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For other uses, see Flash Gordon (disambiguation).
Flash Gordon

The first Flash Gordon comic strip
Publication information
Publisher King Features Syndicate
First appearance January 7, 1934
Created by Alex Raymond
In story information
Team affiliations Dale Arden, Dr. Hans Zarkov, Defenders of the Earth

Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, which was first published on January 7, 1934. King Features Syndicate, a Print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 Comic strips newspaper columns, In Comic books and other stories with a long history first appearance refers to the first occurrence to feature a Fictional character. Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Alexander Gillespie Raymond ( October 2, 1909 – September 6, 1956) was an American Comic strip artist best known for creating the Dale Arden is a Fictional character, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters including Princess Dr Hans Zarkov is a Fictional character appearing in the Flash Gordon comic strip Defenders of the Earth is an animated television series produced in the late 1980s featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate A comic strip is a sequence of drawings that tells a story Currently in the Western world, most comic strips are written and drawn by a Comics artist Alexander Gillespie Raymond ( October 2, 1909 – September 6, 1956) was an American Comic strip artist best known for creating the Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Year 1934 ( MCMXXXIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full 1934 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The strip, inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip, has since surpassed Buck Rogers for longevity. Buck Rogers is a fictional character who first appeared in 1928 as Anthony Rogers the hero of two Novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan published in the magazine Also inspired by these series were comics such as Dash Dixon (1935 to 1939) by H. T. Elmo and Larry Antoinette and Don Dixon and the Hidden Empire (1935 to 1941) by Carl Pfeufer and Bob Moore.

Due to the negative meaning of the word "Flash" in Australia, the strip was retitled Speed Gordon and remains in the popular phrase "I'm in more strife than Speed Gordon". For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. [1]

The Flash Gordon comic strip has been translated into a wide variety of media, including motion pictures, television and animated series. The latest version, a Flash Gordon TV series, has recently finished airing on the US Sci Fi Channel, and has just begun on the United Kingdom Sci Fi channel. Flash Gordon is a American Science fiction Television series that debuted on Sci Fi in the United States on August 10 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located See Sci Fi Channel for a list of other Sci Fi channels SCI FI Channel (also SCI FI UK, or simply SCI FI) is a

Contents

Strip bibliography

See also: List of Flash Gordon comic strips and Flash Gordon#Reprints
Flash and Thun rush to stop the wedding of Ming and Dale.An excerpt from the March 4, 1934 strip, very early in Alex Raymond's original run.
Flash and Thun rush to stop the wedding of Ming and Dale. Flash Gordon is an American comic strip that ran from January 7 1934 until it went into reruns following the last new Sunday strip on March 16 2003 Flash Gordon is the hero of a Science fiction adventure Comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, which was first published on January 7,
An excerpt from the March 4, 1934 strip, very early in Alex Raymond's original run.

Plot summary

The comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Alexander Gillespie Raymond ( October 2, 1909 – September 6, 1956) was an American Comic strip artist best known for creating the Austin Briggs ( August 9, 1908 &ndash October 10, 1973) was a Cartoonist and Illustrator. Emmanuel "Mac" Raboy ( April 9, 1914 - December 1967 was an American cartoonist whose comic books and strips remain collectibles Daniel Barry ( July 11, 1923 - January 25, 1997) was an American Cartoonist. For the radio personality see Harry Harrison (radio. Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, March 12 1925 Ralph Reese is an American artist who illustrated for books magazines and comic books from the 1960s to the 1990s Bruce Jones, whose Pen names include Philip Roland and Bruce Elliot, is an American Comic book Writer, Novelist Gray Morrow ( March 7, 1934 - November 6, 2001) was an American illustrator of Paperback books and Comics. Richard Bruning is the Senior Vice-President-Creative Director of DC Comics. Kevin VanHook (born 24 June, 1965) is a film-maker who began his career in storytelling as a Comic book artist and Jim Keefe is the most recent artist to contribute original art and stories to the Flash Gordon Comic strip. Polo is a team sport played outdoors on Horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team Dale Arden is a Fictional character, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters including Princess Hans Zarkov. Dr Hans Zarkov is a Fictional character appearing in the Flash Gordon comic strip The story begins with Earth bombarded by fiery meteors. Dr. Zarkov believes the meteors are from outer space, and invents a rocket ship to locate their place of origin. Half mad, he kidnaps Flash and Dale, and the three travel to the planet Mongo, where they discover that the meteors are weapons devised by Ming the Merciless, evil ruler of Mongo. Mongo is the Fictional planet where the action of the Comic strip (and later movie serials) of Flash Gordon is located Ming the Merciless is a Fictional character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon Comic strip in 1934

For many years, the three companions have adventures on Mongo, traveling to the forest kingdom of Arboria, ruled by Prince Barin; the ice kingdom of Frigia, ruled by Queen Fria; the jungle kingdom of Tropica, ruled by Queen Desira; the undersea kingdom of the Shark Men, ruled by King Kala; and the flying city of the Hawkmen, ruled by Prince Vultan. Prince Barin is a character in the Flash Gordon stories He is king of a region of Mongo called Arboria Prince Vultan is the Prince of the bird-like Hawkmen in the Flash Gordon comic strip and its adaptions They are joined in several early adventures by Prince Thun of the Lion Men. Prince Thun is a fictional character who appeared in various forms of the Flash Gordon comic strip and film productions

After years of adventures on Mongo, with only a short break during World War II to fight the Red Sword invaders back on Earth, the three heroes travel to other planets. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including They then make Earth their home base, and Flash joins the World Space Council as a pilot and explorer. At this point, the stories are set ten years in the future, so that a 1960 story from the strip will be set in the future year 1970, when our space program has reached most of the planets of our own Solar System. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Solar System consists of the Sun and those celestial objects bound to it by Gravity.

The long story of the Skorpii War takes Flash to other star systems, using starships that are faster than light. Flash and his friends also frequently return to Mongo, where Ming has been overthrown and Prince Barin, married to Ming's daughter Princess Aura, has established a peaceful rule (except for frequent revolts led by Ming or by one of his many descendants). Prince Barin is a character in the Flash Gordon stories He is king of a region of Mongo called Arboria Princess Aura is a fictional character in the Flash Gordon comic strips and serials

Flash Gordon and Dale Arden the day Ming was defeated.
Flash Gordon and Dale Arden the day Ming was defeated.

Films

A scene from the finale of the 1980 Flash Gordon.
A scene from the finale of the 1980 Flash Gordon.

Most of the Flash Gordon film and television adaptations retell the early adventures on the planet Mongo.

Film serials

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). Serials, more specifically known as Movie serials or Film serials, were Short subjects originally shown in theaters in conjunction with a Feature Buster Crabbe ( February 7, 1908 &ndash April 23, 1983) Flash Gordon is a 1936 film serial which tells the story of three people from Earth who travel to the planet Mongo to fight the evil Emperor Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars is a 1938 film serial of 15 episodes based on the comic strip Flash Gordon. Year 1938 ( MCMXXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. The 1936 Flash Gordon serial was also condensed into a feature-length film.

1980 film

Main article: Flash Gordon (film)

The 1980 film Flash Gordon stars Sam J. Jones in the title role, where Flash Gordon begins the film as the quarterback of the New York Jets instead of a polo player. Flash Gordon is a 1980 Science fiction film, based on the Eponymous Comic strip character Flash Gordon (Gordon Ferrao Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Flash Gordon is a 1980 Science fiction film, based on the Eponymous Comic strip character Flash Gordon (Gordon Ferrao Sam J Jones (born Samuel Gerald Jones on August 12, 1954 in Chicago) is an American actor often credited as Sam Jones It also features Melody Anderson as Dale Arden, Topol as Dr. Melody Anderson (born December 3, 1955) is a Canadian-American Social worker and Public speaker specializing in the impact of Chaim Topol ( חיים טופול) (born September 9 1935) often billed simply as Topol, is one of the most famous Israeli theatrical Zarkov, Max von Sydow as Ming, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan, and Ornella Muti as Aura. (born 10 April 1929 is a well-known Swedish actor known in particular for his collaboration with filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. Timothy Peter Dalton (born March 21, 1946) is an English Brian Blessed (pronounced /ˈblɛsɪd/ born 9 October 1937) is an English Actor, Author and Adventurer, widely recognised Ornella Muti (born March 9, 1955) is an Italian actress. She was born in Rome as Francesca Romana Rivelli, to a Neapolitan Although not a critical success, the film is noted for its musical score, which was composed and performed by Queen. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist The stand out work is the theme song, "Flash" which many fans consider to be the definitive musical signature of the media franchise. The phrase theme music usually refers to that of a radio program, Television program, or Movie. " Flash " is a song by Queen. It was written by Brian May.

With extraordinarily ornate production designs and costumes by Danilo Donati, and with Dino De Laurentiis as Producer, the film is noted for over-the-top designs and a reputation for being camp, and as such has acquired a cult status amongst students, sci-fi fans, and others. Danilo Donati ( 1926 - December 1, 2001) was an Italian Costume designer and Production designer. Agostino De Laurentiis, usually credited as Dino De Laurentiis (born August 8 1919) is an Academy Award -winning Italian A cult following is a group of fans devoted to a specific area of Pop culture. Many of the film's lines are 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 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 many more serious, dramatic roles in film, theatre and television. Brian Blessed (pronounced /ˈblɛsɪd/ born 9 October 1937) is an English Actor, Author and Adventurer, widely recognised Prince Vultan is the Prince of the bird-like Hawkmen in the Flash Gordon comic strip and its adaptions The plot of the film is based loosely on the first few years of the comic strip, and includes a film version of the famous Alex Raymond Sunday page, "Flight of the Hawkmen".

Television

Steve Holland as Flash Gordon in the 1950s TV series.
Steve Holland as Flash Gordon in the 1950s TV series. Steve Holland ( January 8, 1925 - May 10, 1997) was an American actor and male Paperback, magazine and fashion model

Flash Gordon (1954-55)

Main article: Flash Gordon (1954 TV series)

Steve Holland starred in a 1954-1955 live-action TV series which ran for 39 episodes. Flash Gordon is a science fiction television series based on the characters of the Alex Raymond -created comic strip of the same name. Steve Holland ( January 8, 1925 - May 10, 1997) was an American actor and male Paperback, magazine and fashion model Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Flash Gordon is a science fiction television series based on the characters of the Alex Raymond -created comic strip of the same name. The series had the distinction of being filmed in West Berlin, less than a decade after the end of World War II. West Berlin was the name given to the western part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990 World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including It was recut into a movie in 1957. Flash Gordon was a pop singer in deleted scenes of the original pilot, fronting a rock band called Flipside Runner.

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon (1979-80)

Main article: The New Adventures of Flash Gordon

In 1979, Filmation produced an animated series, often called The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, but actually titled simply Flash Gordon, which reused many of the animated sequences from the as yet unreleased TV movie (over and over again), but removed the subplot involving Adolf Hitler. The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, also known as The Adventures of Flash Gordon, is an animated television series Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) For the unrelated isometric graphics engine used by Ultimate Play the Game in their 8-bit computer games see Filmation engine. An animated cartoon is a short hand-drawn (or made with computers to look similar to something hand-drawn Film for the cinema, Television or computer The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, also known as The Adventures of Flash Gordon, is an animated television series Hi and welcome to Wikipedia! Please understand that this article is frequently vandalized and vandalism is reverted immediately

NBC was unhappy with the serial nature of the first season, as it clashed with their re-run style (details can be found on a documentary included on the DVD), so the second season was much changed and also aimed at a younger audience. Each episode included two stand-alone stories, often featuring a young dragon named Gremlin, introduced for comic relief.

Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All (1982)

Dale Arden and Flash Gordon according to Filmation Studios.
Dale Arden and Flash Gordon according to Filmation Studios. For the unrelated isometric graphics engine used by Ultimate Play the Game in their 8-bit computer games see Filmation engine.

Filmation produced this successful animated television movie, written by Star Trek writer Samuel A. Peeples, before they began their Saturday morning series, but the TV-movie did not actually air until 1982. For the unrelated isometric graphics engine used by Ultimate Play the Game in their 8-bit computer games see Filmation engine. Samuel Anthony Peeples ( 1917 - 27 August 1997) was an American Writer. It was critically well-received, and is considered one of the best film versions of Flash Gordon, though it would never be re-broadcast following its premiere. [1]

Defenders of the Earth (1986)

Main article: Defenders of the Earth

In the 1986 cartoon Defenders of the Earth, Flash teamed up with fellow King Features heroes The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician in 65 episodes. Defenders of the Earth is an animated television series produced in the late 1980s featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) Defenders of the Earth is an animated television series produced in the late 1980s featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate King Features Syndicate, a Print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 Comic strips newspaper columns, Mandrake the Magician is a US Comic strip created in 1934 by Lee Falk (also creator of The Phantom) and mainly appearing This series took extreme liberties with all the characters, revealing that Flash and Dale Arden had conceived a son, Rick Gordon, who is in his mid-teens when the series begins. Dale has her mind torn from her body by Ming in the first episode and is preserved in a crystal, which Rick is able to recover and give to his father. Dale is reborn on Earth as Dynak X, the strategic battle computer of the Defender's base Monitor Earth.

While Flash vows that he will restore Dale to her human form, later episodes of the series see him openly flirting and embracing other women, in one case developing a relationship with the android Kala in the episode "Flesh and Blood". Kala is killed at the conclusion of the episode when she sacrifices her life to save the Defenders.

Flash Gordon (1996)

Main article: Flash Gordon (1996 TV series)

In 1996, Hearst Entertainment premiered an animated Flash Gordon television series. Flash Gordon is a 1996 animated television series based on the science fiction comic strip of the same name. Flash Gordon is a 1996 animated television series based on the science fiction comic strip of the same name. This version turned Flash and Dale into hoverboarding teen-agers. A Hoverboard (or hover board) is a fictional hovering board used for personal transportation in the films Back to the Future

Flash Gordon (2007-present)

Main article: Flash Gordon (2007 TV series)

The Sci Fi Channel premiered its new Flash Gordon series in the United States on August 10, 2007. Flash Gordon is a American Science fiction Television series that debuted on Sci Fi in the United States on August 10 Flash Gordon is a American Science fiction Television series that debuted on Sci Fi in the United States on August 10 The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Events 612 BC - Killing of Sinsharishkun, King of Assyrian Empire Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. On 12 January 2007 at the Television Critics Association tour, it was announced that the live-action series comprises 22 one-hour episodes, produced in Canada in early 2007. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Television Critics Association (or TCA) is a group of approximately 200 United States and Canadian journalists and columnists who cover Television Under an agreement with King Features Syndicate, the series is being produced by Reunion Pictures of Vancouver. King Features Syndicate, a Print syndication company owned by The Hearst Corporation, distributes about 150 Comic strips newspaper columns, Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. of RHI Entertainment served as Executive Producers. RHI Entertainment is an American producer of Television movies and Miniseries, founded in the 1980s by Robert Halmi Jr

The characters of Ming, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov are present in the series although drastically altered. Eric Johnson, best known for his earlier work on the WB's Smallville, plays the title character of Steven "Flash" Gordon. Eric Johann Johnson (born August 7, 1979 in Edmonton Alberta) is best known for playing the role of Whitney Fordman on the television series Gina Holden (who has appeared in Fantastic Four and Aliens vs. Predator) plays Dale Arden, Dr. Gina Holden (born March 17, 1975) is a Canadian actress who is currently starring in one TV show still in production Fantastic Four is a 2005 Superhero film based on the Marvel Comics comic Fantastic Four. Alien vs Predator, or Aliens versus Predator (both titles abbreviated AvP) is Dale Arden is a Fictional character, the fellow-adventurer and love interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters including Princess Hans Zarkov is played by Jody Racicot (Night at the Museum), and John Ralston portrays the arch-villain, Ming. Night at the Museum is a 2006 American Adventure Comedy film. John Ralston (born October 9, 1964) is a Canadian Actor. Most notable are Ralston's roles as Derek Edwin and Marti's father

Advertisements featured a cover version of Queen's "Flash's Theme" (from the 1980 film) performed by the band Louis XIV. Queen were an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist " Flash " is a song by Queen. It was written by Brian May. Louis XIV is an American Post-punk revival band from San Diego California. The song was not present however in any episode of the show.

The show was cancelled officially in early 2008. The show was a critical failure. The SciFi channel admitted to having treated the franchise 'very poorly' and have not ruled out remaking a more faithful adaption in the future.

Columbia Pictures is currently in talks to acquire the rights to produce a new Flash Gordon movie which would be directed by Breck Eisner and produced by Neal Moritz. }} Columbia Pictures Industries Inc is an American Film production and distribution company Breck Eisner (born 1970 is the son of former Walt Disney Company chief executive Michael Eisner. Neal H Moritz is a Film producer. He has over 70 films to his credit [2]

Radio serials

Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, a 26 episode weekly radio serial. The series followed the strip very closely, amounting to a week-by-week adaptation of the Sunday strip for most of its run.

Flash Gordon was played by Gale Gordon, later famous for his television roles in Our Miss Brooks, Dennis the Menace, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy (the latter two with Lucille Ball). Gale Gordon ( February 20, 1906 – June 30, 1995) was an American character actor Our Miss Brooks, an American Situation comedy, starred Eve Arden as a sardonic High school English Teacher. Dennis the Menace is a Television series based on the popular Hank Ketcham comic strip of the same name The Lucy Show is a Television series which ran from 1962 until 1968 Here's Lucy is Lucille Ball 's third network television sitcom Lucille Ball (August 6 1911 – April 26 1989 was an American comedienne, film television stage and radio Actress, model, film The cast also included Maurice Franklin as Dr. Zarkov and Bruno Wick as Ming the Merciless. [3]

The radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov return to Earth. They make a crash landing in Africa, where they meet Jungle Jim, the star of another of Alex Raymond's comic strips. Jungle Jim is an American Newspaper Comic strip first published January 7, 1934, by writer

The series ended on October 26, 1935 with Flash and Dale's marriage. The next week, The Adventures of Jungle Jim picked up in that Saturday timeslot.

Two days later, on October 28th, The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon debuted as a daily show, running five days a week. This series strayed farther afield from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. Atlantis (in Greek,, "island of Atlas " is the name of a Legendary Island, first mentioned in Plato 's dialogues The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936. [4]

Comic books

Over the years, several publishers have produced Flash Gordon comics based on the classic strip.

In 1988, DC Comics produced a modernized version of the comic strip. David McKay Publications was a comic book publisher that published some of the Ace Comics (1937 series Blondie Comics Dick Tracy, Mandrake the Magician Dell Comics was the Comic book publishing arm of Dell Publishing, which got its start in Pulp magazines. Four Color, also known as Four Color Comics and One Shots, was an extremely prolific American Comic book Harvey Comics (also known as Harvey Publications) was an American Comic book Publisher, founded by Alfred Harvey in 1941 after buying Gold Key Comics was an Imprint of Western Publishing created for Comic books distributed to Newsstands History Gold Key King Comics was a short-lived Comic book imprint of King Features Syndicate, and an attempt by King to publish comics of its own characters rather than through Charlton Comics was an American Comic book publishing company that existed from 1946 to 1986 having begun under a different name in 1944 Gold Key Comics was an Imprint of Western Publishing created for Comic books distributed to Newsstands History Gold Key Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company It featured Flash as washed up basketball player who finds new purpose in life on Mongo, Dale as an adventurous reporter who is just as capable as Flash, and a gray-skinned Ming who is less of an Asian stereotype. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m

The series ran for a planned nine issues and was left with an open-ended conclusion, probably in hopes that it would have been popular enough to start a regular comic run. Though Mongo was not a threat to Earth in this series, Ming had every intention of conquering Earth once he coerced Dr. Zarkov into designing the needed ships.

In 1995, Marvel Comics did a two-issue series with art by Al Williamson, in the style of the Flash comics he had produced for King and others. Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Marvel Comics is an American comic book company owned by Marvel Publishing Inc Al Williamson (born March 21 1931) is an American cartoonist comic book artist and illustrator of partly Colombian descent best known for his science-fiction

A new comic book series has been released by Ardden Entertainment [2][3]

Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine

Flash Gordon magazine cover
Flash Gordon magazine cover

In 1936, one issue of a would-be series, Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine was published, featuring a "novel" about Flash Gordon entitled The Masters of Mars, written by the otherwise unknown James Edison Northford. The pulp was based more or less on the comic strip story lines, and included illustrations reminiscent of Alex Raymond's artwork. On the back pages a second installment, The Sun Men of Saturn, was promised, but never saw print.

Even though the series did not take off, the one issue of Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine has become a much sought-after item for pulp magazine collectors.

Novels

The first novel based on the strip, Flash Gordon in the Caverns of Mongo, was published in 1936 by Grosset & Dunlap. Grosset & Dunlap is a United States Book publisher founded in 1898 The credited author was Alex Raymond. Like the pulp magazine of the same year, it failed to launch a series.

In 1973 Avon books launched a six-book series of adult-oriented Flash Gordon novels: The Lion Men of Mongo, The Plague of Sound, The Space Circus, The Time Trap of Ming XIII, The Witch Queen of Mongo, and The War of the Cybernauts.

In 1980 Tempo books released a series: Massacre in the 22nd Century, War of the Citadels, Crisis on Citadel II, Forces from the Federation, Citadels under Attack and Citadels on Earth. Except for the name of the hero, this series had little to do with any other version of Flash Gordon.

Theme Park Ride

The name "Flash Gordon" was emblazoned on the proscenium of a ride at the 1939 New York World's Fair. An article in Popular Science magazine of March 1939, "World's Fair Thrills", states that 150 people at a time could enter a rocket ship (mockup) with a motion picture screen and vibrating seats for a simulated ride to another planet. For the 1935-1949 film series see Popular Science (film. Popular Science is an American monthly Magazine founded in 1872 The ride was located "at the opposite end of the amusement zone from the parachute tower". The fairgoers then walked around a simulation of Venus as a jungle planet inhabited by (mechanical) dinosaurs to enter a 'Martian Headquarters', where "weirdly costumed Martians and mechanically animated models of giant beasts enact[ed] episodes from the adventures of Flash Gordon". The ride's Martians did not look like those in the 1938 serial, however, nor did the rocket ship.

Parodies and references

Ape and Essence

In Aldous Huxley's 1948 novel Ape and Essence, one of the characters reads the comic, with the strip's ideals mentioned as being both anachronistic (Flash's gallantry) and counter-anachronistic (the bust size and skimpiness of the damsels Flash saves). Aldous Leonard Huxley (26 July 1894 &ndash 22 November 1963 was an English writer and one of the most prominent members of the famous Huxley family. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

Flesh Gordon

A semi-pornographic parody called Flesh Gordon was released in 1974. Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of Sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer Flesh Gordon is a 1974 science fiction and comedy adventure film Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. It became a cult classic and was followed in 1989 by Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders. A cult film is a Film that has acquired a highly devoted but relatively small group of fans. Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders (aka Flesh Gordon 2 Flesh Gordon Meets the Cosmic Cheerleaders) is the sequel to the sex comedy

Sesame Street

Since 2004,[5] every episode of Sesame Street has ended with Oscar the Grouch reading to Slimey, his pet worm, a chapter from their favorite bed-time story, The Adventures of Trash Gordon. Sesame Street is an American educational Children's television series and a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard combining Oscar the Grouch is a Muppet character on the television program Sesame Street. Slimey the Worm (also simply known as Slimey) is a light and dark orange striped Worm that is the pet and friend of Oscar the Grouch on Jim Henson Trash Gordon is played by Roscoe Orman's character Gordon. The Robinson family is a Fictional Family on the Children's television series Sesame Street. Roscoe Orman (born June 11, 1944, in The Bronx New York) is an American Actor who plays Gordon Robinson on the television

The Darkness

The 2007 video game The Darkness allows the player to watch an entire episode of the 1954/1955 TV series. The Darkness is a First-person shooter Video game for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana

Umberto Eco's 2004 novel The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana makes references to Flash Gordon, or, as the narrator referred to him as a child, "Gudón", as a heroic model for the narrator as a child. La Misteriosa Fiamma della Regina Loana ("The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana" is a Novel by Italian writer Umberto Eco.

Step by Step

In the latter part of the 1990s TV sit-com Step by Step, a character by the name of Jake Gordon had the nickname "Flash", possibly a reference to Flash Gordon.

Reprints

The Alex Raymond Sunday strips have been reprinted by several publishers, notably Nostalgia Press, Kitchen Sink Press, and Checker Book Publishing Group. See also Comic strip A Sunday strip is a Newspaper Comic strip format where comic strips are printed in the Sunday newspaper usually in a Kitchen Sink Press was a Comic book publishing company founded by Denis Kitchen in 1969. Checker Book Publishing Group is an independent publisher of Comics reprints from newspaper strips to modern out-of-print titles and collections from defunct The Kitchen Sink and Checker versions are in color, Nostalgia Press did one in black and white and the others in color. The Mac Raboy Sundays have been reprinted by Dark Horse in black and white. Dark Horse Comics is one of the largest independent American Comic book publishers behind dominant publishers Marvel Comics and DC Comics 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. For the radio personality see Harry Harrison (radio. Harry Harrison (born Henry Maxwell Dempsey, March 12 1925 Comics Revue is a monthly Small press Comic book published by Manuscript Press. Manuscript Press is a Small press Publisher started by Rick Norwood in 1976 and currently located in Mountain Home Tennessee. Tempo Books published 6 massmarket paperbacks reprinting strips from the 1970s in the 1980s. Some of the Austin Briggs dailies were reprinted by Kitchen Sink Press. Kitchen Sink Press was a Comic book publishing company founded by Denis Kitchen in 1969.

DVD Releases

Flash Gordon has been released to DVD under a variety of titles and in both edited and non-edited versions. Emmanuel "Mac" Raboy ( April 9, 1914 - December 1967 was an American cartoonist whose comic books and strips remain collectibles The serials and 50s TV show have no shortage of public domain DVD releases.

Film Serials (1936-1940)

Flash Gordon (1936)

Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars (1938)

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940)

Flash Gordon (1954-55)

The New Adventures of Flash Gordon (1979)

US - BCI Eclipse

UK - Hollywood DVD LTD

Flash Gordon (1980)

On May 6, 1998, Image Home Entertainment released the 1980 film on DVD in North America for DVD Region 1 territories through a contract with Universal, but it quickly went out of print. DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played

Momentum Pictures later released it in the UK for DVD Region 2 territories on October 10, 2005. DVD video discs may be encoded with a region code restricting the area of the world in which they can be played This edition of the film, the "Silver Anniversary Edition", features an anamorphic widescreen transfer at the film's 2. 35:1 aspect ratio, both Dolby Digital and DTS 5. 1 audio, the original Queen theatrical trailer, an audio commentary by director Mike Hodges, a second audio commentary from actor Brian Blessed, an interview with Mike Hodges, a photo slideshow and an original 1940s Serial, episode one of Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe.

Universal released the film on August 7th, 2007 in North America and Region 1 territories once again. The new disc, entitled the "Saviour of the Universe Edition," features a 2. 35:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and an English Dolby Digital 5. 1 Surround track. Extras include an "Alex Ross on Flash Gordon" featurette in which world-renowned comic artist Alex Ross talks about the film and how it has inspired him in his life and work, a "Writing a Classic" featurette with screenwriter Lorenzo Semple, Jr. Nelson Alexander "Alex" Ross (born January 22, 1970) is an American Comic book painter, Illustrator and and a Flash Gordon 1936 serial episode (chapter one of Planet of Peril).

Defenders of the Earth

US - BCI Ecplise

UK - Hollywood DVD LTD

UK - Delta Music PLC

Flash Gordon (1996)

Lion's Gate on September 21st 2004, released 3-4 episode DVDs of Flash Gordon (1996) and Phantom 2040. Phantom 2040 is an animated Science fiction television series loosely based on the Comic strip hero The Phantom, created

Stamps

In 1995, the strip was one of 20 included in the Comic Strip Classics series of commemorative US Postal Service postage stamps. Comic Strip Classics series of commemorative Postage stamps was issued by the US Postal Service in 1995 to honor the centennial of the newspaper Comic A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services

Accusations of anti-Asian stereotyping

Though technically an extraterrestrial, Ming the Merciless as originally introduced strongly resembles a stereotypical Asian supervillain. See also List of extraterrestrials in fiction In Popular cultures Life forms -especially intelligent life forms that are of extraterrestrial Ming the Merciless is a Fictional character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon Comic strip in 1934 A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression" is a generalized perception of first impressions behaviors presumed by a group Asian or Asiatic is a Demonym for people from Asia. However the use of the term varies by country and person often referring to people from a particular A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the Villain character type commonly found in Comic books, Action movies and His resemblance to Dr. Fu Manchu is especially strong, particularly in his relationship with Aura, which echoes Dr. Dr Fu Manchu is a Fictional character first featured in a series of novels by English author Sax Rohmer during the first half of the 20th century Fu's relationship with his ambitious, evil daughter, Fah lo Suee.

Moreover, "Ming" (明) is a common personal name in China, and was the name of several historical Chinese emperors, and later of an entire dynasty. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National The name has clear Chinese associations even for people not versed in the details of Chinese history.

In later adaptations of the story, Ming's Oriental nature has been downplayed, out of sensitivity to criticisms of racial stereotyping. As mentioned, in DC Comics' nine-issue Flash Gordon mini-series, Ming and most of the human-like denizens of Mongo [with some exceptions] were given gray skin in an effort to avoid such stereotyping. DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company In the 1996 animated series, Ming was reptilian in order to avoid this issue. In the 2007 series, Ming is a blond Caucasian, leading to accusations of extreme political-correctness from fans, who argue that the longtime villain is now "MINO" ("Ming In Name Only").

See also

References

  1. ^ ANDC - The Australian National Dictionary: Additions and Corrections, by James Lambert
  2. ^ Breck Eisner to Direct Flash Gordon - Superhero Hype!
  3. ^ Audio Classics Archive: The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon
  4. ^ "Radio Science Fiction: Information and Help to the New Collector", by Terry G. Buck Rogers is a fictional character who first appeared in 1928 as Anthony Rogers the hero of two Novellas by Philip Francis Nowlan published in the magazine G. Salmonson. Accessed 09-11-07.
  5. ^ Trash Gordon. Muppet Wiki (2007-08-04, 03:37). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Retrieved on 2007-08-07. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great.

External links

IMDb

Dictionary

Flash Gordon

-proper noun

  1. A fictional character who is the saviour of the universe.
  2. (idiomatic) Someone who is perceived as fulfilling (or wanting to fulfill) such a role.
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