Mongo (Flash Gordon)

Mongo
'Flash Gordon' location
Map of the planet Mongo[1]
Created byAlex Raymond
GenreVarious
In-universe information
TypePlanet
Race(s)
  • Yellow People
  • Hawkmen
  • Lion Men
  • Gillmen
  • Lizard Men
  • Tusked Men
  • Ape Men
  • Shark Men
  • Blue Dragon Men
  • Brown Dwarves
  • Death Dwarfs
  • Panther Men
  • Wolfmen
  • Indigenous People of Arboria
  • Savages
  • Fire People
  • Magic Men
Locations
  • Mingo City (Capital city)
  • Arboria
  • Frigia
  • Coralia
  • Land of the Lion Men
  • Magnetic Mountains
  • Tropica
  • The Fire Lands
  • Sky City
  • Kira the Cavern Kingdom
  • Syk, capital of Kira
Characters
  • Prince Barin
  • Princess Aura
  • Queen Fria
  • Queen Undina
  • Prince Thun
  • King Jugrid of The Lionmen
  • Tahl
  • Naquk the Ice King
  • King Orax of the Fire People
  • King Kala of the Shark Men
  • King Vultan
  • Ming the Merciless
  • Count Bulok
  • Doctor Bono
  • Prince Rolan
  • Prince Alan
  • Tahut
  • Queen Desira of Tropica
  • Gundar, the Desert Hawk
  • Brazor
  • Ergon of the Power Men
  • Queen Azura
  • Kang the Cruel
  • Storm Queen Valkir
Moon(s)Lunita, Exila, Arkaylia, Surd
ContinentsTropica, Unexplored continent
OceansSea of Mystery

Mongo is a fictional planet where the comic strip (and later movie serials) of Flash Gordon takes place. Mongo was created by the comics artist Alex Raymond in 1934, with the assistance of Raymond's ghostwriter Don Moore.[2] Mongo is depicted as being ruled by a usurper named Ming the Merciless, who is shown as a harsh and oppressive dictator.[3][4]

The planet is depicted as being inhabited by different cultures, and having a varied ecosystem.[5] The technology of these cultures varies from groups at a Stone Age level, to highly technologically advanced peoples.[4] At the beginning of the comic strip, almost all of these cultures are shown as being under the domination of the tyrant Ming. In all the versions of the Flash Gordon story, Flash Gordon is shown as unifying the peoples of Mongo against Ming, and eventually removing him from power.[3] Later stories often depict Mongo under the rule of its rightful leader, Prince Barin.[3]

  1. ^ Arlene Williamson, "Map of the Planet Mongo", Flash Gordon #1 King Comics, September 1966. (p. 36)
  2. ^ Ron Goulart. The Funnies : 100 years of American comic strips. Holbrook, Mass. : Adams Pub., 1995. ISBN 1558505393 (p. 110)
  3. ^ a b c Marguerite Cotto, "Flash Gordon", in Ray B Browne; Pat Browne, The Guide to United States Popular Culture Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 2001. ISBN 0879728213 (p. 283)
  4. ^ a b "Flash Gordon", in Guy Haley, Sci-Fi Chronicles: A Visual History of the Galaxy's Greatest Science Fiction.Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, 2014. ISBN 9781770852648 (pp. 69–70)
  5. ^ Meredith Woerne (June 11, 2008). "Mongo". Gizmodo. Retrieved October 7, 2016.