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The strip is by Alex Raymond, the creator and principal artist of Flash Gordon. Raymond’s genius lay not only in spectacle but in romantic gravity — faces, gestures, and pauses that feel almost cinematic.
This particular daily strip ran on 18 May 1941, just months before the U.S. entered World War II.
Who the characters are:
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Flash Gordon
The blond man in the red ceremonial uniform. Flash is Earth’s champion on the planet Mongo — brave, upright, and almost mythically honorable. -
Dale Arden
The woman embracing and kissing him. Dale is not a passive damsel; she is emotionally strong, morally grounded, and often the conscience of the story. -
The soldiers in the background belong to Mongo’s palace guard — witnesses to both victory and farewell.
What is happening in the story
By this point in the saga:
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Flash has defeated Ming the Merciless (the long-standing tyrant of Mongo).
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Peace has been restored.
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Flash is being honored publicly, hence the ceremonial dress and formal guards.
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But victory comes with separation.
Flash must leave Dale — either to return to Earth or to continue a dangerous mission (Raymond often structured endings around noble departure rather than domestic closure).
The caption tells you everything:
“While the whole nation indulges in mad celebration… her heart is on her lips as she proudly and sweetly bestows the victor’s reward.”
The “victor’s reward” is not power, land, or triumph. It is love — briefly given, fully felt, and consciously relinquished.
Why the image feels so powerful
A few quiet things Raymond does here:
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Public vs private
The kiss happens in full view, yet it is utterly intimate. The guards look away. The world pauses. -
No sensual exaggeration
This is not erotic. It is restrained, almost classical — closer to a farewell kiss in war cinema than pulp fantasy. -
1941 subtext
American readers in 1941 would immediately read this through the lens of:-
soldiers leaving
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lovers parting
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honor overriding desire
Flash’s uniform even resembles a hybrid of Roman, Napoleonic, and modern military imagery — timeless heroism at the edge of sacrifice.
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Dale’s agency
She gives the kiss. Flash receives it. That reversal matters.
Have you started using AI to draft the posts? It has satred sounding generic and pretentious, and less like you.
ReplyDeleteIn this case I have, because it was done some time ago and I liked the picture but I had not seen the comics so I went to AI. However, I could have modified it more. I already state that I am using AI to draft now nut I don't accept the draft as it is. In any case, most times, all ideas are mine. anyway, thanks for pointing it out.
DeleteThanks for the reply. If I may suggest, let AI be the editor of the drafts, not the other way, i.e. you refining its draft. Please ignore if not relevant.
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