Ming the Merciless is a fictional character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon comic strip in 1934. He has since been the main villain of the strip and its related movie serial, TV shows and film adaptation.

Dale Arden is a female fictional character, the fellow-adventurer and love-interest of Flash Gordon and a prototypic heroine for later female characters, including Princess Leia in Star Wars. Flash, Dale and Dr. Hans Zarkov fight together against Ming the Merciless.

Flash Gordon is the hero of a science fiction comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, which was first published on January 7, 1934. The strip, inspired by and created to compete with the already established Buck Rogers adventure strip, has since surpassed Buck Rogers for longevity.

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.