Writer – Dan Jurgens
Artist – Dan Jurgens
Inker – Bruce D. Patterson
Colours – Anthony Tollin
Letters – John Workman

When last seen, Flash and Dale were kidnapped and taken beneath the waves and that is where this issue begins as they find themselves abducted to an underwater city where they discover it inhabited by a slave race. They are free, as much as anybody is free on Mongo, but the chains are there and they lead to Ming. The people are farmers and they provide the surface with much of the food it consumes and Dan Jurgens who tells this tale, relates this to the reader and more, delving into the history of the people and building a little empathy with his audience. Right now, they await Ming’s arrival so that they might hand Flash over and no matter how he argues, he is unable to convince them to break free of Ming’s control and let them go. There comes a moment when Thun rescues Dale and Flash is picked up by Princess Aura, yet while the former escape, the latter are recaptured and Ming is none too pleased with the entire situation. While he will not punish Aura, he means to kill Flash but not before punishing the Aquatic people first. Ming orders that Kala, the Aquatic who captured Dale and Flash, kill his son. Suffice it to say, he cannot though he will do anything else that Ming commands. Ming in turn kills the boy in front of everyone as he will brook no insubordination and for his part, this is where Jurgens really paints Ming as the villain in case anyone had any doubts during the first couple of issues. The rest of the book finds Flash escaping once again with Aura, Thun and Dale making it back to his home and Ming going even further in his vengeance by blowing up the entire city of Aquatics for harbouring Flash in the first place. The book leaves off with Flash, Thun and Dale all in a heap of trouble as Ming has turned the entire world against them. Their survival is now the big question which can only be answered by reading the next book. Jurgens does a great job once again, the book moving quickly from one scene to the next with an even blend of action and drama. Aura is currently the standout character in all of this, an interesting figure who rides a thin line between ruler and rogue and it should be a lot of fun to see if she crosses that line fully so that her father has no choice but to deal with her as well. Even more intriguing will be seeing how Flash and Dale manage to find their way home with an entire planet sided against them. A fun book through and through.

3.5 out of 5