Flash Gordon: Writers and Artists

  • 1934: Flash Gordon debuts as a Sunday page on January 7, 1934. Alex Raymond is the initial writer and artist. Within the years that follow Don Moore will assist in the writing chores.
  • 1940: Due to Flash Gordon's success, a daily Flash Gordon strip debuts, drawn by Austin Briggs.
  • 1944: Alex Raymond joins the Marine Corps. Austin Briggs drops the dailies to take over doing the Sunday page. The dailies are discontinued. When Alex Raymond returns after the war he is locked out of returning to the strip due to King's contract with Briggs. Not wanting to lose Raymond to a rival Syndicate, King lets Raymond create a new strip with the condition that if it isn't successful he can return to Flash Gordon. Raymond goes on to create the Reuben award winning Rip Kirby.
  • 1948: Mac Raboy takes over the art chores on the Sunday page. He is assisted in the 50's by Robert Rogers.
  • 1951: The daily strip is resumed by Dan Barry with Harvey Kurtzman initially handling the writing chores. Dan Barry's assistants will include among others:
    Al Williamson, Frank Frazetta, Fred Kida, Bob Fujitani and Harry Harrison.
  • 1967: Mac Raboy dies. Dan Barry assumes art chores on the Sunday page.
  • 1990: Dan Barry quits after argument regarding contract negotiations. The dailies and Sunday page are taken over by Bruce Jones as writer and Ralph Reese as artist. As deadlines start to be missed, artist Gray Morrow is called in to assist.
  • 1991: A Buenos Aires studio of artists are hired with writing alternating between Kevin Van Hook and Thomas Warkentin.
  • 1993: The dailies are discontinued.
  • 1996: Jim Keefe takes over as writer and artist of the Sunday page starting on January 21, 1996. During his tenure, Keefe will employ numerous guest artists. They will include: Brian Bilter, Mark McMurray, Loston Wallace, Michael T. Gilbert, Al Williamson, George Evans, John Romita and Joe Kubert.
  • 2003: Jim Keefe ends his run due to failed contract negotiations. His last original strip runs on March 16, 2003. On March 23, the strip originally intended to run as the last strip, with art assist by Patrick McDonnell, runs as a Mutts Sunday page.

    King begins reprinting old Flash material of Keefe's to supply ongoing demand for strip.


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