| Flash Gordon | |
|---|---|
 ' | |
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Real Name |
Flash Gordon |
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First Appearance |
Flash Gordon comic strip (January 7, 1934) |
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Original Publisher |
King Features Syndicate |
|
Created by |
Alex Raymond |
Origin[]
Flash Gordon is a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, his companions include Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov.
Renowned polo player Flash Gordon and beautiful Dale Arden are abducted by Dr. Hans Zarkov, who is taking a rocket to the mysterious planet Mongo to stop its collision with Earth. The spacecraft crashes outside a sparkling city, and survivors Flash and Dale are taken captive by Ming the Merciless, the Emperor of the Universe. Ming plans to marry Dale, and intends to execute Flash, even though he has defeated Ming's Monkey Men in the gladiatorial arena. Ming's daughter, Princess Aura, has fallen in love with Flash and helps him escape. Flash makes a friend in Prince Thun of the Lion Men, who helps him rescue Dale. Flash and Dale are captured by the Shark Men, who intend to return Dale to Ming. Aura helps Flash to escape again. Thun frees Dale, but they are recaptured.
Flash and Aura are captured by the rebel Prince Barin. Flash and another captive are blindfolded and forced to fight each other with poisoned knives. Flash discovers that his opponent is Dr. Zarkov, who has overcome his madness. They befriend Barin and join his conspiracy against Ming, while Aura escapes. Flash, Barin and Zarkov are captured by Ming and sentenced to death. Flash defeats multiple monsters, and the men escape with Thun's help. They interrupt Ming's wedding to Dale, and Ming sends Flash, Barin, Dale, Thun and Zarkov to be imprisoned in the floating city of the Hawkmen. Flash rebuffs Aura's advances, and Dale agrees to marry King Vultan of the Hawkmen to save Flash's life. Flash, Barin, Thun and Zarkov are put to work in the Atom Furnace, but cause an explosion and escape. Before Flash can rescue Dale, the damaged city begins to fall. Zarkov invents a better way to keep the city afloat, and Vultan frees them all.
Flash Gordon faced great challenges on the planet Mars, where he encountered Queen Azura, a magical and tyrannical ruler who teamed up with Ming the Merciless in a plot to destroy Earth's atmosphere. Flash also confronted the Martian dictator Pwami, a cruel ruler with plans for universal domination.
Public Domain Appearances[]
Public Domain Comic Strip Appearances[]
- Flash Gordon (January 7, 1934 - October 18, 1936)
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine (1936)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Mars Attacks the World (1938)
- Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)
Public Domain TV Appearances[]
- Flash Gordon (1954-1955, 39 episodes)
Notes[]
- Flash Gordon's first appearance in the January 7, 1934, comic strip was not renewed 28 years later in 1961 or 1962.
- "Flash Gordon" is still trademarked by King Features Syndicate, so his name has to be in the interior of any story.
- Queen Azura, first appearing in the Flash Gordon comic strip story arc "The Witch Queen of Mongo" (1935), is the ruler of Syk and leader of the Magic Men.
- According to some researchers, Flash Gordon was created after King Features failed to acquire the rights to John Carter by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The plot of Flash Gordon has also been compared to When Worlds Collide by Philip Wylie and Edwin Balmer, which was serialized in Blue Book magazine from September 1932 to February 1933, and published as a novel in 1933.
- Flash Gordon was launched by King Features to compete with Buck Rogers. Interestingly, actor Buster Crabbe portrayed both characters in film serials produced by Universal Pictures.