Flash Gordon Was a Lousy Pilot

One might assume that Flash Gordon was a superior pilot given his status as Saviour of the Universe and all-around legend, but the original Alex Raymond comic strips draw a different picture. In any given adventure, no sooner does Flash take the controls of a rocketship then it invariably hurtles planetward and crashes, forcing Flash and his friends to survive another hostile environment full of enemies and potential love interests. Flash is profoundly competent in many things (as most action heroes are), so it stands to reason his consistent failure to operate vehicles without destroying them is entirely the fault of Plot. The story needs his victory to be postponed; it needs to move him from one plotline to another. Sending him off in a rocketship or some other flying machine and having it crash-land somewhere is his standard mode of travel dating back to the very first comic strips when he had to commandeer Earth's first rocketship when Zarkov had a panic attack. James Bond in the original novels by Ian Fleming had a similar penchant for driving fast cars and promptly crashing them. Based on the films, one would imagine Bond was one of the greatest drivers in the world. In actuality, Flash Gordon and James Bond were expert crash-landers and crash survivors, which is still quite impressive. And though it may seem ridiculous how often they end up walking away from one burning wreckage after another, it nonetheless keeps them more grounded than most movie action heroes. So, Flash Gordon wasn't really a lousy pilot, but rather a pilot with lousy luck.

Flash Gordon's 90th Anniversary: The Serials

Happy Belated Flash Gordon Day yet again!

On 6 April 1936, Flash Gordon was depicted in motion picture form for the first time, an event that would have an incalculable effect on the growth of both filmmaking and science fiction itself.

Long live Flash!

Flash Gordon Survey: Setting Version

If you could only choose one version of Flash Gordon on which to base your role-playing game setting, which would it be? (Comments are welcome.)

1. The original comic strip (1934–1944).
2. The movie serials (1936–1940).
3. The later comic strip (1944+).
4. The first live-action television series (1954–1955).
5. The first animated television series (1979–1980).
6. The film (1980).
7. The second animated television series (1996–1997).
8. The second live-action television series (2007–2008).

Save vs. Mercilessness

I just found one of my old (2013) notebooks that contained a note marked "Flash Gordon Saving Throws" followed by:

• Ray
• Poison
• Mind Control
• Loss of Balance
• Utter Doom

I think they hold up pretty well for a Flash Gordon role-playing game presumably inspired by TSR Dungeons & Dragons. Nowadays, I'm more inclined to adapt it to a D6 system or just use The Savage World of Flash Gordon, but if I ever felt the desire to adapt it to Basic/Expert D&D or Labyrinth Lord or something similar, I would certainly consider keeping these.

Flash Gordon/Savage Worlds Thought of the Day 2026-02-09

If I could have any hypothetical Flash Gordon toy right now, I would want a collection of painted metal figures, tin litho vehicles, sets, scenery, and tin litho rockets (two different scales), all in the style of the 1930s comic strips. They would be perfect for use with The Savage World of Flash Gordon.

One can dream.

Flash Gordon's 92nd Anniversary

Happy Belated Flash Gordon Day!

On the 7th of January 1934, Flash Gordon began as a newspaper comic strip. Its impact has been felt ever since that day.

Long live Flash!

Flash Gordon's 45th Anniversary: The Film

Happy Very Belated Flash Gordon Day!

On 5 December 1980, the first feature-length Flash Gordon film premiered in cinemas and it was glorious.

Long live Flash!

Flash Gordon's Values

If you know the early comic strips, movie serials, or motion picture, you know that

Flash Gordon stands for

• Compassion
• Courage
• Democracy
• Freedom
• Friendship
• Honor
• Hope
• Organization
• Perseverance

Go, Flash, go!

Flash Gordon & the Warriors of Mongo Discussed

Care to hear more about the world's first licensed role-playing game, Flash Gordon & the Warriors of Mongo? Watch "Let's Talk About the Flash Gordon Role Playing Game! The Critics Were Wrong." (Episode 11 of Geekerati Media.)

First Sighting; First Nomenclature

In case anyone was wondering why there are sometimes two dates listed in the Lists of Mongo for the first appearance of something in the Flash Gordon comic strips, this occurs when the first time a thing is depicted is different from the first time it is named. For some reason I think this is an important distinction that is worth recording. Carry on.