Flash Gordon

Flash Gordon is one of several distinguished superheroes who have dominated the fantasies of the young for the better part of the 20th century. Since his introduction in a 1935 radio show and his graphic premiere in December 1936 in the publication Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine No.1, Flash Gordon’s character, although having undergone a few changes, has become a comic icon. His popularity led to adaptations for the movies, television, as well as various comic strips.

Although other superheroes succeeded him, his influence was irrefutable. In 1936, Buster Crabbe became famous as the first actor to fill Flash Gordon’s shoes. Boys of the time all wanted to be Flash, while girls wanted to be his partner and dream girl, Jean Rogers. Together they encountered dragons, giant octopuses, monsters, gorillas, and of course, the ruthless Ming the Merciless.

Sam Jones played Flash Gordon in the 1980 film version. The movie had to fight it out at the box office against the premiere of Superman starring Christopher Reeve. The Flash Gordon of the 1980s is a famous baseball player who ends up in Mongo, Ming’s planet. Ming has been conducting experiments on earth by provoking natural disasters and will ultimately destroy the planet. Flash’s mission is to stop the evil Ming from destroying the planet.