Universal produced Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe in 1940, a 12-episode adventure. This time Earth is infected with the Plague of the Purple Death, and once again it is an evil plot by Ming the Merciless who released it into Earth's atmosphere. Flash, Dale and Zarkov head off to planet Mongo again where they team up with Prince Barin and with a new ally, Queen Fria of Frigia, whose polar climate may hold the key to saving the Earth.

Walking bombs.

Above 8 screenshots: Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940).

Sam J. Jones as Flash Gordon and Melodie Anderson as Dale Arden

The complete uncut serials were eventually released to video. Flash Gordon returned to the big screen in an all-colour star-cast 1980s extravaganza, with music written and performed by the British rock group Queen. (The nickname of Sir Menzies Campbell, a leading member of the Liberal Democrats which is a British political party, is "Ming the Merciless".)

Max Von Sydow as Emperor Ming the Merciless