Defenders of the Earth is an American animated television series produced in 1986, featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate—Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician—opposing Ming the Merciless in the year 2015. Supporting characters include their children Rick Gordon (son of Flash), Jedda Walker (daughter of the Phantom), Kshin (adopted son of Mandrake), Mandrakes assistant Lothar, and Lothars son L.J. The show lasted for 65 episodes; there was also a short-lived comic book series published by Star Comics (an imprint of Marvel Comics), created by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and John Romita, Sr.. The closing credits credit Rob Walsh and Tony Pastor for the main title music, and Stan Lee for the lyrics. The series was later shown in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel as part of Sci Fi Cartoon Quest.The plot begins with Flash Gordon and his son Rick escaping from Ming the Merciless, who has exhausted the natural resources of his home planet Mongo and desires to exploit Earth. Ming tries to brainwash Flashs wife Dale Arden, but she resists until death, whereafter her psyche is later included in the Defenders supercomputer Dynak X.Later, Flash and Mandrake organize the Defenders against Ming.Flash Gordon (voiced by Lou Richards)—Leader of the Defenders of the Earth: a space pilot and the father of Rick Gordon. The Phantom (voiced by Peter Mark Richman)—Essentially identical to Lee Falks character, but differing from the original in that by chanting By jungle law, the Ghost Who Walks calls forth the power of ten tigers, he momentarily receives superhuman strength. His real name is Kit Walker. His horse Hero and wolf Devil make brief appearances. Mandrake the Magician (voiced by Peter Renaday)—A hypnotist and mystic capable of manipulating others perceptions almost at will; often portrayed as a secondary leader of the Defenders, and sometimes the narrator of their decisions. Lothar (voiced by Buster Jones)—Mandrakes assistant and bodyguard, depicted as a powerful fighter, an able mechanic, and a master tactician. The action figures packaging describes Lothar as a Caribbean Ninja. Richard Rick Gordon (voiced by Loren Lester)—Richard is an impulsive computer genius and the son of Flash Gordon. Rick, along with many of the other teenagers of the show, attended Central High located in Central City. Rick Gordon was initially intended to be Kit Walker, the son of the Phantom. L.J.—Short for Lothar Jr., L.J. is the street-wise martial arts-expert son of Lothar, and Ricks best friend. When in one episode, the Defenders locate a crystal which shows them their greatest desires, L.J.s is to defeat the antagonist Octon. Jedda Walker (voiced by Sara Partridge)—Jedda is the daughter of the Phantom and displays telepathic and limited extrasensory powers; usually expressed by communication with her black panther Kisa. There is little-or-no mention of her mother, though in one episode she is the reluctant stepdaughter of Queen Hadea. Some installments imply a relationship with Rick Gordon. Jedda Walker was initially intended to be Jedda Gordon, daughter of Flash Gordon. Kshin (voiced by Adam Carl)—Kshin is an orphaned boy adopted by Mandrake and trained as his apprentice. His origin was never identified in the series. He is usually accompanied by the extraterrestrial Zuffy, initially found by Rick Gordon on the planet Mongo. Dynac X (voiced by Diane Pershing)—Dynac X is the central computer of the Defenders Headquarters, whose operating system is stated to contain the psyche of Flash Gordons wife. Though she is never addressed by name in the series, the comic book adaptation of the first two episodes identifies the slain Mrs. Gordon as Dale Arden. Antagonists Ming the Merciless (voiced by William Callaway and Ron Feinberg)—A warlord or supervillain bent on exploiting Earths natural resources, based on Ice Station Earth. This version is made more grotesque than his traditional Mongolian appearance to avoid racial stereotypy; a similar treatment would be used on the Mandarin in the Iron Man animated series and on Dr. No in James Bond Jr., in that all three characters received green skin and pointed ears. Prince Kro-Tan (voiced by Hal Rayle)—Ming the Merciless son. Princess Castra—Ming the Merciless daughter. Octon—Octon is an octopus-like artificial intelligence, equivalent to an evil version of Dynac X, which advises Ming the Merciless of methods to conquer the Earth or defeat the Defenders. His name is derived from that of an opponent of Mandrakes in the latters eponymous comic strip, wherein it identifies a crime lord also known as the Cobra. Garax—Garax is the leader of Mings mechanical soldiers, the Ice Robots. He is the only one of these to recur, and the only given any distinction from the others, who are frequently slain en masse by the Defenders. Mongor—Mongor is a giant serpent-like pet of Ming the Merciless. Kurt Walker (voiced by William Callaway)—Aliased NDama the Weather Demon, Kurt is the older brother of the Phantom, disinherited by their father after a quarrel. Kurt is specifically created for the series, and has never appeared elsewhere. The Sky Band— A coalition of raiders depicted in the Phantom comics; here depicted as space-pirates. Queen Hadea—Hadea is the ruler of the subterranean Netherworld, where she is the latest in a dynasty of monarchs served by pale, deformed humanoids. In her first appearance, Hadea desires to take the Phantom as a consort. After later offering to heal the injured Jedda Walker, she displays a brief interest in assuming a maternal role in the girls life. Her great ambition is to capture the powerful Necklace of Oros, which confers control of others in the users presence. Graviton— The original owner of the Necklace of Oros, and implied to have dwelt among the Moai of Rapa Nui, Graviton is an extradimensional being of unknown origins, who seeks to recover the Necklace from Earth and establish himself as a dictator.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 21:11:20 +0000
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