Hans Zarkov

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Hans Zarkov
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Publication information
Publisher King Features Syndicate, Egmont
Frew
Moonstone
and many others
Created by Alex Raymond
In-story information
Supporting character of Flash Gordon

Dr. Hans Zarkov is a fictional character appearing in the Flash Gordon comic strip. Zarkov is a brilliant scientist who creates a rocket and forces Flash and Dale Arden in their adventures on the planet Mongo, and fight against Ming the Merciless. Eventually, he becomes a more sympathetic character who reconciles with the heroes to become a regular companion.

Zarkov was first portrayed in the Flash Gordon film serials by Frank Shannon. He is identified as "Alexis Zarkov" in the 1938 serial Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars.

The character was portrayed by Joseph Nash in the 1954 Flash Gordon TV series.

In the 1979 Flash Gordon animated series by Filmation, the character is played by Alan Oppenheimer. The issue of Zarkov forcing the heroes to accompany him to Mongo is avoided by changing the story by having Flash and Dale come to his underground laboratory during a dangerous meteor shower that sets of a deadly volcanic eruption that traps the visitors even as it threatens to kill them. Thus Zarkov's rocket is the only means to escape certain death and they board willingly.

The character is played by Chaim Topol (billed only as "Topol") in the 1980 Dino De Laurentiis film Flash Gordon.

In the 2007 Sci-Fi Channel television series, Flash Gordon, he is played by actor Jody Racicot. He assists Flash, Dale, and Baylin by monitoring rifts that open. He seems very nervous constantly and Baylin describes as a "strange, fidgety little man". His nervous attitude came from the fact that after Doctor Gordon disappeared in the rift experiment, he was hounded by FBI agents to cover up the truth.

In the original comic strip, he was first thought to have died when his ship crashed into planet Mongo. It's later revealed Ming's minions pulled him out of the wreckage. Zarkov's character in the 1980s DC comic was handled the same way.

[edit] References

v • d • e
Flash Gordon
TV Series
Film
Movie serials
Characters/Actors
Gale Gordon (1935) • Buster Crabbe (1936 - 1940) • Steve Holland (1954) • Robert Ridgely (1979, 1982) • Sam J. Jones (1980) • Lou Richards (1986) • Toby Proctor (1996) • Eric Johnson (2007)
Jean Rogers (1936 - 1938) • Carol Hughes (1940) • Irene Champlin (1954) • Diane Pershing (1979, 1982) • Melody Anderson (1980) • Lexa Doig (1996) • Gina Holden (2007)
Bruno Wick (1935) • Charles Middleton (1936 - 1940) • Alan Oppenheimer (1979) • Max von Sydow (1980) • Vic Perrin (1982) • William Callaway (1986) • John Ralston (2007)
Hans Zarkov
Maurice Franklin (1935) • Frank Shannon (1936 - 1940) • Joseph Nash (1954) • Alan Oppenheimer (1979) • Topol (1980) • Bob Holt (1982) • Paul Shaffer (1996) • Jody Racicot (2007)
Priscilla Lawson (1936 - 1938) • Shirley Deane (1940) • Melendy Britt (1979, 1982) • Ornella Muti (1980) • Anna van Hooft (2007)
Richard Alexander (1936 - 1938) • Roland Drew (1940) • Robert Ridgely (1979) • Timothy Dalton (1980) • Robert Douglas (1982) • Steve Bacic (2007)
John Lipson (1936 - 1938) • Allan Melvin (1979) • Brian Blessed (1980) • Ted Cassidy (1982) • Ty Olsson (2007)
James Pierce (1936) • Ted Cassidy (1979) • George Harris (1980) • David Opatoshu (1982)
Other media
Related articles
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