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Prince Barin

From Flash Gordon Wiki

Performer:
Steve Bacic (Sci Fi Channel)
Richard Alexander (1936-1938 serials)
Roland Drew (1940 serial)

Prince Barin is an exiled ruler of Mongo, cheated from his rightful place by Ming. His fierce opposition to Ming's rule is tempered by his growing love for Ming's daughter, Princess Aura. As Flash Gordon was an inspiration for Luke Skywalker, Barin was also one of the inspirations for Han Solo.

Contents

Sci Fi Channel

Barin appeared as a recurring character in the Sci Fi Channel Flash Gordon series, beginning in the seventh episode, "Alliances". In the new show, Barin is played by Steve Bacic, who is familiar to science-fiction fans for his roles in Andromeda and Stargate SG-1. Ming forces Barin and Flash to fight for Aura hand. The plan backfires and Ming is hit but is put to sleep and does not die.

Sci Fi Channel Appearances

Comic strip

When Prince Barin is introduced in the comic strip, he is the leader of a group of rebels, who are hiding in caves and plotting against Emperor Ming. [1] Barin befriends Flash Gordon and Dr. Zarkov, and they work together to overthrow Ming.

Barin is sentenced to work in the Atom Furnaces of the Sky City with Flash, Zarkov and Prince Thun, and is freed with the rest when Zarkov saves the Sky City from falling. [2]

Flash then participates in a "Tournament of Death", to fight for a kingdom and the right to marry Dale. Before the tournament begins, Barin sees Princess Aura fall into the path of King Jugrid's lions, and he leaps to her rescue. He gallantly declares that he saved her because "you are a woman and beautiful --- because I can no longer deny the fact that I love you!" [3]

Barin decides to participate in the tournament, to win the right to claim Aura as his bride. He enters as "the Masked Champion", and advances in the contest. However, he soon realizes that in order to win, he has to battle his best friend, Flash, to the death. Regretting his decision but determined to go on, he fights through to the final round. At the last moment, as he struggles with Flash over a pool of flaming liquid oxygen, Flash kicks off his mask, revealing him as the exiled prince. The crowd immediately jumps to his defense, demanding that Ming declare both Barin and Flash the winners of the tournament. Barin takes Aura as his beloved, and Ming rewards him with a kingdom of his own, the forest kingdom of Arboria. [4]

Aura and Barin have a son, Prince Alan. Ming plans to take his grandson away from Barin and Aura, and raise him as a worthy successor to the throne. [5]

Radio Serial

In the 1934 radio serial Prince Barin is first encountered after Aura and Flash, escaping the Shark Men, become entangled with a tentacular man-eating plant. After being freed they are lowered down a cliff to a secret door where Tree People, Barin's race, are waiting for them. Shortly after, they meet Prince Barin for the first time, who promptly pits Flash against another "white earthling" whose face is hooded and concealed. This hooded figure proves to be Hans Zarkov.

Film Serial

Prince Barin approaches Dr. Zarkov in the serial and introduces himself, explaining that he should be the rightful ruler of Mongo. Ming killed Barin's father when Barin was a child. Barin asks Zarkov to help him overthrow Ming, and they rush to rescue Flash and Dale from the Hawkmen. [6]

Barin, Flash, Zarkov and Thun are put to work in the Atom Furnaces, and are freed when Zarkov saves the Sky City. Flash has to fight for his freedom in a "Tournament of Death", and battles Barin, cloaked as "the Masked Swordsman". When he's beaten, he tells Flash that he was forced to fight, and that he was hoping to be killed -- he loves Princess Aura, and has no hope of winning her. Flash forgives Barin. [7]

When Aura endangers Dale in the catacombs by setting a tigron on her, Barin scolds Aura. ""I've won the friendship of the Earth people by helping them," he explains. "You should do the same." Aura has a change of heart, and agrees to help them. [8]

When Flash, Dale and Zarkov leave Mongo in the final chapter, Aura is left behind as the ruler of Mongo, with Barin as her partner. [9]

Portrayed by

References

  1. ↑ "The Monsters of Mongo", April 29, 1934.
  2. ↑ "The Monsters of Mongo", November 18, 1934.
  3. ↑ "The Tournaments of Mongo", December 9, 1934.
  4. ↑ "The Tournaments of Mongo", December 18, 1934 - February 24, 1935.
  5. ↑ "The Tyrant of Mongo", November 20, 1938.
  6. ↑ Flash Gordon, "The Destroying Ray".
  7. ↑ Flash Gordon, "The Tournament of Death".
  8. ↑ Flash Gordon, "Trapped in the Turret".
  9. ↑ Flash Gordon, "Rocketing to Earth".
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