One of the most popular science-fiction-adventure comic strips, Flash Gordon debuted in 1934 and has continued to thrill readers for generations. The strip focuses on the exploits of Flash Gordon, Yale graduate and "world renowned polo player," as he continually battles the evil Ming the Merciless on the distant planet of Mongo. Originally created by cartoonist Alex Raymond (1907–1956) and writer Don Moore to challenge the popularity of Buck Rogers (see entry under 1920s—Print Culture in volume 2), Flash Gordon quickly established itself as one of the medium's most dynamic and best-drawn series.

Flash Gordon, played by Buster Crabbe, fights off the enemy in Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. Underwood & Underwood/Corbis. Reproduced by permission.

Raymond is remembered as the "Rembrandt of the comics page" for his lush, highly detailed artwork. In America's Great Comic Strip Artists, Richard Marschall describes Raymond's artistry as a "powerful, lush style of...