The U.S. based publishing house Mad Cave Studios has opened pre-orders for a second comic book series featuring the Defenders of the Earth team.

The comic book series is based around the Defenders of the Earth cartoon series, whose main characters are Flash Gordon, the Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Lothar, who are all licensed by King Features Syndicate. Each character brings a unique set of skills and attributes to the team, allowing them to fight evil forces and protect the world from various threats. Flash Gordon is known for his bravery and quick thinking, while the Phantom embodies a legacy of justice and fearlessness. Meanwhile, Mandrake the Magician harnesses his mystical powers to outsmart adversaries, and Lothar, with his incredible strength, often serves as the muscle of the group. Together, they create a formidable alliance known as Defenders of the Earth.

Following on from the first eight edition Defenders of the Earth comic book series released by Mad Cave Studios, with the final edition released back in June 2025, a new series has just been listed for pre-order on the Mad Cave Studios website.

Titled ‘Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny‘, the all original comic book series is authored by Dan DiDio, illustrated by Alex Sanchez, colored by Juancho Velez and lettering by Carlos M. Mangual. This first edition is due for released on the 10th of December 2025.

The description seen in the advertisement reads:

THE DEFENDERS ON TRIAL!

Mongo is a shattered empire — and it’s at least partly Flash Gordon’s fault. The Defenders of the Earth may have saved their home planet, but Mongo paid a hefty price for Ming the Merciless’s games. Now the toll’s come due — and it’s the Defenders who will pay it.

And while the Defenders face their former friends and allies, their offspring face challenges of their own. Determined to find Rick’s missing mother, Dale, the Gordon child and his friends K’Shin, Zuffy, LJ, and Jedda investigate a former secret base held by the son of Ming. Kro-Tan may be gone, but the danger is not. A fan-favorite villain goes after the Second Gen Defenders!

Writer Dan DiDio and artist Alex Sanchez pick up the beloved characters from the classic animated series and spin a whole new adventure!

Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny edition number one will be released in two variant covers: Cover A illustrated by Marco Santucci (depicted below left) and Cover B illustrated by Vasco Georgiev (depicted below right). Both front covers showcase the full Defenders of the Earth team, with Cover B also featuring the teams children as found in the original cartoon series.

Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny edition number one is available for pre-order in both physical and digital formats on the Mad Cave Studios website HERE.

---