Flash Gordon first appeared as a Sunday strip in 1934, following the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, when the Earth is 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. Landing on the planet, and halting the collision, they come into conflict with Ming the Merciless, Mongo’s evil ruler.
First Appearance Flash Gordon Sunday comic strip (January 7, 1934)
First Publisher King Features Syndicate
Appearance List Comic strips: Sunday strips from January 7, 1934, daily strips from May 27, 1940. Film serials: Flash Gordon (1936), Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars (1938), and Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940). TV: Flash Gordon (39 episodes, 1954–55 live-action). Radio: The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon (26 episodes, 1935), The Further Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon (60 episodes, 1935-1936). Comic books: 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, strip reprints), Harvey Comics #1–5 (1950, strip reprints). Pulps: Flash Gordon Strange Adventure Magazine (1 issue, 1936) featuring “The Master of Mars”. Big Little Books: 14 installments from 1934 until 1948 beginning with Flash Gordon on the Planet Mongo (1934). Books: Flash Gordon in the Caverns of Mongo (1936).
Sample Read Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940) [DPI]
Description Flash Gordon first appeared as a Sunday strip in 1934, following the adventures of Flash Gordon, a handsome polo player and Yale University graduate, and his companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov, when the Earth is 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. Landing on the planet, and halting the collision, they come into conflict with Ming the Merciless, Mongo’s evil ruler.
