Defenders of the Earth: The Complete Collection Unites Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake and Lothar This November

Flash Gordon. The Phantom. Mandrake the Magician. Lothar. One book. Twelve issues. Zero shortage of old-school adventure muscle.

Mad Cave Studios and King Features Syndicate are bringing the entire modern Defenders of the Earth saga together this November with Defenders of the Earth: The Complete Collection, an oversized 320-page paperback collecting the full series in one shot.

Written by Dan DiDio, with art by Jim Calafiore, Alex Sanchez and additional artists, colors by Juancho!, and lettering by Carlos M. Mangual, the collection pulls together all 12 issues of the modern reimagining inspired by the classic animated series. The book keeps the big heroic DNA of the original while pushing Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake, Lothar and the next generation into a much more unstable world.

The story picks up with Earth and Mongo cracking under political chaos while the Defenders are pulled in multiple directions. A multi-world search for the missing Dale Arden sends the team across dangerous territory, while The Phantom faces questions about his place in the family legacy. At the same time, Rick, LJ, Jedda and Kshin are forced to step into the roles once occupied by their mentors.

That generational angle gives the modern series more to work with than simple nostalgia. These characters have decades of history behind them, but the younger heroes are not just standing around waiting for somebody else to save the day. They are becoming part of the larger mythology, and the complete collection gives readers the entire arc without having to chase down individual issues.

Dan DiDio brings plenty of superhero publishing experience to the project. His career includes writing and developing titles such as Sideways, OMAC, Phantom Stranger and Metal Men, along with his years serving as co-publisher of DC Entertainment. He later partnered with Frank Miller to launch Frank Miller Presents.

On the visual side, Jim Calafiore brings a resume that includes Exiles and Aquaman, while Alex Sanchez has worked across DC, Marvel, IDW and Dark Horse on projects including Katana, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and The Hulk. Together with the wider art team, Juancho! on colors and Carlos M. Mangual on letters, the series gives the classic lineup a modern comic-book presentation without abandoning the pulp-adventure energy that made these characters endure.

For readers who grew up with the animated series, fans of King Features adventure properties, or anybody who prefers grabbing a full story in one volume, this release is basically the cleanest entry point possible. All 12 issues are packed into one oversized paperback, giving the entire modern saga room to play out from beginning to end.

Defenders of the Earth: The Complete Collection goes on sale November 17, 2026, with a list price of $29.99. The paperback carries ISBN 9781545829172.

Flash. Phantom. Mandrake. Lothar. The crew is assembled, the next generation is stepping up, and the whole modern adventure is finally landing in one volume. If you have been waiting to jump into Mad Cave’s Defenders of the Earth, November just gave you the green light. The Crusade Never Ends!