Flash Gordon (1979-82)

The animated series' first season follows, more or less, the traditional Flash Gordon mythos, opening with the launch of the rocketship carrying Flash, Dale Arden, and Dr. Zarkov from somewhere in the Eastern Hemisphere (or at least the opening scene shows the ship clearing Earth's atmosphere above Europe and the Middle East). The series actually opens with the crash of the Terran ship into an ocean on Mongo after being attacked during the final approach to the planet.

In the opening scenes, after being captured by Ming's Gill Men, Gordon, Arden, and Zarkov meet King Thun the Lion-man and Prince Barin of the forest-kingdom of Arboria. It is later revealed that an earlier king of all Mongo, more powerful than Ming, was named Gor-dan, and that he strongly resembled Flash.

The remainder of the first season consists of the adventures of Gordon and company across the face of Mongo, in traditional pulp style passing from one near-death situation to another. The protagonists meet Emperor Ming almost immediately, and Ming is revealed as being the classic archetype of the Evil Overlord. Flash later gains the aid of King Vultan, ruler of the Hawkmen, and the bandit chieftain Gundar, the Desert Hawk, as friends and allies. Flash also attracts the attention of many of Mongo's female monarchs, such as the adventurous Queen Undina of Coralia; the kindly, smoky-voiced Queen Fria of Frigia; Azura, the powerful but delusional Witch-Queen of Syk, former lover of King Gor-dan who believes Flash is his reincarnation; and the strong-willed Queen Desira of Tropica. But the most notable of these admirers is Princess Aura, Ming's daughter.

When a second season of episodes was ordered for autumn 1982, NBC insisted the serial format be dropped and that the stories be more episodic. This resulted in the addition of the pet dragon Gremlin, an artist in mouth-blown smoke. The second season was not so well received and the program was cancelled shortly after its completion.

Flash Gordon: The Greatest Adventure of All is a 1981 American animated television film produced by Filmation and written by Samuel A Peeples. It was first broadcast in the UK on ITV in 1981 and in the US in 1982.

This is the original project produced as a made-for-television feature film with the Hitler subplot restored. It opens in Poland, with Nazi bombs falling. Flash is given a message for Dr Zarkov. Reporter Dale Arden is also looking for Zarkov, to interview him for her newspaper. Next, their plane crashes and they join Zarkov on his rocket ship to Mongo, where dinosaurs threaten them. Then they are captured by Beastmen. This is followed by a confrontation with Ming, and their first meeting with Thun the Lionman and Ming's daughter Aura. Next, in a sequence not from the strip, Flash is made a slave in the mines. They escape, and, as in the strip, meet Prince Barin of the Forest Kingdom and Vultan, King of the Hawkmen. The fall of Vultan's sky city leads to a final battle with Ming.

There were several differences between the film and the series. The film was intended for prime time viewing when it would be assumed that parents will also be watching. These changes include:

• The departure of the trio from Earth to Mongo is depicted and Zarkov forces Flash and Dale to board his rocket rather than inviting them in.

• The Hawkmen's sky city is clearly destroyed, whereas in the series it is only captured.

• More revealing costumes.

• Clear references to killing.

• The romance between Ming's daughter Aura and Prince Barin is downplayed and, at the end, she refuses to swear allegiance to him as Regent, resulting in him ordering her imprisonment.

• It is made clear at the end that Flash, Dale and Zarkov will never be able to return to Earth, whereas in the animated series that door is left open.

There are also differences in casting. While Robert Ridgely, Diane Pershing, and Melendy Britt still voice Flash, Dale and Aura, respectively, Vic Perrin provides the voice for Prince (note, not King) Vultan, and Bob Holt voices Ming The Merciless. David Opatoshu is Zarkov and Robert Douglas is Prince Barin. TED CASSIDY, in his final film role, provides the voice for King (note, not Prince) Thun.