FLASH GORDON CLASSIC COLLECTION The Complete Sunday Strips Volume 3 1941-1944 W/ Signed Bookplate

Flash Gordon is right up there in the Hall of Fame category with Hal Foster's Prince Valiant. And in fact, they were being created at nearly the same time, making the Sunday Page section of newspapers across the country a must-read for youngsters, oldsters, and all the comic artists of the day, who were deeply influenced by Raymond's magnificent artwork and dramatic storytelling. This new series collects newly restored pages. The battle between Flash and the devious Ming the Merciless reaches its climax. Includes an extensive essay examining Raymond's final years on the series by writer Doug Murray. Numerous artists have cited Raymond as an inspiration for their work, including comic artists Jack Kirby, Bob Kane, Russ Manning, and Al Williamson. George Lucas cited Raymond as a major influence for Star Wars. He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1996. Maurice Horn has said that Raymond unquestionably possessed "the most versatile talent" of all the comic strip creators. He has also described his style as "precise, clear, and incisive." Carl Barks described Raymond as a man "who could combine craftsmanship with emotions and all the gimmicks that went into a good adventure strip". Raymond's influence on other cartoonists was considerable during his lifetime and did not diminish after his death. Collects strips from January 19, 1941 to August 13, 1944.