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Flash Gordon Sunday Page by Mac Raboy from 1/22/1956 Half Page Size
$4.00
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Comicstrips (169)
Condition:Some light tanning/wrinkles on some, a few have small archival repairs on backside, otherwise: Excellent! Please check scans. Thanks for looking! This is a _FLASH GORDON_ SUNDAY PAGE BY MAC RABOY. Wonderf ... Read More
Condition:Some light tanning/wrinkles on some, a few have small archival repairs on backside, otherwise: Excellent! Please check scans. Thanks for looking!
This is a _FLASH GORDON_ SUNDAY PAGE BY MAC RABOY. Wonderful Artwork and Story Telling ! This was cut from the original newspaper Sunday Comics section of 1956. SIZE: HALF FULL SIZE: 11 X 15 INCHES. PAPER: SOME LIGHT TANNING, A FEW MAY HAVE SMALL PINHOLES IN MARGIN, SMALL ARCHIVAL REPAIRS ON SOME, OTHERWISE: EXCELLENT! PULLED FROM LOOSE SECTIONS! (PLEASE CHECK SCANS) Please include $5.00 Total postage on any size order (USA) $20.00 International FLAT RATE. I combine postage on multiple pages. Check out my other auctions for more great Vintage COMIC STRIPS and PAPER DOLLS. THANKS FOR LOOKING!
*Fyi: Hard to Find Pages, These do not turn up often!
Mac Raboy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mac Raboy
Born
Emmanuel Raboy
April 17, 1914
New York City
Died
December 12, 1967(aged 53)
Nationality
American
Area(s)
Penciller
Notable worksCaptain Marvel Jr.
_Flash Gordon_ Sunday strip
EMMANUEL "MAC" RABOY (April 17, 1914 – December 12, 1967)[1] was an American comics artist best known for his comic-book work on Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel Jr. [2] and as the Sunday comic-strip artist of _Flash Gordon_ for more than 20 years. [3] [4]
Born in New York City, Raboy began his art career with the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. In the 1940s he began working with the Harry A. Chesler studio of comics artists.[4] Raboy began drawing comic books and gained fame as the illustrator for _Captain Marvel, Jr._ and the _Green Lama_.[4] Raboy was a great admirer of Alex Raymond, and "kept a portfolio of Alex Raymond's "Flash Gordon" comics by his side for inspiration and guidance as he worked".[4] In the spring of 1946, King Features hired Raboy to continue the Sunday page adventures of _Flash Gordon_, which he continued to work on until his death. [3]
Drew Friedman has stated, "Raboy was an expert technician with pen and brush, and his lush covers are some of the most unusually beautiful ever to grace comic books".[4]
_
Flash and Dale as drawn by Briggs for the December 4, 1941 installment of the daily newspaper comic strip Flash Gordon_.
Flash Gordon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigationJump to search
Flash Gordon
_
Artwork for the Cover of King: Flash Gordon_ #1 (January 2015 Dynamite Entertainment). Art by Ron Salas.
Publication Information
Publisher
King Features Syndicate
First Appearance
January 7, 1934 (comic strip)
Created by
Alex Raymond
In-Story Information
Team Affiliations
Dale Arden (love interest),
Dr. Hans Zarkov (scientist)
Defenders of the Earth
FLASH GORDON is the hero of a space opera adventure comic strip created by and originally drawn by Alex Raymond.[1] First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established _Buck Rogers_ adventure strip.[2][3][4]
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_ television series, appeared on the Syfy channel in the United States in 2007–2008.
Contents
_
* 1Creation
* 2Comic strip characters and story
* 3International versions of the comic strip
* 4Strip bibliography
* 5Critical reception and influence
* 6Films
* 6.1Film serials
* 6.2Flash Gordon_ 1980 film
* 6.3Unofficial films
* 6.4Possible future films
* 7Television
* 7.1_Flash Gordon_ (1954–55 live-action)
* 7.2_Flash Gordon_ animated (1979–80)
* 7.3_Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All_ (1982)
* 7.4_Defenders of the Earth_ (1986)
* 7.5_Flash Gordon_ (1996)
* 7.6_Flash Gordon_ (2007–08 live-action)
* 8Radio serials
* 9Stage
* 10Comic books
* 11_Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_
* 12Novels
* 131939 World's Fair
* 14Reprints
* 15Games
* 16DVD releases
* 16.1Film serials (1936–1940)
* 16.1.1_Flash Gordon_ (1936)
* 16.1.2_Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars_ (1938)
* 16.1.3_Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe_ (1940)
* 16.2_Flash Gordon_ (1954–55)
* 16.3_The New Adventures of Flash Gordon_ (1979)
* 16.4_Flash Gordon_ (1980)
* 16.5_Defenders of the Earth_
* 16.6_Flash Gordon_ (1996)
* 17Parodies
* 18References
* 19External links
Creation[Edit]
_
The first Flash Gordon_ comic strip (1934).
The _Buck Rogers_ comic strip had been very commercially successful, spawning novelizations and children's toys,[5] and King Features Syndicate decided to create their own science fiction comic strip to compete with it.[2] At first King Features tried to purchase the rights to the _John Carter of Mars_ stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The syndicate was unable, however, to reach an agreement with Burroughs.[6] King Features then turned to Alex Raymond, one of their staff artists, to create the story.[3][5]
One source for Flash Gordon was the Philip Wylie novel _When Worlds Collide_ (1933). The themes of an approaching planet threatening the Earth, and an athletic hero, his girlfriend, and a scientist traveling to the new planet by rocket, were adapted by Raymond for the initial storyline.[7] Raymond's first samples were dismissed for not containing enough action sequences. Raymond reworked the story and sent it back to the syndicate, who accepted it. Raymond was partnered with ghostwriter Don Moore, an experienced editor and writer.[5] Raymond's first _Flash Gordon_ story appeared in January 1934, alongside _Jungle Jim_. The _Flash Gordon_ strip was well received by newspaper readers, becoming one of the most popular American comic strips of the 1930s.[2][3][5]
As with _Buck Rogers_, the success of _Flash Gordon_ resulted in numerous licensed products being sold, including pop-up books, colouring books, and toy spaceships and rayguns.[8]
Comic Strip Characters and Story[Edit]
_
Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon_ (February 25, 1934)
The comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. The story begins with Earth threatened by a collision with the planet Mongo. Dr. Zarkov invents a rocket ship to fly into space in an attempt to stop the disaster. Half mad, he kidnaps Flash and Dale and they travel to the planet. Landing on the planet, and halting the collision, they come into conflict with Ming the Merciless, Mongo's evil ruler.[1][2][9]
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. They are joined in several early adventures by Prince Thun of the Lion Men. Eventually, Ming is overthrown, and Mongo is ruled by a council of leaders led by Barin.[1]
Flash and friends return to Earth and have some adventures before returning to Mongo and crashing in the kingdom of Tropica, then reuniting with Barin and others. Flash and his friends travel to other worlds and return to Mongo, where 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).[1]
In the 1950s, Flash became an astronaut who travelled to other planets besides Mongo.[1] The long story of the Skorpii War takes Flash to other star systems, using starships that are faster than light.
In addition to Ming and his allies, Flash and his friends also fought several other villains, including Azura, the Witch Queen; Brukka, chieftain of the giants of Frigia;[1][9] the fascisticRed Sword organisation on Earth; and Brazor, the tyrannical usurper of Tropica.[1][10] After Raymond's tenure, later writers created new enemies for Flash to combat. Austin Briggs created Kang the Cruel, Ming's callous son.[1] Prince Polon, who had the power to shrink or enlarge living creatures, the unscrupulous Queen Rubia, and Pyron the Comet Master were among the antagonists introduced during Mac Raboy's run.[10] The Skorpi, a race of alien shape shifters who desired to conquer the galaxy, were recurring villains in both the Mac Raboy and Dan Barry stories.[1] The Skorpi space-fighter ace Baron Dak-Tula became a periodic nemesis of Flash in the late 1970s stories.[10]
International Versions of the Comic Strip[Edit]
A young corporal of the Home Armyreading a Polish edition of one of Flash Gordon ("Błysk Gordon - Królowa Błękitnej Magii") graphic novels during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944
King Features sold the _Flash Gordon_ strip to newspapers across the world, and by the late 1930s, the strip was published in 130 newspapers, translated into eight foreign languages, and was read by 50 million people.[11] In the 1930s and 1940s, several newspapers in Britain carried _Flash Gordon_, including the Scottish _Sunday Mail_.[12] In France, his adventures were published in the magazine _Robinson_, under the name "Guy l'Éclair". Dale Arden was named Camille in the French translation.[13] In Australia, the character and strip were retitled _Speed Gordon_ to avoid a negative connotation of the word "Flash".[14] (At the time, the predominant meaning of "flash" was "showy", connoting dishonesty.)[15]
However, events in the 1930s affected the strip's distribution. Newspapers in Nazi Germany were forbidden to carry the _Flash Gordon_ strip, while in Fascist Italy it was restricted to two newspapers.[11] In 1938, the Spanish magazine _Aventurero_, the only publication in the country to carry _Flash Gordon_, ceased publication because of the Spanish Civil War.[10] The outbreak of World War Two resulted in _Flash Gordon_ being discontinued in many countries. In Belgium, artist Edgar Pierre Jacobs was therefore asked to bring the current _Flash Gordon_ story to a satisfactory conclusion, which he did.[16]
After the war's end, the strip enjoyed a resurgence in international popularity. _Flash Gordon_ reappeared in Italy, Spain and West Germany, and was also syndicated to new markets such as Portugal and the Irish Republic.[10] From the 1950s onward, countries such as Spain, Italy and Denmark also reprinted _Flash Gordon_ newspaper strips in comic book or paperback novel form.[10][17]
Strip Bibliography[Edit]
See Also: List of Flash Gordon comic strips
* 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, Thomas Warkentin & Andrés Klacik, 1991–1992
* Sunday, Richard Bruning, Kevin VanHook, Thomas Warkentin & Andrés Klacik, 1992–1996
* Sunday, Jim Keefe, 1996 - 2003
Unofficial
* L'Avventuroso (Italy) Guido Fantoni, 1938
* Bravo (Belgium)- Edgar P. Jacobs, 1941
Critical Reception and Influence[Edit]
_Flash Gordon_ is regarded as one of the best illustrated and most influential of American adventure comic strips.[1][18] Historian of science fiction art Jane Frank asserted that because of his work on _Flash Gordon_, "Raymond is one of the most famous science fiction artists of all time, although he never contributed an illustration to any science fiction magazine or book".[19] The science fiction historian John Clute has stated that "The comics version of _Flash Gordon_was graceful, imaginative and soaring" and included it on a list of the most important American science fiction comics.[20] In an article about Raymond for _The Comics Journal_, R. C. Harvey declared that Raymond's _Flash Gordon_displayed "a technical virtuosity matched on the comics pages only by Harold Foster in _Prince Valiant_".[18] _The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction_ stated that _Flash Gordon's_ "elaborately shaded style and exotic storyline" made it one of the most influential comics, and that its art emphasised a "romantic baroque".[2]
_Flash Gordon_ (along with _Buck Rogers_) was a big influence on later science fiction comic strips, such as the American _Don Dixon and the Hidden Empire_ (1935 to 1941) by Carl Pfeufer and Bob Moore.[3] In Italy, Guido Fantoni drew Flash Gordon in 1938, after the prohibition by the fascist regime.[21] In Belgium, Edgar P. Jacobs was commissioned to produce a science fiction comic strip in the style of _Flash Gordon_. Jacobs' new strip, _Le Rayon U_ ("The U-Ray") began serial publication in _Bravo_ in 1943.[16] This version had text boxes which described the action and the dialogue, in the style of many Belgian comics of the time, similar to Hal Foster's version of _Tarzan_ and _Prince Valiant_. In 1974, Jacobs reformatted _Le Rayon U_ in order to include speech bubbles. This version was published in _Tintin_ magazine and in book form by Dargaud-Le Lombard.[16] The British comic _The Trigan Empire_, by Mike Butterworth and Don Lawrence, also drew on _Flash Gordon_ for its artistic style.[22]
_Flash Gordon_ was also an influence on early superhero comics characters. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster based Superman's uniform of tights and a cape on costumes worn by Flash Gordon.[23][24] Bob Kane's drawing of Batman on the cover of _Detective Comics_ No. 27 (the first appearance of the character) was based on a 1937 Alex Raymond drawing of Flash Gordon.[25] Dennis Neville modeled the comics hero Hawkman's costume on the "Hawkmen" characters in Raymond's _Flash Gordon_ comic strip.[26]
Films[Edit]
Most of the Flash Gordon film and television adaptations retell the early adventures on the planet Mongo.
Film Serials[Edit]
Main articles: Flash Gordon (serial), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Flash Gordon was featured in three serial films starring Buster Crabbe: _Flash Gordon_ (1936), _Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars_ (1938), and _Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe_ (1940). The 1936 _Flash Gordon_ serial was condensed into a feature-length film titled _Flash Gordon_ or _Rocket Ship_ or _Space Soldiers_ or _Flash Gordon: Spaceship to the Unknown_;[27] the 1938 serial into a feature-length film entitled _Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray from Mars_ and the 1940 serial into a feature-length film entitled _The Purple Death from Outer Space_.
The first Flash Gordon serial remains copyrighted, but the compilation made of the second serial, and the third serial itself are in the public domain.[28]
_FLASH GORDON_ 1980 FILM[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (film)
In the 1970s, several noted directors attempted to make a film of the story. Federico Fellini optioned the _Flash Gordon_ rights from Dino De Laurentiis, but never made the film.[29] George Lucas also attempted to make a _Flash Gordon_film in the 1970s. However, Lucas was unable to acquire the rights from De Laurentiis, so he decided to create _Star Wars_ instead.[29][30] De Laurentiis then hired Nicolas Roeg to make a _Flash Gordon_ film. However, De Laurentiis was unhappy with Roeg's ideas, and Roeg left the project.[30] De Laurentiis also discussed hiring Sergio Leone to helm the _Flash Gordon_ film; Leone declined because he believed the script was not faithful to the original Raymond comic strips.[31][32] Finally, De Laurentiis hired Mike Hodges to direct the _Flash Gordon_ film.[30]
Hodges' 1980 _Flash Gordon_ film stars former _Playgirl_-centerfold[33] Sam J. Jones in the title role. Its plot is based loosely on the first few years of the comic strip revising Flash's backstory by making him the quarterback of the New York Jets instead of a polo player. Raymond's drawings feature heavily in the opening credits, as does the signature theme-song "Flash!" by rock band Queen, who composed and performed the entire musical score.[34]
_
Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon_ (March 4, 1934). Flash and Thun rush to stop the wedding of Ming and Dale.
Riding the coattails of _Star Wars_, _Superman_, and _Star Trek: The Motion Picture_, _Flash Gordon_ was not a critical success on release. Melody Anderson co-starred with Jones as Dale Arden, alongside Chaim Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov, Max von Sydow as Ming, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan, Peter Wyngarde as Klytus and Ornella Muti as Princess Aura. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, with ornate production designs and costumes by Danilo Donati, the bright colors and retro effects were inspired directly by the comic strip and 1930s serials.[34]
Brian Blessed's performance as the Hawkman Prince Vultan lodged the veteran stage and screen actor into the collective consciousness for the utterance of a single line – "GORDON'S ALIVE?!" – which, more than 30 years later, remained the most repeated, reused, and recycled quotation from both the film and Blessed's career.[35][36][37]
The film's cult status led it to feature heavily in the comedy films _Ted_ (2012) and _Ted2_ (2015) giving a resurgence and resurrection to the film._[38]_
Unofficial Films[Edit]
In 1967, a low-budget Turkish adaptation of the comic was made, called _Flash Gordon's Battle in Space_ (_Baytekin – Fezada Çarpisanlar_ in Turkish). Hasan Demirtag played the title character.[2][39]
In April 2013, Robb Pratt, director of the popular fan film _Superman Classic_, announced plans to make _Flash Gordon Classic_. The traditionally animated short features the characters Flash Gordon, girlfriend Dale Arden, sidekick Dr. Hans Zarkov, antagonist Ming the Merciless, and Princess Aura.[40]
Possible Future Films[Edit]
In 2010, it was announced that Breck Eisner had signed on to direct a 3D film version of Flash Gordon. "The film's story is in place and the screenplay is now being worked on."[41] On April 22, 2014 _The Hollywood Reporter_ had a report that 20th Century Fox was developing the _Flash Gordon_ reboot with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay writing the film's script.[42] On April 15, 2015, _The Hollywood Reporter_ reported that Matthew Vaughn is in talks to direct the film.[43] On January 15, 2016, Mark Protosevich was hired to rewrite the film's script.[44]
Television[Edit]
_FLASH GORDON_ (1954–55 LIVE-ACTION)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (1954 TV series)
Steve Holland starred in a 1954–55 live-action television series which ran for 39 episodes.[4] The first 26 episodes had the distinction of being filmed in West Berlin, Germany less than a decade after the end of World War II. This is notable, given that some episodes show the real-life destruction still evident in Germany several years after the war. The final 13 episodes were filmed in Marseille, France.
In this series, Flash, Dale (Irene Champlin) and Dr. Zarkov (Joseph Nash) worked for the Galactic Bureau of Investigation in the year 3203. The actual timeline was established in one episode, "Deadline at Noon", in which Flash, Dale and Dr. Zarkov went back in time to Berlin in the year 1953. The GBI agents traveled in the Skyflash and Skyflash II spaceships.
The series was syndicated, appearing on stations affiliated with the long-defunct DuMont Network, and many other independent stations in the United States. It was recut into a movie in 1957.
_FLASH GORDON_ ANIMATED (1979–80)[EDIT]
Main Article: The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
In 1979, Filmation produced an animated series, often referred to as _The New Adventures of Flash Gordon_, though it is actually titled _Flash Gordon_. The expanded title was used to distinguish it from previous versions. The project was originally designed as a TV film but NBC decided to change it into an animated series.[4]
_Flash Gordon: THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF ALL_ (1982)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All
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. 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.[45]
This movie has yet to be commercially released in the United States, although some sources indicate that off-air bootlegs are prevalent. The only known commercial releases were by VAP Video in Japan (catalog #67019-128), in 1983, in both laser disc and NTSC VHS videotape formats; and in Bulgaria, where it was released on VHS "Van Chris" and "Drakar". The movie also aired numerous times on "Diema" Channel in the late 90s. In the Japanese release it is presented uncut with the original English voice track, with Japanese subtitles added for its intended audience. At the end of the movie is a trailer for the De Laurentiis live-action movie, as well as trailers for other titles from the VAP Video library at the time. The covers for both versions feature comic-strip panels, using stills taken from the movie.
_DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH_ (1986)[EDIT]
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. 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 super-computer based in the Defenders' Headquarters.
_FLASH GORDON_ (1996)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (1996 TV series)
In 1996, Hearst Entertainment premiered an animated _Flash Gordon_ television series. In this version, Alex "Flash" Gordon and Dale Arden are hoverboarding teenagers, who become trapped on Mongo after stopping Ming's attempt to invade Earth.[46]
_FLASH GORDON_ (2007–08 LIVE-ACTION)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (2007 TV series)
On 10 August 2007 (11 years ago), the Sci-Fi Channel premiered its new _Flash Gordon_ series in the United States.[_citation needed_]On 12 January 2007 (11 years ago), at the Television Critics Association tour, it was announced that the live-action series would comprise 22 one-hour episodes, produced in Canada in early 2007. Under an agreement with King Features Syndicate, the series was produced by Reunion Pictures of Vancouver with Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. of RHI Entertainment serving as Executive Producers.[_citation needed_]
The traditional primary supporting characters of Ming, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov were drastically altered. Eric Johnson, best known for his earlier work on the WB's _Smallville_, played the title character of Steven "Flash" Gordon. Gina Holden (who has appeared in _Fantastic Four_ (2005) and _Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem_ (2007)) played Dale Arden, Jody Racicot (_Night at the Museum_ (2006)) played Dr. Hans Zarkov, and John Ralston portrayed the arch-villain, Ming.[_citation needed_]
Advertisements featured a cover version of Queen's "Flash's Theme" (from the 1980 film) performed by the band Louis XIV. The song was not present in any episode of the show.[_citation needed_]
The show was officially canceled in early 2008.[_clarification needed_][_citation needed_]
Radio Serials[Edit]
Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into _The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon_, a 26-episode weekly radio serial.[4] 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). The cast also included Maurice Franklin as Dr. Zarkov and Bruno Wick as Ming the Merciless.[47]
The radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov returned to Earth. They make a crash landing in Malaysia, where they meet Jungle Jim, the star of another of Alex Raymond's comic strips.
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 28, _The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon_ debuted as a daily show, running five days a week. This series strayed further from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936.[48]
Stage[Edit]
In 1989, Lee Ahlin and Gary Gordon wrote a musical for children, _Flash Gordon_, based on the comic.[49] The musical premiered in 1989 in Oak Hall Performing Arts Theater in Gainesville, Florida. _Flash Gordon_ starred Brian LeDucas Flash, Kim Ehrich as Dale Arden, John Pelkey as Ming, and Julie Hamric as Princess Aura.[49]
Comic Books[Edit]
Over the years, several publishers have produced _Flash Gordon_ comics, either reprints or original stories.
* David McKay Publications _King Comics_ #1–155 (1936–1949) [strip reprints]
* Dell Comics _Four Color Comics_ #10, 84, 173, 190, 204, 247, 424, 512; _Flash Gordon_ #2 (1945–1953) [first 2 strip reprints]
* Harvey Comics #1–5 (1950) [strip reprints]
* Gold Key Comics #1 (1965) [reprints FC #173]
* King Comics #1–11 (1966–1967) (also in _Phantom_ #18–20)
* Charlton Comics #12–18 (1969–1970)
* Gold Key Comics #19–27 (1978–1979); under their "Whitman Comics" #28–37 (1980–1982)
Several issues of the King Comics series were drawn by Al Williamson, who won the 1966 National Cartoonists Society Award for Best Comic Book for his work on the series.[50][51] Williamson later said, "I was paying homage to Alex [Raymond], you know. I tried to treat his creation with respect and dignity and tried to do it to the best of my ability. I find that other artists who have done Flash Gordon just don't seem to get the feeling of the strip, you know. Flash is a noble guy and it's kind of nice to have that kind of a hero."[52] King also released a comic version as a part of their Comics Reading Library in the 1970s.
Williamson provided artwork for a Western Publishing adaptation of Dino De Laurentiis' _Flash Gordon_ film, written by Bruce Jones. It was released by Western Publishing in both hardcover and softcover formats to coincide with the film's release, and was also serialized in three issues of Whitman's Flash Gordon comic book, #31-33, March–May 1981.
In 1988, Dan Jurgens wrote a modernized version of the comic strip as a nine-issue DC Comics miniseries. It features Flash as a 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. The series ran for the planned nine issues and was left with an open-ended conclusion. Though Mongo is 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 published a new two-issue series, written by Mark Schultz with art by Al Williamson, in the style of the _Flash_ comics Williamson had produced for King and others.
A new comic book series was released by Ardden Entertainment in August 2008, though with inconsistent release dates for subsequent issues. The series was written by Brendan Deneen and Paul Green and debuted in 2008, with the first arc entitled "The Mercy Wars". The initial story arc concluded in mid-2009 with an open door to an announced new story arc to begin fall 2009.[53][54] These were followed by further storylines. Ardden also published a Flash Gordon anthology entitled _The Secret History of Mongo_. Ardden's second Flash Gordon arc is titled _Invasion of the Red Sword_ (2010). Two other arcs were completed.
A reprint of all of Al Williamson's _Flash Gordon_ comic books in black and white was printed by Flesk in 2009.[55]
In 2010, Dark Horse Comics began an archive reprint series in hardback, starting with the original comics published by Dell. The second volume covers the comics published by King Comics, the third covers the comics published by Charlton Comics, the fourth covers the comics published by Gold Key, and the fifth covers the comics published by Whitman.
In 2011, Dynamite Entertainment began a new series called _Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist_. The series is written by Eric Trautmann (Vampirella, Red Sonja), from a story and designs by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Project: Superpowers) and illustrated by Daniel Lindro.[56] The company also produced a spinoff miniseries, _Merciless: The Rise of Ming_, in 2012, with story and art by Scott Beatty and Ron Adrian.[57] Following a crossover miniseries called _King's Watch_ (where, much like _Defenders of the Earth_, Flash Gordon teamed up with Mandrake and the Phantom; albeit, set in the 21st century), Dynamite launched a new Flash Gordon ongoing series in 2014, with story and art by Jeff Parker and Evan "Doc" Shaner.[58] In 2015, Dynamite followed this run with another _Flash Gordon_ miniseries as part of their "King:Dynamite" series. This series was written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker and illustrated by Lee Ferguson.[59]
_Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_[Edit]
In 1936, one issue of _Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_ was published by Harold Hersey, featuring a novel about Flash Gordon, entitled _The Master of Mars_.[4] It was written by little-known author James Edison Northford. The saddle-stitched novel was based (more or less) on the comic strip story lines, and included color illustrations reminiscent of Alex Raymond's artwork. On the back pages a second installment, _The Sun Men of Saturn_, was promised, but it never saw print. Even though the series did not gain in popularity, the lone issue of _Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_ has become a much sought-after item for pulp magazine collectors.[8]
Novels[Edit]
The first novel based on the strip, _Flash Gordon in the Caverns of Mongo_, was published in 1936 by Grosset & Dunlap. The credited author was Alex Raymond, but Doug Murray claims the novel "was almost certainly ghost-written".[8] 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_.[60] Although the books were credited to Alex Raymond, the first three were written by SF writer Ron Goulart, (under the "house name" "Con Steffanson") and the other three novels were by Bruce Cassiday (the first under the "Steffanson" name, and the latter two under the pseudonym "Carson Bingham").[60]
In 1980, Tempo books released a series by David Hagberg: _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 names of the hero and his co-stars of Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, this series had little to do with any other version of Flash Gordon.
1939 WORLD'S FAIR[EDIT]
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_ (March 1939) described how 150 people could enter a ride designed to resemble a rocket ship with a motion picture screen and vibrating seats for a simulated trip to another planet. The ride was located "at the opposite end of the amusement zone from the parachute tower". Fairgoers 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, nor did the rocket ship.[61]
Reprints[Edit]
Raymond's work, particularly his Sunday strips, has been reprinted many times over the years by many publishers, most notably Nostalgia Press, Kitchen Sink Press and Checker Book Publishing Group.[4]
Some of the Austin Briggs dailies were reprinted by Kitchen Sink Press. The King Comics run of _Flash Gordon_ reprinted one Alex Raymond story and two Mac Raboy ones in 1967.[62] The Mac Raboy Sundays have been reprinted by Dark Horse Comics in black and white, while Kitchen Sink began to collect both the Dan Barry and Austin Briggs daily strips. The Dan Barry dailies have never been entirely reprinted, but the Barry stories written by noted author Harry Harrison were reprinted in _Comics Revue_ magazine, published by Manuscript Press. Tempo Books published six mass-market paperbacks reprinting Dan Barry strips from the 1970s in the 1980s. Two stories from the Dan Barry dailies, D2-133 "Baldur Battles Skorpi" (February 24 to May 10, 1986) and D2-134 "The Bear" (May 12 to August 21, 1986), were reprinted in an oblong format, 6.5 by 10.5 paperback edition with two strips per page by Budget Books PTY of Melbourne, Australia in 1987 under the title _The New Adventures of Flash Gordon_, ISBN 0-86801-795-7. A reprint of all of Al Williamson's _Flash Gordon_ comic strip and comic book work was released in 2009.
* _Flash Gordon on the Planet Mongo_ (1934–35), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon into the Water World_ (1935–37), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon Escapes to Arboria_ (1937–39), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon vs Frozen Horrors_ (1939–40), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon Joins the Power Men_ (1940–41), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon: A New Kingdom_ (1939) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The End of Ming_ (1940) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: Return to Earth_ (1941) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: A New War_ (1941) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The Usurper_ (1942) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: Gundar the Hawk of Tropica_ (1942-1943) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The End of Brazor_ (1944). Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Mongo, Planet of Doom_ (1934–35), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-114-7
* _Three Against Ming_ (1935–37), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-120-1
* _The Tides of Battle_ (1937–39), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-162-7
* _The Fall of Ming_ (1939–41), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-168-6
* _Between Worlds at War_ (1941–43), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-177-5
* _Triumph in Tropica_ (1943–44), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-199-6
* _Flash Gordon, Dead or Alive! : Daily Strips 5/27/40 to 8/26/40 by Austin Briggs_. Pacific Comics Club, 1981(limited edition for collectors)
* _Prisoner of Ming : Daily Strips 8/27/40 to 11/13/40 / by Austin Briggs_. Pacific Comics Club, 1981(limited edition for collectors)
* _Flight to Freeland : Daily Strips 11/14/40 to 2/28/41 / by Austin Briggs_.Pacific Comics Club, 1981 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Adora of the Forest People : Daily Strips 3/1/41 to 8/23/41 by Austin Briggs_.Pacific Comics Club, 1981(limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The Dailies by Austin Briggs 1940–1942 Volume 1_, Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-172-4 (strips from 1940)
* _Flash Gordon: The Dailies by Austin Briggs 1940–1942 Volume 2_, Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-187-2 (strips from 1941)
* _Flash Gordon The Complete Daily Strips 1951–1953_, Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-035-3
* _Flash Gordon - Star Over Atlantis_, Dan Barry, Manuscript Press, 2007, ISBN 0-936414-16-2, ISBN 978-0-936414-16-4, dailies 1953–1954.
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 1 (1934–35)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 0-9741664-3-X
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 2 (1935–36)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 0-9741664-6-4
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 3 (1936–37)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-25-X
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 4 (1938–40)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-26-8
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 5 (1940–41)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-27-6
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 6 (1941–43)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-28-4
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 7 (1943–45)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-20-9
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 1_, Dark Horse Comics ISBN 1-56971-882-2 (Sundays, 1948–1953 S32-S45)
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 2_, Dark Horse Comics (Sunday, 1953–1958)
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 3_, Dark Horse Comics ISBN 1-56971-978-0 (Sundays, 1958–1962)
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 4_, Dark Horse Comics (Sundays, 1962–1967)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 1_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17349-2 (S132/D2-097 - S135)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 2_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17348-4 (D2-081, D2-082)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 3_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17347-6 (S114-S118)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 4_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17155-4 (D2-105, D2-107)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 5_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17208-9 (D2-098)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 6_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17245-3 (D2-102, D2-109)
* _Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic_, Flesk ISBN 1-933865-13-X
* _Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1934–37_, by Alex Raymond. Titan Books ISBN 0-85768-154-0
* _Flash Gordon: The Tyrant of Mongo: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1937–41_, by Alex Raymond. Titan Books ISBN 0-85768-379-9
* _Flash Gordon: The Fall of Ming: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1941–44_, by Alex Raymond. Titan Books ISBN 0-85768-688-7
* _Flash Gordon: The Storm Queen of Valkir: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1944-48_, by Austin Briggs. Titan Books ISBN 1-78276-286-8
* _Flash Gordon: The City of Ice: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1951-1953_, by Dan Barry. Titan Books ISBN 1-78276-683-9
* _Flash Gordon: Dan Barry Volume 2 - The Lost Continent_, by Dan Barry. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782766841
* _Flash Gordon Sundays: Dan Barry Volume 1 - The Death Planet_, by Dan Barry. Titan Books ISBN 978-1785861369
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 1: 1934-1936_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-015-4
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 2: 1936-1939_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-220-3
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 3: 1939-1941_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-580-6
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 4: 1942-1944_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-917-8
Games[Edit]
* The _Flash Gordon & the Warriors of Mongo_ role-playing game was released by Fantasy Games Unlimited in 1977.
* The _Savage World of Flash Gordon Roleplaying Game_ written by Scott Alan Woodard was released by Pinnacle Entertainment Group in 2018.
* Flash Gordon (pinball)
Dvd Releases[Edit]
Flash Gordon has been released to DVD under a variety of titles and in both edited and non-edited versions. The serials and 50s TV show have no shortage of public domain DVD releases.
Film serials (1936–1940)[edit]
_flash gordon_ (1936)[edit]
* _Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers_. (245 minutes)
* _Flash Gordon: Spaceship to the Unknown_. Hearst Entertainment, Inc., 2002. (edited to 98 minutes)
_FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS_ (1938)[EDIT]
* _Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars_ (2 discs). (299 minutes)
* _Flash Gordon: O raio mortal de Marte_. Hearst Entertainment, Inc., 2002. (97 minutes)
_flash gordon conquers the universe_ (1940)[edit]
* _flash gordon conquers the universe_. (234 minutes)
* _Flash Gordon: The Peril from Planet Mongo_. Hearst Entertainment, Inc., 2002. (edited to 91 minutes)
_FLASH GORDON_ (1954–55)[EDIT]
* _Flash Gordon_ (3 Volumes). Alpha Home Entertainment (only 13 of the episodes have been released thus far).
_the new adventures of flash gordon_ (1979)[edit]
Us – bci eclipse
* _The New Adventures of Flash Gordon: The Complete Series_ (4–Discs). 600 minutes
UK – Hollywood DVD LTD
* _The Adventures of Flash Gordon – Castaways in Tropica_
* _The Adventures of Flash Gordon – Blue Magic_
_FLASH GORDON_ (1980)[EDIT]
On May 6, 1998, Image 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.
Momentum Pictures later released it in the UK for DVD Region 2 territories on October 10, 2005. This edition of the film, the "Silver Anniversary Edition", features an anamorphic widescreen transfer at the film's 2.4:1 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 7, 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. and a Flash Gordon 1936 serial episode (chapter one of Planet of Peril).
_Defenders of the Earth_[Edit]
US – BCI Ecplise
* _Defenders of the Earth – Complete Series Volume 1_ (5 Discs) 33 Episodes
* _Defenders of the Earth – Complete Series Volume 2_ (5 Discs) 32 Episodes (SPRING 2007)
UK – Hollywood DVD LTD
* _Defenders of The Earth – The Story Begins_
UK – Delta Music PLC
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie_ (3 Discs)
* _Defenders of the Earth Vol 1_
* _Defenders of the Earth Vol 2_
* _Defenders of the Earth Vol 3_
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie – Prince Of Kro-Tan_
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie – Necklace Of Oros_
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie – The Book Of Mysteries_
_FLASH GORDON_ (1996)[EDIT]
Lion's Gate on September 21, 2004, released three 4-episode DVDs of _Flash Gordon_ (1996) and _Phantom 2040_.
* _Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo – The Animated Movie_ (97 minutes)
Parodies[Edit]
_Flesh Gordon_ is a 1974 American erotic science fiction adventure comedy film. It is an erotic spoof of the Universal Pictures _Flash Gordon_ serials from the 1930s.[63] The screenplay was written by Michael Benveniste, who also co-directed the film with Howard Ziehm. The cast includes Jason Williams, Suzanne Fields, and William Dennis Hunt.
The film had an MPAA rating of X, but was also re-edited for a reduced rating of R. It has an original runtime of 78 minutes, and the unrated "collector's edition" release runs 90 minutes.
The 1983 film _A Christmas Story_ featured a deleted scene with Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun saving Flash (played by Paul Hubbard) from Ming (played by Colin Fox).[64] None of the footage from the scene survived.[65]
In the 2012 comedy _Ted_, Sam Jones appears in character both as himself and as Flash Gordon.[66] Jones reprised his role for the sequel, _Ted 2_.
*please note: collecting and selling comics has been my hobby for over 30 years. Due to the hours of my job i can usually only mail packages out on saturdays. I send out first class or priority mail which takes 2-3 days to arrive in the usa and air mail international which takes 5 -10 days or more depending on where you live in the world. I do not "sell" postage or packaging and charge less than the actual cost of mailing. I package items securely and wrap well. Most pages come in an archival sleeve with acid free backing board at no extra charge. If you are dissatisfied with an item. Let me know and i wil do my best to make it right.
Many thanks to all of my 1,000's of past customers around the world.
enjoy your hobby everyone and have fun collecting!
This is a _FLASH GORDON_ SUNDAY PAGE BY MAC RABOY. Wonderful Artwork and Story Telling ! This was cut from the original newspaper Sunday Comics section of 1956. SIZE: HALF FULL SIZE: 11 X 15 INCHES. PAPER: SOME LIGHT TANNING, A FEW MAY HAVE SMALL PINHOLES IN MARGIN, SMALL ARCHIVAL REPAIRS ON SOME, OTHERWISE: EXCELLENT! PULLED FROM LOOSE SECTIONS! (PLEASE CHECK SCANS) Please include $5.00 Total postage on any size order (USA) $20.00 International FLAT RATE. I combine postage on multiple pages. Check out my other auctions for more great Vintage COMIC STRIPS and PAPER DOLLS. THANKS FOR LOOKING!
*Fyi: Hard to Find Pages, These do not turn up often!
Mac Raboy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mac Raboy
Born
Emmanuel Raboy
April 17, 1914
New York City
Died
December 12, 1967(aged 53)
Nationality
American
Area(s)
Penciller
Notable worksCaptain Marvel Jr.
_Flash Gordon_ Sunday strip
EMMANUEL "MAC" RABOY (April 17, 1914 – December 12, 1967)[1] was an American comics artist best known for his comic-book work on Fawcett Comics' Captain Marvel Jr. [2] and as the Sunday comic-strip artist of _Flash Gordon_ for more than 20 years. [3] [4]
Born in New York City, Raboy began his art career with the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression. In the 1940s he began working with the Harry A. Chesler studio of comics artists.[4] Raboy began drawing comic books and gained fame as the illustrator for _Captain Marvel, Jr._ and the _Green Lama_.[4] Raboy was a great admirer of Alex Raymond, and "kept a portfolio of Alex Raymond's "Flash Gordon" comics by his side for inspiration and guidance as he worked".[4] In the spring of 1946, King Features hired Raboy to continue the Sunday page adventures of _Flash Gordon_, which he continued to work on until his death. [3]
Drew Friedman has stated, "Raboy was an expert technician with pen and brush, and his lush covers are some of the most unusually beautiful ever to grace comic books".[4]
_
Flash and Dale as drawn by Briggs for the December 4, 1941 installment of the daily newspaper comic strip Flash Gordon_.
Flash Gordon
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Flash Gordon
_
Artwork for the Cover of King: Flash Gordon_ #1 (January 2015 Dynamite Entertainment). Art by Ron Salas.
Publication Information
Publisher
King Features Syndicate
First Appearance
January 7, 1934 (comic strip)
Created by
Alex Raymond
In-Story Information
Team Affiliations
Dale Arden (love interest),
Dr. Hans Zarkov (scientist)
Defenders of the Earth
FLASH GORDON is the hero of a space opera adventure comic strip created by and originally drawn by Alex Raymond.[1] First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established _Buck Rogers_ adventure strip.[2][3][4]
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_ television series, appeared on the Syfy channel in the United States in 2007–2008.
Contents
_
* 1Creation
* 2Comic strip characters and story
* 3International versions of the comic strip
* 4Strip bibliography
* 5Critical reception and influence
* 6Films
* 6.1Film serials
* 6.2Flash Gordon_ 1980 film
* 6.3Unofficial films
* 6.4Possible future films
* 7Television
* 7.1_Flash Gordon_ (1954–55 live-action)
* 7.2_Flash Gordon_ animated (1979–80)
* 7.3_Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All_ (1982)
* 7.4_Defenders of the Earth_ (1986)
* 7.5_Flash Gordon_ (1996)
* 7.6_Flash Gordon_ (2007–08 live-action)
* 8Radio serials
* 9Stage
* 10Comic books
* 11_Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_
* 12Novels
* 131939 World's Fair
* 14Reprints
* 15Games
* 16DVD releases
* 16.1Film serials (1936–1940)
* 16.1.1_Flash Gordon_ (1936)
* 16.1.2_Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars_ (1938)
* 16.1.3_Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe_ (1940)
* 16.2_Flash Gordon_ (1954–55)
* 16.3_The New Adventures of Flash Gordon_ (1979)
* 16.4_Flash Gordon_ (1980)
* 16.5_Defenders of the Earth_
* 16.6_Flash Gordon_ (1996)
* 17Parodies
* 18References
* 19External links
Creation[Edit]
_
The first Flash Gordon_ comic strip (1934).
The _Buck Rogers_ comic strip had been very commercially successful, spawning novelizations and children's toys,[5] and King Features Syndicate decided to create their own science fiction comic strip to compete with it.[2] At first King Features tried to purchase the rights to the _John Carter of Mars_ stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The syndicate was unable, however, to reach an agreement with Burroughs.[6] King Features then turned to Alex Raymond, one of their staff artists, to create the story.[3][5]
One source for Flash Gordon was the Philip Wylie novel _When Worlds Collide_ (1933). The themes of an approaching planet threatening the Earth, and an athletic hero, his girlfriend, and a scientist traveling to the new planet by rocket, were adapted by Raymond for the initial storyline.[7] Raymond's first samples were dismissed for not containing enough action sequences. Raymond reworked the story and sent it back to the syndicate, who accepted it. Raymond was partnered with ghostwriter Don Moore, an experienced editor and writer.[5] Raymond's first _Flash Gordon_ story appeared in January 1934, alongside _Jungle Jim_. The _Flash Gordon_ strip was well received by newspaper readers, becoming one of the most popular American comic strips of the 1930s.[2][3][5]
As with _Buck Rogers_, the success of _Flash Gordon_ resulted in numerous licensed products being sold, including pop-up books, colouring books, and toy spaceships and rayguns.[8]
Comic Strip Characters and Story[Edit]
_
Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon_ (February 25, 1934)
The comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. The story begins with Earth threatened by a collision with the planet Mongo. Dr. Zarkov invents a rocket ship to fly into space in an attempt to stop the disaster. Half mad, he kidnaps Flash and Dale and they travel to the planet. Landing on the planet, and halting the collision, they come into conflict with Ming the Merciless, Mongo's evil ruler.[1][2][9]
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. They are joined in several early adventures by Prince Thun of the Lion Men. Eventually, Ming is overthrown, and Mongo is ruled by a council of leaders led by Barin.[1]
Flash and friends return to Earth and have some adventures before returning to Mongo and crashing in the kingdom of Tropica, then reuniting with Barin and others. Flash and his friends travel to other worlds and return to Mongo, where 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).[1]
In the 1950s, Flash became an astronaut who travelled to other planets besides Mongo.[1] The long story of the Skorpii War takes Flash to other star systems, using starships that are faster than light.
In addition to Ming and his allies, Flash and his friends also fought several other villains, including Azura, the Witch Queen; Brukka, chieftain of the giants of Frigia;[1][9] the fascisticRed Sword organisation on Earth; and Brazor, the tyrannical usurper of Tropica.[1][10] After Raymond's tenure, later writers created new enemies for Flash to combat. Austin Briggs created Kang the Cruel, Ming's callous son.[1] Prince Polon, who had the power to shrink or enlarge living creatures, the unscrupulous Queen Rubia, and Pyron the Comet Master were among the antagonists introduced during Mac Raboy's run.[10] The Skorpi, a race of alien shape shifters who desired to conquer the galaxy, were recurring villains in both the Mac Raboy and Dan Barry stories.[1] The Skorpi space-fighter ace Baron Dak-Tula became a periodic nemesis of Flash in the late 1970s stories.[10]
International Versions of the Comic Strip[Edit]
A young corporal of the Home Armyreading a Polish edition of one of Flash Gordon ("Błysk Gordon - Królowa Błękitnej Magii") graphic novels during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944
King Features sold the _Flash Gordon_ strip to newspapers across the world, and by the late 1930s, the strip was published in 130 newspapers, translated into eight foreign languages, and was read by 50 million people.[11] In the 1930s and 1940s, several newspapers in Britain carried _Flash Gordon_, including the Scottish _Sunday Mail_.[12] In France, his adventures were published in the magazine _Robinson_, under the name "Guy l'Éclair". Dale Arden was named Camille in the French translation.[13] In Australia, the character and strip were retitled _Speed Gordon_ to avoid a negative connotation of the word "Flash".[14] (At the time, the predominant meaning of "flash" was "showy", connoting dishonesty.)[15]
However, events in the 1930s affected the strip's distribution. Newspapers in Nazi Germany were forbidden to carry the _Flash Gordon_ strip, while in Fascist Italy it was restricted to two newspapers.[11] In 1938, the Spanish magazine _Aventurero_, the only publication in the country to carry _Flash Gordon_, ceased publication because of the Spanish Civil War.[10] The outbreak of World War Two resulted in _Flash Gordon_ being discontinued in many countries. In Belgium, artist Edgar Pierre Jacobs was therefore asked to bring the current _Flash Gordon_ story to a satisfactory conclusion, which he did.[16]
After the war's end, the strip enjoyed a resurgence in international popularity. _Flash Gordon_ reappeared in Italy, Spain and West Germany, and was also syndicated to new markets such as Portugal and the Irish Republic.[10] From the 1950s onward, countries such as Spain, Italy and Denmark also reprinted _Flash Gordon_ newspaper strips in comic book or paperback novel form.[10][17]
Strip Bibliography[Edit]
See Also: List of Flash Gordon comic strips
* 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, Thomas Warkentin & Andrés Klacik, 1991–1992
* Sunday, Richard Bruning, Kevin VanHook, Thomas Warkentin & Andrés Klacik, 1992–1996
* Sunday, Jim Keefe, 1996 - 2003
Unofficial
* L'Avventuroso (Italy) Guido Fantoni, 1938
* Bravo (Belgium)- Edgar P. Jacobs, 1941
Critical Reception and Influence[Edit]
_Flash Gordon_ is regarded as one of the best illustrated and most influential of American adventure comic strips.[1][18] Historian of science fiction art Jane Frank asserted that because of his work on _Flash Gordon_, "Raymond is one of the most famous science fiction artists of all time, although he never contributed an illustration to any science fiction magazine or book".[19] The science fiction historian John Clute has stated that "The comics version of _Flash Gordon_was graceful, imaginative and soaring" and included it on a list of the most important American science fiction comics.[20] In an article about Raymond for _The Comics Journal_, R. C. Harvey declared that Raymond's _Flash Gordon_displayed "a technical virtuosity matched on the comics pages only by Harold Foster in _Prince Valiant_".[18] _The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction_ stated that _Flash Gordon's_ "elaborately shaded style and exotic storyline" made it one of the most influential comics, and that its art emphasised a "romantic baroque".[2]
_Flash Gordon_ (along with _Buck Rogers_) was a big influence on later science fiction comic strips, such as the American _Don Dixon and the Hidden Empire_ (1935 to 1941) by Carl Pfeufer and Bob Moore.[3] In Italy, Guido Fantoni drew Flash Gordon in 1938, after the prohibition by the fascist regime.[21] In Belgium, Edgar P. Jacobs was commissioned to produce a science fiction comic strip in the style of _Flash Gordon_. Jacobs' new strip, _Le Rayon U_ ("The U-Ray") began serial publication in _Bravo_ in 1943.[16] This version had text boxes which described the action and the dialogue, in the style of many Belgian comics of the time, similar to Hal Foster's version of _Tarzan_ and _Prince Valiant_. In 1974, Jacobs reformatted _Le Rayon U_ in order to include speech bubbles. This version was published in _Tintin_ magazine and in book form by Dargaud-Le Lombard.[16] The British comic _The Trigan Empire_, by Mike Butterworth and Don Lawrence, also drew on _Flash Gordon_ for its artistic style.[22]
_Flash Gordon_ was also an influence on early superhero comics characters. Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster based Superman's uniform of tights and a cape on costumes worn by Flash Gordon.[23][24] Bob Kane's drawing of Batman on the cover of _Detective Comics_ No. 27 (the first appearance of the character) was based on a 1937 Alex Raymond drawing of Flash Gordon.[25] Dennis Neville modeled the comics hero Hawkman's costume on the "Hawkmen" characters in Raymond's _Flash Gordon_ comic strip.[26]
Films[Edit]
Most of the Flash Gordon film and television adaptations retell the early adventures on the planet Mongo.
Film Serials[Edit]
Main articles: Flash Gordon (serial), Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars, and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe
Flash Gordon was featured in three serial films starring Buster Crabbe: _Flash Gordon_ (1936), _Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars_ (1938), and _Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe_ (1940). The 1936 _Flash Gordon_ serial was condensed into a feature-length film titled _Flash Gordon_ or _Rocket Ship_ or _Space Soldiers_ or _Flash Gordon: Spaceship to the Unknown_;[27] the 1938 serial into a feature-length film entitled _Flash Gordon: The Deadly Ray from Mars_ and the 1940 serial into a feature-length film entitled _The Purple Death from Outer Space_.
The first Flash Gordon serial remains copyrighted, but the compilation made of the second serial, and the third serial itself are in the public domain.[28]
_FLASH GORDON_ 1980 FILM[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (film)
In the 1970s, several noted directors attempted to make a film of the story. Federico Fellini optioned the _Flash Gordon_ rights from Dino De Laurentiis, but never made the film.[29] George Lucas also attempted to make a _Flash Gordon_film in the 1970s. However, Lucas was unable to acquire the rights from De Laurentiis, so he decided to create _Star Wars_ instead.[29][30] De Laurentiis then hired Nicolas Roeg to make a _Flash Gordon_ film. However, De Laurentiis was unhappy with Roeg's ideas, and Roeg left the project.[30] De Laurentiis also discussed hiring Sergio Leone to helm the _Flash Gordon_ film; Leone declined because he believed the script was not faithful to the original Raymond comic strips.[31][32] Finally, De Laurentiis hired Mike Hodges to direct the _Flash Gordon_ film.[30]
Hodges' 1980 _Flash Gordon_ film stars former _Playgirl_-centerfold[33] Sam J. Jones in the title role. Its plot is based loosely on the first few years of the comic strip revising Flash's backstory by making him the quarterback of the New York Jets instead of a polo player. Raymond's drawings feature heavily in the opening credits, as does the signature theme-song "Flash!" by rock band Queen, who composed and performed the entire musical score.[34]
_
Alex Raymond's Flash Gordon_ (March 4, 1934). Flash and Thun rush to stop the wedding of Ming and Dale.
Riding the coattails of _Star Wars_, _Superman_, and _Star Trek: The Motion Picture_, _Flash Gordon_ was not a critical success on release. Melody Anderson co-starred with Jones as Dale Arden, alongside Chaim Topol as Dr. Hans Zarkov, Max von Sydow as Ming, Timothy Dalton as Prince Barin, Brian Blessed as Prince Vultan, Peter Wyngarde as Klytus and Ornella Muti as Princess Aura. Produced by Dino De Laurentiis, with ornate production designs and costumes by Danilo Donati, the bright colors and retro effects were inspired directly by the comic strip and 1930s serials.[34]
Brian Blessed's performance as the Hawkman Prince Vultan lodged the veteran stage and screen actor into the collective consciousness for the utterance of a single line – "GORDON'S ALIVE?!" – which, more than 30 years later, remained the most repeated, reused, and recycled quotation from both the film and Blessed's career.[35][36][37]
The film's cult status led it to feature heavily in the comedy films _Ted_ (2012) and _Ted2_ (2015) giving a resurgence and resurrection to the film._[38]_
Unofficial Films[Edit]
In 1967, a low-budget Turkish adaptation of the comic was made, called _Flash Gordon's Battle in Space_ (_Baytekin – Fezada Çarpisanlar_ in Turkish). Hasan Demirtag played the title character.[2][39]
In April 2013, Robb Pratt, director of the popular fan film _Superman Classic_, announced plans to make _Flash Gordon Classic_. The traditionally animated short features the characters Flash Gordon, girlfriend Dale Arden, sidekick Dr. Hans Zarkov, antagonist Ming the Merciless, and Princess Aura.[40]
Possible Future Films[Edit]
In 2010, it was announced that Breck Eisner had signed on to direct a 3D film version of Flash Gordon. "The film's story is in place and the screenplay is now being worked on."[41] On April 22, 2014 _The Hollywood Reporter_ had a report that 20th Century Fox was developing the _Flash Gordon_ reboot with J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay writing the film's script.[42] On April 15, 2015, _The Hollywood Reporter_ reported that Matthew Vaughn is in talks to direct the film.[43] On January 15, 2016, Mark Protosevich was hired to rewrite the film's script.[44]
Television[Edit]
_FLASH GORDON_ (1954–55 LIVE-ACTION)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (1954 TV series)
Steve Holland starred in a 1954–55 live-action television series which ran for 39 episodes.[4] The first 26 episodes had the distinction of being filmed in West Berlin, Germany less than a decade after the end of World War II. This is notable, given that some episodes show the real-life destruction still evident in Germany several years after the war. The final 13 episodes were filmed in Marseille, France.
In this series, Flash, Dale (Irene Champlin) and Dr. Zarkov (Joseph Nash) worked for the Galactic Bureau of Investigation in the year 3203. The actual timeline was established in one episode, "Deadline at Noon", in which Flash, Dale and Dr. Zarkov went back in time to Berlin in the year 1953. The GBI agents traveled in the Skyflash and Skyflash II spaceships.
The series was syndicated, appearing on stations affiliated with the long-defunct DuMont Network, and many other independent stations in the United States. It was recut into a movie in 1957.
_FLASH GORDON_ ANIMATED (1979–80)[EDIT]
Main Article: The New Adventures of Flash Gordon
In 1979, Filmation produced an animated series, often referred to as _The New Adventures of Flash Gordon_, though it is actually titled _Flash Gordon_. The expanded title was used to distinguish it from previous versions. The project was originally designed as a TV film but NBC decided to change it into an animated series.[4]
_Flash Gordon: THE GREATEST ADVENTURE OF ALL_ (1982)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All
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. 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.[45]
This movie has yet to be commercially released in the United States, although some sources indicate that off-air bootlegs are prevalent. The only known commercial releases were by VAP Video in Japan (catalog #67019-128), in 1983, in both laser disc and NTSC VHS videotape formats; and in Bulgaria, where it was released on VHS "Van Chris" and "Drakar". The movie also aired numerous times on "Diema" Channel in the late 90s. In the Japanese release it is presented uncut with the original English voice track, with Japanese subtitles added for its intended audience. At the end of the movie is a trailer for the De Laurentiis live-action movie, as well as trailers for other titles from the VAP Video library at the time. The covers for both versions feature comic-strip panels, using stills taken from the movie.
_DEFENDERS OF THE EARTH_ (1986)[EDIT]
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. 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 super-computer based in the Defenders' Headquarters.
_FLASH GORDON_ (1996)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (1996 TV series)
In 1996, Hearst Entertainment premiered an animated _Flash Gordon_ television series. In this version, Alex "Flash" Gordon and Dale Arden are hoverboarding teenagers, who become trapped on Mongo after stopping Ming's attempt to invade Earth.[46]
_FLASH GORDON_ (2007–08 LIVE-ACTION)[EDIT]
Main Article: Flash Gordon (2007 TV series)
On 10 August 2007 (11 years ago), the Sci-Fi Channel premiered its new _Flash Gordon_ series in the United States.[_citation needed_]On 12 January 2007 (11 years ago), at the Television Critics Association tour, it was announced that the live-action series would comprise 22 one-hour episodes, produced in Canada in early 2007. Under an agreement with King Features Syndicate, the series was produced by Reunion Pictures of Vancouver with Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. of RHI Entertainment serving as Executive Producers.[_citation needed_]
The traditional primary supporting characters of Ming, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov were drastically altered. Eric Johnson, best known for his earlier work on the WB's _Smallville_, played the title character of Steven "Flash" Gordon. Gina Holden (who has appeared in _Fantastic Four_ (2005) and _Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem_ (2007)) played Dale Arden, Jody Racicot (_Night at the Museum_ (2006)) played Dr. Hans Zarkov, and John Ralston portrayed the arch-villain, Ming.[_citation needed_]
Advertisements featured a cover version of Queen's "Flash's Theme" (from the 1980 film) performed by the band Louis XIV. The song was not present in any episode of the show.[_citation needed_]
The show was officially canceled in early 2008.[_clarification needed_][_citation needed_]
Radio Serials[Edit]
Starting April 22, 1935, the strip was adapted into _The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon_, a 26-episode weekly radio serial.[4] 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). The cast also included Maurice Franklin as Dr. Zarkov and Bruno Wick as Ming the Merciless.[47]
The radio series broke with the strip continuity in the last two episodes, when Flash, Dale and Zarkov returned to Earth. They make a crash landing in Malaysia, where they meet Jungle Jim, the star of another of Alex Raymond's comic strips.
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 28, _The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon_ debuted as a daily show, running five days a week. This series strayed further from Raymond's strip, involving Flash, Dale and Zarkov in an adventure in Atlantis. The series aired 74 episodes, ending on February 6, 1936.[48]
Stage[Edit]
In 1989, Lee Ahlin and Gary Gordon wrote a musical for children, _Flash Gordon_, based on the comic.[49] The musical premiered in 1989 in Oak Hall Performing Arts Theater in Gainesville, Florida. _Flash Gordon_ starred Brian LeDucas Flash, Kim Ehrich as Dale Arden, John Pelkey as Ming, and Julie Hamric as Princess Aura.[49]
Comic Books[Edit]
Over the years, several publishers have produced _Flash Gordon_ comics, either reprints or original stories.
* David McKay Publications _King Comics_ #1–155 (1936–1949) [strip reprints]
* Dell Comics _Four Color Comics_ #10, 84, 173, 190, 204, 247, 424, 512; _Flash Gordon_ #2 (1945–1953) [first 2 strip reprints]
* Harvey Comics #1–5 (1950) [strip reprints]
* Gold Key Comics #1 (1965) [reprints FC #173]
* King Comics #1–11 (1966–1967) (also in _Phantom_ #18–20)
* Charlton Comics #12–18 (1969–1970)
* Gold Key Comics #19–27 (1978–1979); under their "Whitman Comics" #28–37 (1980–1982)
Several issues of the King Comics series were drawn by Al Williamson, who won the 1966 National Cartoonists Society Award for Best Comic Book for his work on the series.[50][51] Williamson later said, "I was paying homage to Alex [Raymond], you know. I tried to treat his creation with respect and dignity and tried to do it to the best of my ability. I find that other artists who have done Flash Gordon just don't seem to get the feeling of the strip, you know. Flash is a noble guy and it's kind of nice to have that kind of a hero."[52] King also released a comic version as a part of their Comics Reading Library in the 1970s.
Williamson provided artwork for a Western Publishing adaptation of Dino De Laurentiis' _Flash Gordon_ film, written by Bruce Jones. It was released by Western Publishing in both hardcover and softcover formats to coincide with the film's release, and was also serialized in three issues of Whitman's Flash Gordon comic book, #31-33, March–May 1981.
In 1988, Dan Jurgens wrote a modernized version of the comic strip as a nine-issue DC Comics miniseries. It features Flash as a 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. The series ran for the planned nine issues and was left with an open-ended conclusion. Though Mongo is 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 published a new two-issue series, written by Mark Schultz with art by Al Williamson, in the style of the _Flash_ comics Williamson had produced for King and others.
A new comic book series was released by Ardden Entertainment in August 2008, though with inconsistent release dates for subsequent issues. The series was written by Brendan Deneen and Paul Green and debuted in 2008, with the first arc entitled "The Mercy Wars". The initial story arc concluded in mid-2009 with an open door to an announced new story arc to begin fall 2009.[53][54] These were followed by further storylines. Ardden also published a Flash Gordon anthology entitled _The Secret History of Mongo_. Ardden's second Flash Gordon arc is titled _Invasion of the Red Sword_ (2010). Two other arcs were completed.
A reprint of all of Al Williamson's _Flash Gordon_ comic books in black and white was printed by Flesk in 2009.[55]
In 2010, Dark Horse Comics began an archive reprint series in hardback, starting with the original comics published by Dell. The second volume covers the comics published by King Comics, the third covers the comics published by Charlton Comics, the fourth covers the comics published by Gold Key, and the fifth covers the comics published by Whitman.
In 2011, Dynamite Entertainment began a new series called _Flash Gordon: Zeitgeist_. The series is written by Eric Trautmann (Vampirella, Red Sonja), from a story and designs by Alex Ross (Kingdom Come, Marvels, Project: Superpowers) and illustrated by Daniel Lindro.[56] The company also produced a spinoff miniseries, _Merciless: The Rise of Ming_, in 2012, with story and art by Scott Beatty and Ron Adrian.[57] Following a crossover miniseries called _King's Watch_ (where, much like _Defenders of the Earth_, Flash Gordon teamed up with Mandrake and the Phantom; albeit, set in the 21st century), Dynamite launched a new Flash Gordon ongoing series in 2014, with story and art by Jeff Parker and Evan "Doc" Shaner.[58] In 2015, Dynamite followed this run with another _Flash Gordon_ miniseries as part of their "King:Dynamite" series. This series was written by Ben Acker and Ben Blacker and illustrated by Lee Ferguson.[59]
_Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_[Edit]
In 1936, one issue of _Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_ was published by Harold Hersey, featuring a novel about Flash Gordon, entitled _The Master of Mars_.[4] It was written by little-known author James Edison Northford. The saddle-stitched novel was based (more or less) on the comic strip story lines, and included color illustrations reminiscent of Alex Raymond's artwork. On the back pages a second installment, _The Sun Men of Saturn_, was promised, but it never saw print. Even though the series did not gain in popularity, the lone issue of _Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine_ has become a much sought-after item for pulp magazine collectors.[8]
Novels[Edit]
The first novel based on the strip, _Flash Gordon in the Caverns of Mongo_, was published in 1936 by Grosset & Dunlap. The credited author was Alex Raymond, but Doug Murray claims the novel "was almost certainly ghost-written".[8] 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_.[60] Although the books were credited to Alex Raymond, the first three were written by SF writer Ron Goulart, (under the "house name" "Con Steffanson") and the other three novels were by Bruce Cassiday (the first under the "Steffanson" name, and the latter two under the pseudonym "Carson Bingham").[60]
In 1980, Tempo books released a series by David Hagberg: _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 names of the hero and his co-stars of Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, this series had little to do with any other version of Flash Gordon.
1939 WORLD'S FAIR[EDIT]
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_ (March 1939) described how 150 people could enter a ride designed to resemble a rocket ship with a motion picture screen and vibrating seats for a simulated trip to another planet. The ride was located "at the opposite end of the amusement zone from the parachute tower". Fairgoers 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, nor did the rocket ship.[61]
Reprints[Edit]
Raymond's work, particularly his Sunday strips, has been reprinted many times over the years by many publishers, most notably Nostalgia Press, Kitchen Sink Press and Checker Book Publishing Group.[4]
Some of the Austin Briggs dailies were reprinted by Kitchen Sink Press. The King Comics run of _Flash Gordon_ reprinted one Alex Raymond story and two Mac Raboy ones in 1967.[62] The Mac Raboy Sundays have been reprinted by Dark Horse Comics in black and white, while Kitchen Sink began to collect both the Dan Barry and Austin Briggs daily strips. The Dan Barry dailies have never been entirely reprinted, but the Barry stories written by noted author Harry Harrison were reprinted in _Comics Revue_ magazine, published by Manuscript Press. Tempo Books published six mass-market paperbacks reprinting Dan Barry strips from the 1970s in the 1980s. Two stories from the Dan Barry dailies, D2-133 "Baldur Battles Skorpi" (February 24 to May 10, 1986) and D2-134 "The Bear" (May 12 to August 21, 1986), were reprinted in an oblong format, 6.5 by 10.5 paperback edition with two strips per page by Budget Books PTY of Melbourne, Australia in 1987 under the title _The New Adventures of Flash Gordon_, ISBN 0-86801-795-7. A reprint of all of Al Williamson's _Flash Gordon_ comic strip and comic book work was released in 2009.
* _Flash Gordon on the Planet Mongo_ (1934–35), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon into the Water World_ (1935–37), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon Escapes to Arboria_ (1937–39), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon vs Frozen Horrors_ (1939–40), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon Joins the Power Men_ (1940–41), Nostalgia
* _Flash Gordon: A New Kingdom_ (1939) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The End of Ming_ (1940) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: Return to Earth_ (1941) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: A New War_ (1941) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The Usurper_ (1942) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: Gundar the Hawk of Tropica_ (1942-1943) Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The End of Brazor_ (1944). Pacific Comics Club/Club Anni Trenta, 1977 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Mongo, Planet of Doom_ (1934–35), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-114-7
* _Three Against Ming_ (1935–37), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-120-1
* _The Tides of Battle_ (1937–39), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-162-7
* _The Fall of Ming_ (1939–41), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-168-6
* _Between Worlds at War_ (1941–43), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-177-5
* _Triumph in Tropica_ (1943–44), Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-199-6
* _Flash Gordon, Dead or Alive! : Daily Strips 5/27/40 to 8/26/40 by Austin Briggs_. Pacific Comics Club, 1981(limited edition for collectors)
* _Prisoner of Ming : Daily Strips 8/27/40 to 11/13/40 / by Austin Briggs_. Pacific Comics Club, 1981(limited edition for collectors)
* _Flight to Freeland : Daily Strips 11/14/40 to 2/28/41 / by Austin Briggs_.Pacific Comics Club, 1981 (limited edition for collectors)
* _Adora of the Forest People : Daily Strips 3/1/41 to 8/23/41 by Austin Briggs_.Pacific Comics Club, 1981(limited edition for collectors)
* _Flash Gordon: The Dailies by Austin Briggs 1940–1942 Volume 1_, Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-172-4 (strips from 1940)
* _Flash Gordon: The Dailies by Austin Briggs 1940–1942 Volume 2_, Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-187-2 (strips from 1941)
* _Flash Gordon The Complete Daily Strips 1951–1953_, Kitchen Sink Press ISBN 0-87816-035-3
* _Flash Gordon - Star Over Atlantis_, Dan Barry, Manuscript Press, 2007, ISBN 0-936414-16-2, ISBN 978-0-936414-16-4, dailies 1953–1954.
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 1 (1934–35)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 0-9741664-3-X
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 2 (1935–36)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 0-9741664-6-4
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 3 (1936–37)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-25-X
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 4 (1938–40)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-26-8
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 5 (1940–41)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-27-6
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 6 (1941–43)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-28-4
* _Flash Gordon: Volume 7 (1943–45)_, Checker Book Publishing Group ISBN 1-933160-20-9
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 1_, Dark Horse Comics ISBN 1-56971-882-2 (Sundays, 1948–1953 S32-S45)
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 2_, Dark Horse Comics (Sunday, 1953–1958)
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 3_, Dark Horse Comics ISBN 1-56971-978-0 (Sundays, 1958–1962)
* _Mac Raboy's Flash Gordon, Volume 4_, Dark Horse Comics (Sundays, 1962–1967)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 1_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17349-2 (S132/D2-097 - S135)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 2_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17348-4 (D2-081, D2-082)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 3_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17347-6 (S114-S118)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 4_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17155-4 (D2-105, D2-107)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 5_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17208-9 (D2-098)
* _The Amazing Adventures of Flash Gordon, Volume 6_ Tempo Books ISBN 0-448-17245-3 (D2-102, D2-109)
* _Al Williamson's Flash Gordon: A Lifelong Vision of the Heroic_, Flesk ISBN 1-933865-13-X
* _Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1934–37_, by Alex Raymond. Titan Books ISBN 0-85768-154-0
* _Flash Gordon: The Tyrant of Mongo: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1937–41_, by Alex Raymond. Titan Books ISBN 0-85768-379-9
* _Flash Gordon: The Fall of Ming: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1941–44_, by Alex Raymond. Titan Books ISBN 0-85768-688-7
* _Flash Gordon: The Storm Queen of Valkir: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1944-48_, by Austin Briggs. Titan Books ISBN 1-78276-286-8
* _Flash Gordon: The City of Ice: The Complete Flash Gordon Library 1951-1953_, by Dan Barry. Titan Books ISBN 1-78276-683-9
* _Flash Gordon: Dan Barry Volume 2 - The Lost Continent_, by Dan Barry. Titan Books ISBN 978-1782766841
* _Flash Gordon Sundays: Dan Barry Volume 1 - The Death Planet_, by Dan Barry. Titan Books ISBN 978-1785861369
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 1: 1934-1936_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-015-4
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 2: 1936-1939_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-220-3
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 3: 1939-1941_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-580-6
* _Definitive Flash Gordon and Jungle Jim Volume 4: 1942-1944_ IDW Publishing ISBN 1-61377-917-8
Games[Edit]
* The _Flash Gordon & the Warriors of Mongo_ role-playing game was released by Fantasy Games Unlimited in 1977.
* The _Savage World of Flash Gordon Roleplaying Game_ written by Scott Alan Woodard was released by Pinnacle Entertainment Group in 2018.
* Flash Gordon (pinball)
Dvd Releases[Edit]
Flash Gordon has been released to DVD under a variety of titles and in both edited and non-edited versions. The serials and 50s TV show have no shortage of public domain DVD releases.
Film serials (1936–1940)[edit]
_flash gordon_ (1936)[edit]
* _Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers_. (245 minutes)
* _Flash Gordon: Spaceship to the Unknown_. Hearst Entertainment, Inc., 2002. (edited to 98 minutes)
_FLASH GORDON'S TRIP TO MARS_ (1938)[EDIT]
* _Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars_ (2 discs). (299 minutes)
* _Flash Gordon: O raio mortal de Marte_. Hearst Entertainment, Inc., 2002. (97 minutes)
_flash gordon conquers the universe_ (1940)[edit]
* _flash gordon conquers the universe_. (234 minutes)
* _Flash Gordon: The Peril from Planet Mongo_. Hearst Entertainment, Inc., 2002. (edited to 91 minutes)
_FLASH GORDON_ (1954–55)[EDIT]
* _Flash Gordon_ (3 Volumes). Alpha Home Entertainment (only 13 of the episodes have been released thus far).
_the new adventures of flash gordon_ (1979)[edit]
Us – bci eclipse
* _The New Adventures of Flash Gordon: The Complete Series_ (4–Discs). 600 minutes
UK – Hollywood DVD LTD
* _The Adventures of Flash Gordon – Castaways in Tropica_
* _The Adventures of Flash Gordon – Blue Magic_
_FLASH GORDON_ (1980)[EDIT]
On May 6, 1998, Image 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.
Momentum Pictures later released it in the UK for DVD Region 2 territories on October 10, 2005. This edition of the film, the "Silver Anniversary Edition", features an anamorphic widescreen transfer at the film's 2.4:1 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 7, 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. and a Flash Gordon 1936 serial episode (chapter one of Planet of Peril).
_Defenders of the Earth_[Edit]
US – BCI Ecplise
* _Defenders of the Earth – Complete Series Volume 1_ (5 Discs) 33 Episodes
* _Defenders of the Earth – Complete Series Volume 2_ (5 Discs) 32 Episodes (SPRING 2007)
UK – Hollywood DVD LTD
* _Defenders of The Earth – The Story Begins_
UK – Delta Music PLC
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie_ (3 Discs)
* _Defenders of the Earth Vol 1_
* _Defenders of the Earth Vol 2_
* _Defenders of the Earth Vol 3_
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie – Prince Of Kro-Tan_
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie – Necklace Of Oros_
* _Defenders of the Earth Movie – The Book Of Mysteries_
_FLASH GORDON_ (1996)[EDIT]
Lion's Gate on September 21, 2004, released three 4-episode DVDs of _Flash Gordon_ (1996) and _Phantom 2040_.
* _Flash Gordon: Marooned on Mongo – The Animated Movie_ (97 minutes)
Parodies[Edit]
_Flesh Gordon_ is a 1974 American erotic science fiction adventure comedy film. It is an erotic spoof of the Universal Pictures _Flash Gordon_ serials from the 1930s.[63] The screenplay was written by Michael Benveniste, who also co-directed the film with Howard Ziehm. The cast includes Jason Williams, Suzanne Fields, and William Dennis Hunt.
The film had an MPAA rating of X, but was also re-edited for a reduced rating of R. It has an original runtime of 78 minutes, and the unrated "collector's edition" release runs 90 minutes.
The 1983 film _A Christmas Story_ featured a deleted scene with Ralphie and his Red Ryder BB gun saving Flash (played by Paul Hubbard) from Ming (played by Colin Fox).[64] None of the footage from the scene survived.[65]
In the 2012 comedy _Ted_, Sam Jones appears in character both as himself and as Flash Gordon.[66] Jones reprised his role for the sequel, _Ted 2_.
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