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Flash Gordon is the name of a classic (and very influential) science fiction franchise that started as a space opera adventure comic strip originally drawn by American cartoonist Alex Raymond . First published in January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip.
The comic strip follows the adventures of Flash Gordon and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov in an alien planet called Mongo and their fight against Ming the Merciless, Mongo's evil ruler.
The Flash Gordon comic series has been translated into a wide variety of media, including motion pictures, television and animated series in several different countries across the world and during many decades.
Flash Gordon was featured in three vintage serial films starring American actor Buster Crabbe: "Flash Gordon" (1936), "Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars" (1938), and "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe" (1940). 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.
In 1980 a "campy styled" Flash Gordon film was produced to critical acclaim. It stars former Playgirl-centerfold Sam J. Jones in the title role. Its plot is based loosely on the first few years of the comic strip (in particular the famous Alex Raymond Sunday page, "Flight of the Hawkmen") 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 of the 1980 film, as does the signature theme-song "Flash!" by rock band Queen, who composed and performed the entire musical score.
The latest version, a Flash Gordon television series, appeared on the United States Syfy in 2007–2008.
See also
- Star Wars - A very popular sci-fi series heavily influenced by Flash Gordon
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