Defenders of the is a team of superheroes who fight the evil Ming the Merciless who has returned to wreak havoc on Earth.
The superheroes are Flash, The Phantom and Mandrake the Magician each who's been famous in their own comic book from King Features Syndicate. Flash Gordon even has had his own live action movie. Aiding the heroes are their children.
Leader of the Defenders of the Earth; a space pilot and the father of Rick Gordon.
Voiced by: Lou Richards. Born September 3, 1951. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Essentially identical to Lee Falk's character, but differing from the original in that by chanting "By jungle law, the Ghost Who Walks calls forth the power of ten tigers", he momentarily receives superhuman strength. His horse Hero and wolf Devil make brief appearances.
Voiced by: Peter Mark Richman. Born April 16, 1927. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
A hypnotist and mystic capable of manipulating others' perceptions almost at will; often portrayed as a secondary leader of the Defenders, and sometimes the narrator of their decisions.
Voiced by: Peter Renaday. Born June 9, 1935. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Mandrake's assistant and bodyguard, depicted as a powerful fighter, an able mechanic, and a master tactician. The action figure's packaging describes Lothar as a "Caribbean Ninja".
Voiced by: Buster Jones. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Richard is an impulsive computer genius and the son of Flash Gordon. Rick, along with many of the other teenagers of the show, attended Central High located in Central City. Rick Gordon was initially intended to be Kit Walker, the son of the Phantom.
Voiced by: Loren Lestery. Born October 4, 1960. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Kshin is an orphaned boy adopted by Mandrake and trained as his apprentice. As the youngster of the group, he is anxious to prove his worth. His country of origin was never identified in the series. He is usually accompanied by the extraterrestrial "Zuffy", initially found by Rick Gordon on the planet Mongo.
Voiced by: Adam Carl. Born January 27, 1971. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Jedda is the daughter of the Phantom and displays telepathic and limited extrasensory powers; usually expressed by communication with her black panther Kisa. There is little-or-no mention of a maternal presence in her life, though in one episode she is the reluctant foster daughter of Queen Hadea. Some installments imply a romantic relationship between her and Rick Gordon.
Voiced by: Sarah Partridge. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
A warlord or supervillain bent on exploiting Earth's natural resources, based on 'Ice Station Earth'. This version is made more grotesque in appearance than his traditional Mongolian appearance to avoid racial stereotypy; a similar treatment would be used on the Mandarin in the Iron Man animated series and on Dr. No in James Bond Jr., in that all three characters received green skin and pointed ears.
Voiced by: Bill Callawayt. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Octon is an octopus-like artificial intelligence, which advises Ming the Merciless of methods to conquer the Earth or defeat the Defenders. His name is derived from that of an opponent of Mandrake's in the latter's eponymous comic strip, wherein it identifies a crime lord also known as the 'Cobra'.
No voice actor.
Aliased "N'Dama the Weather Demon", Kurt is the older brother of the Phantom, disinherited by their father after a quarrel. Kurt is a character specifically created for the series, and has never appeared elsewhere.
Voiced by: Bill Callawayt. Image via Behindthevoiceactors.
Garax is the robot leader of Ming's mechanical soldiers, the Ice Robots. He is the only one of these to recur, and the only given any distinction from the others, who are frequently slain en masse by the Defenders.
No voice actor.
Defenders of the Earth! (Defenders!)
Out of the sky, his rockets ignite,
jets into battle, flying faster than light!
Flash Gordon!
Lord of the jungle, the hero who stalks,
the beasts call him brother, the ghost who walks!
Phantom!
Defenders of the Earth! (Defenders!)
Master of magic spells and illusion,
enemies crumble in fear and confusion!
Mandrake!
Defenders of the Earth! (Defenders!)
His strength is a legend, his skills conquer all,
armed with his power, we never will fall!
Lothar!
Defenders of the Earth! (Defenders!)
With our new young heroes proving their worth,
four become eight, defending the Earth!
Defenders of the Earth! (Defenders!)
Defenders of the... Earth!
