The only comics that got the spirit of the films right, which was Flash gordon by Alex Raymond influenced are the newspaper strips by Al Williamson and Archie Goodwin. The rest of them except the comic adaptations stunk.
George was unhappy with everything but Williamson's work. Probably one of the reasons marvels contract did not get renewed.
The dark empire and vughan vong idea originated at marvel. But dark empire was delayed so long and then picked up by dark horse, and the Vong bad aliens invade thing was re-used in the eu novels and later in a spinoff comic.