Flash Gordon (Playmates) 1996

Flash Gordon (Playmates) – 1996

Flash Gordon returned to the small screen in 1996 with a brand new animated series that focused on a teenage Flash and Dale Arden . The show portrayed Flash and Dale as the children of American astronauts, who were involved with Ming the Merciless’ assault on Earth. The series lasted only one season, consisting of 26 episodes. Playmates secured the toy licensing rights to the show and released their action figure line in 1996, with eight different figures, along with a few different accessories.

For more information about Playmate’s Flash Gordon line, see bottom of the page for a complete summary.

Flash Gordon (1996): Basic Action Figures

Playmates released a total of eight different action figures for their Flash Gordon line in 1996. There was Dale Arden, Prince Talon, Ming the Merciless, General Lynch, Princess Thundar, Kobalt the Mercenary and two versions of the title character Flash Gordon.

Dale Arden

Market Value:
Carded $15 – $25
Loose $5 – $10

Dale Arden
Accessories: Bolt Blaster Hand Weapon, Rebel Tran Scanner, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Dale Arden is the love interest to Flash Gordon and one of the main characters of the show. She is described as “Beauty, Brains and a Bolt Blaster”. Dale comes with her Bolt Blaster Hand Weapon, Rebel Tran Scanner, and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

Flash Gordon (Flight Suit)

Market Value:
Carded $15 – $25
Loose $5 – $10

Flash Gordon (Flight Suit)
Accessories: Tri-Blaster Hand Weapon, Rebel Tran Scanner, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Flash Gordon is the hero and title character of the Flash Gordon animated series on 1996. Described as the ‘Rocket Charged Rebel”, Flash is ready is ready to rocket into the Mongo City on his air sled. The Flight Suit version of Flash comes with his Tri-Blaster Hand Weapon, Rebel Tran Scanner, and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

Flash Gordon (Mongo Outfit)

Market Value:
Carded $15 – $25
Loose $5 – $10

Flash Gordon (Mongo Outfit)
Accessories: Tri-Blaster Hand Weapon, Rebel Visipad, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Flash Gordon is the hero and title character of the Flash Gordon animated series on 1996. Described as the ‘Rocket Charged Rebel”, Flash is ready is ready to rocket into the Mongo City on his air sled. The Mongo Outfit version of Flash comes with his Tri-Blaster Hand Weapon, Rebel Visipad, and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

General Lynch

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $8

General Lynch
Accessories: Megazapper, Imperial Tran Scanner, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: General Lynch is Ming’s right-hand man and second in command. He isn’t the brightest bulb, but is a skilled fighter and no slouch on the air sled. Lynch comes with his Megazapper, Imperial Tran Scanner, and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

Kobalt The Mercenary

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $8

Kobalt The Mercenary
Accessories: Transrupter, Imperial Tran Scanner, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Kobalt The Mercenary is Ming’s main mercenary for hire and described as “Fangs and a Heart of Cold”. Kobalt comes with his Transrupter, Imperial Tran Scanner, and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

Ming The Merciless

Market Value:
Carded $15 – $25
Loose $5 – $10

Ming The Merciless
Accessories: Dyna Sword, Imperial Tran Scanner, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Ming the Merciless is the Emperor of Mongo and conqueror of the universe. He is generally known as the big bad guy for the series and main adversary to Flash Gordon. Ming comes with his Dyna Sword, Imperial Tran Scanner, and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

Princess Thundar

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $8

Princess Thundar
Accessories: Lion Stars, Rebel Visipad, Rocket Rolling Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Princess Thundar is a powerful Lionid warrior and princess of the Lion People. She is an ally to Flash and acts as kind of a modern take of Thun the Lion Man. Princess Thundar comes with her Lion Stars, Rebel Visipad, and Rocket Rolling Sled.

Prince Talon

Market Value:
Carded $12 – $20
Loose $4 – $8

Prince Talon
Accessories: Sonic Lance, Rebel Tran Scanner, Rocket Rolling Air Sled
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Prince Talon is the “Silver Winged Warrior” and son of King Vultan. He is a valuable ally to Flash Gordon. Talon comes with his Sonic Lance, Rebel Tran Scanner and Rocket Rolling Air Sled.

Flash Gordon (1996): Accessories

In addition to a couple of vehicles, Playmates also released Ming’s Jaws of Death Throne.

Ming’s Jaws of Death Throne

Market Value:
Boxed $15 – $25
Loose $6 – $11

Ming’s Jaws of Death Throne
Accessories: Throne
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: Ming’s Jaws of Death Throne is described as “The Command Center of Evil” and serves as Ming’s control chair. Ming’s throne lights up when Ming comes into full contact with it, with glowing eyes and dyna crystals. It also has a cool lizard skull design.

Flash Gordon (1996): Vehicles

Playmates released two different vehicles for their Flash Gordon action figure line in 1996, with Flash Gordon Rebel Airbike and the Triphibian.

Flash Gordon Rebel Airbike

Market Value:
Boxed $15 – $25
Loose $6 – $11

Flash Gordon Rebel Airbike
Accessories: Exclusive Cliff-Hangin’ Flash Gordon Figure
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Flash Gordon Rebel Airbike is described as “The Rebel Rocket Scooter” and carries our hero Flash into battle. The Airbike comes with Inter-Stellar Sprakatrolic Engine, Stellar-Dynamic Tapered Wings and an exclusive Cliff-Hangin’ Flash Gordon figure.

Triphibian

Market Value:
Boxed $22 – $35
Loose $10 – $15

Triphibian
Accessories: Goon Gun, Tires
Years Released: 1996
Difficulty To Find: Common – Easily found on the secondary market
Notes: The Triphibian is described as “Flash’s Multi-Purpose Land/Sea/Air Vehicle” and carries Flash into battle. It comes with spring stellar powered weapons, sleek and aerodynamic Mongo design, deal push button goon guns, and able to launch figure on a air sled.

The Flash Gordon action figure line from 1996 included a total of eight figures. There was Dale Arden (Flash’s love interest), General Lynch (Min’s second in command), Prince Talon (Flash’s ally), Kobalt the Mercenary (Ming’s top mercenary), Princess Thundar (another ally to Flash), Ming the Merciless (Main bad guy in the Mongo Universe), and two different versions of the main hero Flash Gordon (Flight Suit and Mongo Outfit). Each of these figures were made in a new 5 inch format, which allowed for some extra detailing by Galoob. In addition, there were two different vehicles (Flash Gordon Airbike and the Triphibian), and one accessory with Ming’s Jaws of Death Throne. Playmates Flash Gordon action figure line did not sell very well at the time and the animated series only lasted 26 episodes. They can be easily found on the secondary market nowadays at very affordable prices.

The packaging for Playmate’s Flash Gordon action figure line was fairly plain and appeared to borrow in design from the fan favorite live action movie from 1980. The figures used a traditional carded blister pack with the figure itself was to the left side of the card and its accessories to the right. The name of each character was centered below a small photo of the figure’s action feature. The classic Flash Gordon logo with the lightning bolt was centered at the top of the card. The card back featured a nice write-up of each character with a short bio and description of their action feature.

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