faces their own challenges, as they are all a little older and their relationships have changed.
KAPLAN: Are there any previous incarnations of the characters that you have found especially influential for your interpretation? Are there any other characters or stories that were influential (including any you worked on yourself)?
CALAFIORE: It’s being faithful to the DOE designs (which is important on any licensed gig). I generally don’t like to equate characters with other characters in my head. If I say, this character is like so-and-so, then I have a chance of losing the character’s uniqueness. For example, it’s easy to say Phantom has a domino mask like any other superhero, but he doesn’t. The design is a much narrower profile. That gives him a particular feel and facial “mood” that I’d miss if I just did a mask shaped like, say, Robin’s.
KAPLAN: Why should fans be excited about this Defenders of the Earth story in particular? What does it bring to the table that they haven’t seen before?
DIDIO: If you were a fan of the series, you will love this book. It touches upon so many themes and characters that make the series great. And if you’re a new reader, there’s no need to worry about not being aware of what came before. There’s a clear starting point to the story, with fun twists along the way.
KAPLAN: Did any element of your work on this project present a particular creative challenge for you? How did you navigate this, if so?
CALAFIORE: As unexciting as it sounds, a gig’s a gig. Licensed properties have their logistical issues, but nothing I haven’t dealt with before. I just do my best to get the writer’s vision down on paper.
KAPLAN: Can you give readers a hint about what to expect from future issues of this eight-part series?
DIDIO: The first half of the series, we take time to explore our four leads, while the main threat remains hidden. We find Flash overwhelmed trying to help Earth rebuild following the war with Mongo, The Phantom, is isolated and unable to return to his native land, while being judged by a ghostly tribunal known as the Council of Phantoms. Lothar is being pulled, reluctantly, back to the role of chieftain of the Seven Nations, over the objections of his ex-wife, the current Chieftain, and finally, Mandrake has decided to return to the stage and take his show on the road, but its all a cover his investigation into a new threat that’s emerged. There’s also a mystery around the death, and apparent return of Dale Arden. A lot is going on.
KAPLAN: Is there any specific aspect of your work on this title that you hope will be appreciated by readers?
CALAFIORE: Just that I show them a good time. We’re the hosts and they’re our guests.
KAPLAN: Is there anything else you’d like me to include?
DIDIO: We covered a bunch, so there’s not much more to add other than that folks should read the book. Hopefully, the fun I’m having with the characters made it to the page and made it an enjoyable reading experience.
CALAFIORE: You can mention my creator-owned self- published book NED, Lord of the Pit: volume one available; vol 2 about to go to the printers; both Kickstarted.
Learn more about Defenders of the Earth at Mad Cave’s website.
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