Flash Gordon
 This article is about a character originated in a comic strip. For the major league baseball player, see Tom "Flash" Gordon.
Flash Gordon is a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, first published on January 7, 1934. It was created to compete with Buck Rogers.
Plot summary
The comic strip followed the adventures of Flash Gordon, for whom the series was named, and his companions Dr. Hans Zarkov and Dale Arden. The story begins with Dr. Zarkov's invention of a rocket ship, in which the three of them make a journey to the planet Mongo, where they are stranded. Mongo is inhabited by a number of different cultures, some quite technologically advanced, that have been falling one by one under the domination of the vicious tyrant Ming the Merciless.
The three Earthpeople are befriended shortly after their arrival by Prince Barin, rightful heir to the throne that Ming has taken. Ming banishes Prince Barin and his followers — including Ming's own daughter, Aura, Barin's bride — to the forest realm of Arboria, and the three join in Barin's quest to topple Ming.
In 1995, the strip was one of 20 included in the Comic Strip Classics series of commemorative postage stamps.
Strip bibliography
Sunday, Alex Raymond, 1934 - 1943
daily, Austin Briggs, 1940 - 1944
Sunday, Austin Briggs, 1944 - 1948
Sunday, Mac Raboy, 1948 - 1967
daily, Dan Barry, 1951 - 1990
daily, Harry Harrison, writer, 1958 - 1964
Sunday, Dan Barry, 1967 - 1990
Sunday and daily, Ralph Reese & Bruce Jones, Gray Morrow, 1990 - 1991
Sunday and daily, Tom Warkentin, 1991 - 1992
Sunday, Richard Bruning, Kevin VanHook, Tom Warkentin, 1992 - 1996
Sunday, Jim Keefe, 01/1996 - 03/2003
Adaptations and other versions
Flash Gordon was featured in three serials starring Buster Crabbe: Flash Gordon (1936), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938), and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940).
A 1957 film adaptation starred Steve Holland, who also starred in a 1954-1955 TV series which ran for 39 episodes and is, to date, the only live-action series based upon the character. The series had the distinction of being filmed in West Berlin, less than a decade after the end of World War II.
A semi-pornographic parody called Flesh Gordon was released in 1972. It became a cult classic and was followed in the 1980s by several sequels.
In 1979, Filmation produced an animated series based on the comic strip and the first season is remembered as one of the better efforts of the studio. The 1979 animated series was released first, but the made-for-tv movie, Flash Gordon, the Greatest Adventure of Them All was made first, and the tv series endlessly reused footage from the movie, while eliminating more adult material, including a subplot involving Hitler. In the 1986 cartoon Defenders of the Earth, Flash teamed up with fellow King Features heroes The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician.
The 1980 film adaptation stars Sam J. Jones in the title role and also features Melody Anderson as Dale Arden, Topol as Dr. Zarkov, Max von Sydow as Ming, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, and Ornella Muti as Aura. Although not a critical success, the film is also noted for its musical score, which was composed and performed by Queen.
Within the UK at least, the film is noted for being very camp, and as such has acquired a cult status amongst students, sci-fi fans, and others. Many of the film's lines are very quotable, and often tongue-in-cheek, and this knowing sense of humour contributes heavily to the collective affection with which the picture is remembered. A good example of this is the performance of the actor Brian Blessed, who 25 years later is still most often remembered by the British public as the Hawkman character 'Prince Vultan', despite being in many more serious, dramatic roles in film, theatre and television.
In 1988, DC Comics produced a modernized version of the comic strip. It featured Flash as washed up basketball player who finds new purpose in life on Mongo, which is no threat to Earth, Dale who is an adventurous reporter who is just as capable as Flash, and a gray-skinned Ming who is less of an Asian stereotype.
In 1996, Hearst Entertainment premiered a Flash Gordon animated television series.
In 2004, Stephen Sommers, director of Van Helsing and The Mummy, purchased the movie rights to Flash Gordon. As of February 2006, there is no cast for a new movie installment. A summer 2007 release date has been rumoured, but not confirmed.
Inspirations
In his youth, George Lucas was a fan of the Flash Gordon serials, and once wanted to adapt it to the screen as part of his modern-day myth. Dino De Laurentiis, who owned the rights, was not interested in Lucas' interpretation, so Lucas wrote Star Wars instead, which borrowed liberally from the serials. The opening expository roll-up that appeared in episodes of Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe became the now-famous opening crawl of each Star Wars episode. Flash Gordon and Dale Arden inspired not only Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia, but also their parents, Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala.
Reprints
The Alex Raymond Sunday strips have been reprinted by several publishers, notably Nostalgia Press, Kitchen Sink Press, and Checker Book Publishing Group. The Kitchen Sink versions are the best in color, the Nostalgia Press the best if you prefer black and white. The Mac Raboy Sundays have been reprinted by Dark Horse. The Dan Barry dailies have never been entirely reprinted, but the early years were published by Kitchen Sink and the stories written by Harry Harrison are reprinted in Comics Revue from Manuscript Press. Tempo Books published 6 massmarket paperbacks reprinting stripes from the 1970s in the 1980s. Some of the Austin Briggs dailies were reprinted by Kitchen Sink Press.
Flash Gordon on the Planet Mongo (1934-35), Nostalgia
Flash Gordon in the Winter World (1935-37), Nostalgia
Flash Gordon Escapes to Arboria (1937-39), Nostalgia
Flash Gordon vs Frozen Terrors (1939-41?), Nostalgia
Flash Gordon Joins the Power Men (1941-43?), Nostalgia
Mongo, Planet of Doom (1934-35), Kitchen Sink Press
Three Against Ming (1935-37), Kitchen Sink Press
The Tides of Battle (1937-39), Kitchen Sink Press
The Fall of Ming (1939-41), Kitchen Sink Press
Between Worlds at War (1941-43), Kitchen Sink Press
Triumph in Tropia (1943-44), Kitchen Sink Press
Flash Gordon: Volume 1 (1934-35), Checker Book Publishing Group
Flash Gordon: Volume 2 (1935-36), Checker Book Publishing Group
Flash Gordon: Volume 3 (1936-37), Checker Book Publishing Group
Flash Gordon: Volume 4 (1938-40), Checker Book Publishing Group
Flash Gordon: Volume 5 (1940-41), Checker Book Publishing Group
Flash Gordon: The Dailes by Austin Briggs, 1940-42, Kitchen Sink Press
Flash Gordon: The Dailes by Austin Briggs, 1942-44, Kitchen Sink Press
Mac Rayboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 1, Dark Horse Comics
Mac Rayboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 2, Dark Horse Comics
Mac Rayboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 3, Dark Horse Comics
Mac Rayboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 4, Dark Horse Comics
Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, 6 volumes (mix of dailies & Sundays from 1970s), Tempo Books
External links
Flash Gordon at King Features
Big Cartoon DataBase: The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
Toonopedia entry
Roaring Rockets: The Flash Gordon Serials
Flash Gordon in Comics Revue
Epguides.com's Episode Guide for the 1954 Flash Gordon TV Show.
Flash Gordon Soundboard
"King of the Impossible" - fustar.org discusses Flash Gordon (1980)
Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
The original Buster Crabbe serials, online.
Chapter 1 (Public Domain)
Chapter 2 (Public Domain)
Chapter 3 (Public Domain)
Chapter 4 (Public Domain)
Chapter 5 (Public Domain)
Chapter 6 (Public Domain)
Chapter 8 (Public Domain)
Chapter 9 (Public Domain)
Chapter 10 (Public Domain)
Chapter 11 (Public Domain)
|
|
|
|
This section is sponsored by:
flash gordon
Don't just search for flash gordon, find results.
www.ask.com
Flash Gordon
Find Flash Gordon info here!
www.dealrain.com
Laptops
Find a great deal on a Laptop Computer by browsing our Laptop Computer listings.
www.LaptopComputersInfo.com
laptops
Don't just search for laptops, find results.
www.ask.com
Used Laptops start @ $177
Excellent Used Notebooks Low Prices All Brands, XP, Super Fast WIFI -Free Shipping!
www.notebookchoice.com
laptops
Search for laptops here.
www.aywoh.com
Laptop
Laptop At Huge Discount! Free Shipping On Laptop.
www.insights1.com
Laptops
Get More Info on Laptops at UncoverTheNet.
www.UncoverTheNet.com
|
