Flash Gordon is an American space adventurecomic strip from King Features Syndicate, created and originally illustrated by Alex Raymond to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip. Flash Gordon ran as a Sunday comic from January 7, 1934 until March 16, 2003. From 2003 to 2023, the strip went into reprints of the work of Jim Keefe, who had written and illustrated the comic from 1996 to 2003. A daily strip by Austin Briggs ran from 1941 to 1944, and another by Dan Barry ran from 1951 to 1990. Flash Gordon was relaunched as a daily strip by Dan Schkade on October 22, 2023.
The comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, who travel to the planet Mongo and immediately come into conflict with Ming the Merciless, its evil ruler.[1][2][3] Other characters include Prince Thun of the Lion Men, Flash's ally who opposes Ming; Princess Aura, Ming's selfish daughter who has an unrequited love for Flash; Prince Barin of the forest kingdom of Arboria, the rightful ruler of Mongo; and Prince Vultan of the Hawkmen, who inhabit a flying city.[1]
Sunday strips
Flash Gordon was created and originally illustrated by Alex Raymond to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip. Flash Gordon ran as a Sunday comic from January 7, 1934 until March 16, 2003.[1][2] From 2003 to 2023, the strip went into reprints of the work of Jim Keefe, who had written and illustrated the comic from 1996 to 2003.[1][4]
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.
In subsequent reprints of this serial,a panel featuring US President Bill Clinton from July 25,1999,was edited to feature President Barack Obama in a December 4,2011,reprint,and then edited to include President Donald Trump in a January 6,2019 reprint.[10]
Reprint of S201. In reprints of this serial,a panel featuring US President Bill Clinton from July 25,1999,was edited to feature President Barack Obama in the December 4,2011,reprint,and then edited to include President Donald Trump in the January 6,2019 reprint.[10]
Reprint of S201. In reprints of this serial,a panel featuring US President Bill Clinton from July 25,1999,was edited to feature President Barack Obama in the December 4,2011,reprint,and then edited to include President Donald Trump in the January 6,2019 reprint.[10]
Flash Gordon was relaunched as a daily strip by Dan Schkade on October 22,2023,with a new continuity adapted for a modern audience.[13] The story arcs by Schkade have in general been published over a period of ten weeks. Each Sunday strip has been a summary of the previous six days from a specific character's perspective. The following are the daily and the Sunday strip arcs by Schkade since October 2023.
While Flash and Dale travel to the land of the Lion Men for a peace summit with the Shark Men,Bok and Zarkov escape from a flying ship and are rescued by Adrane.
Six strangers meet in a bar inside the Lowland Station and explained their stories where they understand how they have all met Flash.
References
1234Haley, Guy, ed. (2014). "Flash Gordon". Sci-Fi Chronicles: A Visual History of the Galaxy's Greatest Science Fiction. Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books. pp.69–73. ISBN9781770852648.
1 2 Murray, Doug (2012). "Birth of a Legend". In Raymond, Alex; Moore, Don (eds.). Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo: Sundays 1934–1937. London, England: Titan Books. pp.10–15. ISBN978-0-8576-8154-6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
