Prince Barin

Prince Barin
Publication information
Publisher King Features Syndicate
Created by Alex Raymond
In-story information
Supporting character of Flash Gordon

Prince Barin is a character in the Flash Gordon stories. He is king of a region of Mongo called Arboria.[1] Barin becomes one of Flash's best friends, and is deeply in love with Princess Aura. In his appearance, Barin resembles the character of Robin Hood.[1]

Barin appears regularly in the Flash Gordon comic strip, becoming the ruler of Mongo after Ming's overthrow. When he first appears he is a leader of the resistance and forces Flash to fight Zarkov, but impressed with his bravery he lets them both live. Later he disguises himself and enters a Tournament of Mongo hoping to win Princess Aura, however is forced to fight Flash. When his identity is revealed in the final bout the people ask for both to be given Kingdoms. Barin is able to marry the Princess and is given the Kingdom of the Trees despite it being unconquered.

In other media

Prince Barin was first portrayed by Richard Alexander in the 1936 Flash Gordon film serial.[2] He reprised the same role in the 1938 sequel Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars. In the 1940 sequel Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, the role was portrayed by Roland Drew.

Alan Oppenheimer provided the voice of Prince Barin in the 1979 Filmation animated series.[3] Barin was depicted as a master archer, armed with arrows encasing any item they strike in ice. His fortress city in Arboria is highly advanced, and almost equal in technology to Mingo City. The city is protected by a defensive energy shield and by squadrons of formidable airships called Leaf Fighters. Barin also makes use of a gigantic tank-like drilling machine called the Mecha-Mole.

In 1980, Prince Barin was portrayed by Timothy Dalton in the film Flash Gordon produced by Dino De Laurentiis. The prince becomes the heir to the throne of Mongo, but evil Ming the Merciless steals the throne. Barin is banished to the forest moon of Arboria. He is in love with Ming's daughter, Princess Aura, and she decides to hide Flash there after saving him from execution. Jealous of Aura's love for Flash he tries to kill him, but they are captured by Hawkmen and forced to fight. After Flash saves Barin from falling to his death during the fight, the Prince becomes an ally. He is sentenced to execution by Ming with Zarkov, but Aura frees them. The prince eventually joins forces with Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, Dr. Hans Zarkov and Prince Vultan of the Hawkmen in order to overthrow Ming, and at the end he becomes Mongo's apparent ruler, and makes Vultan the leader of his armies.

Steve Bacic portrayed Prince Barin in the 2007 Flash Gordon television series.[4] Although Ming plans a union between Barin and Aura at one point, the two despise each other and the wedding is called off following an assassination attempt by Barin on Ming. Barin is then saved from execution when Flash organizes a fake prophecy to imply that killing Barin would jeopardize Ming's rule.

References

  1. 1 2 "Great Movie Serials Cb: Great Movie Serial - Jim Harmon, Donald F. Glut - Google Books". Books.google.co.uk. 2013-10-28. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  2. ↑ Harmon, Jim; Donald F. Glut (1973). "2. "We Come from 'Earth', Don't You Understand?"". The Great Movie Serials: Their Sound and Fury. Routledge. pp. 29–35, 38. ISBN 978-0-7130-0097-9.
  3. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010, 2d ed. - Vincent Terrace". Books.google.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-06-20.
  4. ↑ "Flash Gordon "Alliances" Review - IGN". Uk.ign.com. 2007-10-02. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
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