The Defenders of the Earth Sunday Strip Promotion was published by King Features Syndicate on the 28th of September, 1986. The promotion was published to notify readers of the Defenders of the Earth television cartoon series which first aired on the 8th of September, 1986.
Defenders of the Earth is an American animated television series, with the first episode airing on the 8th of September, 1986. It features characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate – Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Mandrake’s assistant Lothar – opposing Ming the Merciless in the year 2015. Supporting characters include their children Rick Gordon (son of Flash), L.J. (son of Lothar), Kshin (adopted son of Mandrake), and Jedda Walker (daughter of the Phantom). The show lasted for 65 episodes.
The Defenders of the Earth Sunday Strip Promotion was published in the comic strip section within newspapers where the Phantom, Flash Gordon and Mandrake the Magician comic strips were being published at the time. The comic strip promotion was printed as a replacement to the story being published at the time for these 3 characters, all appearing in conjunction with each other on the 28th of September, 1986.
The 3 comic strips are all unique to their respective characters, showing a plausible scenario for being part of the futuristic Defenders of the Earth team heading off on intergalactic adventures. The 3 Sunday comic strips published in color can be seen below.
The Phantom
The promotional comic strip is published within the 127th Sunday Phantom story ‘The Escaped Convicts’, written by Lee Falk and illustrated by Sy Barry. The Defenders of the Earth comic strip seen below is illustrated by Sy Barry.
Flash Gordon
The promotional comic strip is published within the 168th Sunday Flash Gordon story ‘The Origin of Prince Barin’, written and illustrated by Dan Barry. The Defenders of the Earth comic strip seen below is illustrated by Dan Barry.
Mandrake the Magician
The promotional comic strip is published within the 155th Sunday Mandrake the Magician story ‘The Lost City’, written by Lee Falk and illustrated by Fred Fredericks. The Defenders of the Earth comic strip seen below is illustrated by Fred Fredericks.
When the 3 above Sunday stories are published in comic book form, the Defenders of the Earth promotional strips are also published as part of the story, and aren’t omitted by publishers, adding an interesting feature to the story when reading.
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