Flash Gordon #4 is an issue of the series Flash Gordon (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1988.
Synopsis for "Decisions And Blood!"
As Flash was falling off of a cliff, he remembered a day of high school in 1962 when he fell off of the rooftop of the school, but was saved by a ledge. Then, Flash controlled his descent and touched down on a ledge on the cliff. Ming ordered a Hawkman to bring him Dale Arden and punish the Paqua for protecting her.
Flash woke up in Arboria and Prince Barin explained that if a man survived the death fall, they were required by law to be allowed to live. Then, Prince Barin showed Flash Dr. Zarkov, who was still alive after being found in the wreckage. Flash attacked Dr. Zarkov before being interrupted by Ming, who offered the former a chance to end their conflict by joining him and his special forces. Flash rejected Ming's offer and the latter revealed that he had Zarkov work in a lab to perfect space travel. Ming also offered to let Flash, Dale, and Zarkov leave Mongo if they chose and also made Dale and his daughter "available" to him.
Meanwhile, the Hawkmen attacked and massacred the Paqua for hiding Dale before swooping in and capturing the woman. The Hawkmen took Dale to their floating city and introduced her to King Vultan. Flash accepted Ming's offer and Zarkov revealed that he forced him and Dale to come with him due to his obsession with finding a new planet, then apologized to him. Prince Barin disapproved of Ming allying with Flash, although the emperor revealed that he only did so to secure Zarkov's cooperation and that the "Flash Gordon problem" would later be solved permanently.
Ming sent Flash and other troops to confront rioters, although Flash refused to take part in the killing. Flash chased one of the lead rioters until they both encountered a "fellow rebel" named Markul, who was actually a spy for Ming. Markul killed the rioter and was, in turn, killed by Flash, who falsely reported his own death, posing as the spy. While attempting to contact Ming, Zarkov accidentally tapped in on a private conversation between Ming and Vultan and learned of Flash's rumored death, moments before his companion entered the room. Flash and Zarkov planned to rescue Dale from the Floating City.
After Dale was harassed by other females at the Floating City, Flash arrived and escaped with her. Flash took Dale to Princess Aura's apartment and revealed that Zarkov was alive. When Ming arrived at the Floating City and learned that Dale was missing again, he lashed out at Vultan and ordered him to find Dale.
The next morning, after Flash and Dale got out of bed they kissed and Princess Aura walked in and saw them before, out of jealousy, activating a defense mechanism that raised the temperature in the apartment.
Appearing in "Decisions And Blood!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Ming
- King Vultan
- Prince Barin
- Markul (Dies)
- Lura
- Princess Aura
Other Characters:
- Prince Thun
- Mrs. Conway (Flashback only)
- Marilyn Monroe (Mentioned only)
- Mark Twain (Mentioned only)
- Magic Johnson (Mentioned only)
- Afghan rebels (Mentioned only)
- Nazis (Mentioned only)
- Adolf Hitler (Mentioned only)
- The Washington Post (Mentioned only)
Locations:
- Mongo
- Arboria
- Floating City
- Food Distribution Center
- Earth (Flashback only)
- America (Mentioned only)
- F.D.R. High (Flashback only)
- Grand Canyon (Mentioned only)
- Berlin Wall (Mentioned only)
- Afghanistan (Mentioned only)
- America (Mentioned only)
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also