Back of the Cereal Box

Back of the Cereal Box Hosted by John B. Pyka! Let's peek inside the box and see what's inside..

Jump in your PJs, grab a big bowl of cereal and have a seat in the virtual rec room to celebrate the fun of the Saturdays of Gen X youth while sharing what we love in adulthood today: Cartoons, Comic Books, Kaiju movies! Back of the Cereal Box is a pop culture page that celebrates the fun of the Saturday mornings of our youth while sharing what we love in adulthood today! We are of a gene

ration that didn't have iphones or ipads at the breakfast table on Saturday mornings; in-between cartoons, comics, and kaiju we were reading the back of the cereal box! So jump in your PJs, grab a big bowl of cereal and join us in the virtual rec room and come share the fun celebrating the Saturdays of our youth; Cartoons, Comic Books and Kaiju!

From the Depths of Atlantis to the Sands of Mars—Flash Gordon’s Enduring Battle Against Evil is Collected AnewFOR IMMEDI...
09/24/2025

From the Depths of Atlantis to the Sands of Mars—Flash Gordon’s Enduring Battle Against Evil is Collected Anew

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SEPT. 24, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — Few names echo through the annals of science fiction like Flash Gordon. A symbol of bravery, imagination, and the golden age of adventure comics, Flash’s influence has stretched across nearly a century, shaping not only the medium but the very definition of the intergalactic hero. Mad Cave Studios proudly continues this legacy with FLASH GORDON CLASSIC COLLECTION VOL. 6, the latest volume in its celebrated archival series!

Dan Barry, born in 1923, was one of comics’ most enduring artists, beginning his career in the 1940s with work for Timely, Feature Comics, and Fawcett before assisting Burne Hogarth on Tarzan. In 1951, he revived the Flash Gordon daily strip, a role that would define his career for nearly five decades, spanning both daily and Sunday editions and even extending to the official poster for the 1980 cult-classic film. After departing the strip in 1990, Barry went on to create Indiana Jones comics for Dark Horse before his passing in 1997 at age 74.

From the very depths of the ocean floor to self-imposed exile in outer space... From the post-apocalyptic world of New York City in the far-flung future to enslavement in an intergalactic space circus... Science fiction’s most enduring icon, Flash Gordon, is back to continue his never-ending battle against intergalactic evil!

‘The Lost Continent’ reprints all of Dan Barry’s daily strips from October 26, 1953, to July 9, 1956, restored from the original tearsheets, and includes a feature on Flash Gordon written by newspaper comic strip expert, Rick Norwood.

“Flash Gordon: Classic Collection Vol. 1 received a warm welcome… a beautifully restored hardcover edition reprinting Alex Raymond’s early strips—praising the collaboration between Mad Cave Studios and King Features to honor the 90th anniversary of Flash Gordon.” —First Comics News

With nearly 90 years of legacy, Flash Gordon continues to inspire creators and thrill readers across generations. This volume is not just a collection—it’s a time capsule of adventure, a reminder of why Flash Gordon stands tall alongside the most legendary icons of science fiction.

Preorder Flash Gordon Classic Collection Vol. 6 now through your local comic shop or favorite bookseller, available February 24, 2026.

Get the latest news on Mad Cave Studios on social media, or drop by www.madcavestudios.com for more about Flash Gordon and even more exciting titles.

Flash Gordon. The Phantom. Mandrake the Magician. Lothar. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:SEPT. 24, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — Mad Cave...
09/24/2025

Flash Gordon. The Phantom. Mandrake the Magician. Lothar.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SEPT. 24, 2025 (PORTLAND, OR) — Mad Cave Studios is proud to announce DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH: DARK DESTINY, a bold new chapter in the legacy of King Features’ legendary heroes. Written by Dan DiDio (OMAC, Metal Men, Ancient Enemies), with art by Alex Sanchez (Star Wars, Godzilla vs. Power Rangers), colors by JUANCHO! (The Phantom, Endless Night), letters by Carlos M. Mangual (Shazam!, Batman vs. Robin), and covers by Marco Santucci (Captain America), Vasco Georgiev (Xena: Warrior Princess), and retailer incentive by Bob Quinn (Captain America, Champions), this miniseries unites Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake the Magician, and Lothar for their most dangerous mission yet!

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 tolls 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!

“I was excited to write Defenders of the Earth for one more story,” said Dan DiDio. “In this mini-series, we built on events from the earlier series and took the Defenders on their first adventure on the planet Mongo, where we brought back a fan favorite from the animated series. I also looked forward to working with Alex, whose art perfectly captured the alien world and its races.”

“I was very excited to be working on this project and alongside such a talented creative team,” said Alex Sanchez. “I have been a Flash Gordon and Defenders of the Earth fan since the movie and cartoon series from the eighties. This was a pro bucket-list accomplishment I got to cross off, and I already enjoyed the wonderful narrative Dan crafted. It was action-packed, expertly paced, and with intelligent dialogue. I was honored to be along for the ride with the entire Mad Cave personnel.”

Dark Destiny raises the stakes for both generations of heroes. While Flash Gordon, The Phantom, Mandrake, and Lothar stood trial for the devastation left in the wake of Ming’s downfall, their children set out on a dangerous mission of their own—searching for Dale Gordon and uncovering threats once thought vanquished. Packed with courtroom intrigue, fractured alliances, and a fan-favorite villain targeting the next generation, this series delivers high drama, pulse-pounding action, and emotional depth that proves why the Defenders of the Earth legacy still thrills.

Defenders of the Earth: Dark Destiny #1 arrives in comic shops and digital platforms, including Mad Cave’s series subscription bundle, on December 10, 2025. Preorder through your local comic shop or directly from Mad Cave.

On September 22, 1982: the television seriesbdrama adventure "TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY" premiered!
09/24/2025

On September 22, 1982: the television seriesbdrama adventure "TALES OF THE GOLD MONKEY" premiered!

What if???Hey Super7 these are begging for a ReAction release. Please?
09/24/2025

What if???

Hey Super7 these are begging for a ReAction release. Please?

GARGOYLES x FANTASTIC FOUR!A new comic series debuting October 15th.GARGOYLES  #1Published by .Written by Greg Weisman.A...
09/23/2025

GARGOYLES x FANTASTIC FOUR!

A new comic series debuting October 15th.

GARGOYLES #1
Published by .
Written by Greg Weisman.
Art by George Kambadais.
Lettering by Jeff Eckleberr.

Here’s the deets,
“MARVEL’S FIRST FAMILY UNITES WITH THE MANHATTAN CLAN IN THIS EXCITING CROSSOVER!

Danger strikes when the super villain Diablo learns stone gargoyles may hold the secret to eternal life…but the Gargoyles aren’t about to let him leech the blood of his own! Fortunately, they’ve got the help of expert Diablo-bashers - the Fantastic Four!

Plus: Tony Stark and David Xanatos compare facial hair, Marvel’s own Gargoyle, Isaac Christians, bonds with his new kin, and more!

You won’t want to miss this collision of beloved universes!”

Flash Gordon is a science fiction adventure animated television series produced by Filmation, that ran for 32 episodes o...
09/23/2025

Flash Gordon is a science fiction adventure animated television series produced by Filmation, that ran for 32 episodes over 2 seasons from September 22, 1979 to November 6, 1982.

09/22/2025
NEW POSTER for The Mandalorian and Grogu! Only in theatres May 22, 2026!
09/22/2025

NEW POSTER for The Mandalorian and Grogu!

Only in theatres May 22, 2026!

1978 Sears Catalog (pgs. 578-579) Godzilla, Super Joe, Sh**un Warriors, Stretch Armstrong & Pulsar
09/21/2025

1978 Sears Catalog (pgs. 578-579) Godzilla, Super Joe, Sh**un Warriors, Stretch Armstrong & Pulsar

09/21/2025
This Weds at your local comic shop! Celebrate the fun of Saturday mornings with these great titles!
09/21/2025

This Weds at your local comic shop!
Celebrate the fun of Saturday mornings with these great titles!

Address

Nashville, TN

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Back of the Cereal Box posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Back of the Cereal Box:

Share

Category

It’s a new era for John Pyka

Back of the Cereal Box is my new podcast project, building on my experience with Tales from the Geek and Comixstravaganza, as well as my performance career to create the kind of podcast I’ve always wanted to do. Best of all, the co-host is the audience!