Defenders of the Earth is an American animated television series produced in 1986, featuring characters from three comic strips distributed by King Features Syndicate—Flash Gordon, The Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician—opposing Ming the Merciless in the year 2015. Supporting characters include their children Rick Gordon, Jedda Walker, Kshin, Mandrake's assistant Lothar, and Lothar's son L.J. The show lasted for 65 episodes; there was also a short-lived comic book series published by Star Comics, created by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and John Romita, Sr.. The closing credits credit Rob Walsh and Tony Pastor for the main title music, and Stan Lee for the lyrics. The series was later shown in reruns on the Sci Fi Channel as part of Sci Fi Cartoon Quest.
| Title | Air Date | Duration | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Episode 1 | Escape from Mongo | 1986-09-08 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 2 | The Creation of Monitor | 1986-09-09 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 3 | A Demon in His Pocket | 1986-09-10 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 4 | A House Divided | 1986-09-11 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 5 | Bits and Chips | 1986-09-12 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 6 | The Root of Evil | 1986-09-15 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 7 | Cold War | 1986-09-16 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 8 | The Sleeper Awakes | 1986-09-17 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 9 | The Revenge of Astra | 1986-09-18 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 10 | The Hall of Wisdom | 1986-09-19 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 11 | The Mind Warriors, Part I | 1986-09-24 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 12 | The Mind Warriors, Part II | 1986-09-22 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 13 | The Lost Jewels of Tibet | 1986-09-23 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 14 | The Evil of Doctor Dark | 1986-09-25 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 15 | Diamonds Are Ming's Best Friends | 1986-09-26 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 16 | The Men of Frost | 1986-09-29 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 17 | Battleground | 1986-09-30 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 18 | The Panther Peril | 1986-10-01 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 19 | Fury of the Deep | 1986-10-02 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 20 | Family Reunion | 1986-10-03 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 21 | The Defense Never Rests | 1986-10-06 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 22 | Like Father, Like Daughter | 1986-10-09 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 23 | The Would Be Defender | 1986-10-10 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 24 | Doorways Into Darkness | 1986-10-13 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 25 | Deal with the Devil | 1986-10-14 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 26 | Terror in Time | 1986-10-15 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 27 | Ming's Household Help | 1986-10-16 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 28 | The Starboy | 1986-10-17 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 29 | The Gods Awake | 1986-10-20 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 30 | The Ghost Walks Again | 1986-10-21 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 31 | The Book of Mysteries | 1986-10-21 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 32 | The Future Comes But Once | 1986-10-21 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 33 | Kshin and the Ghost Ship | 1986-10-22 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 34 | The Carnival of Dr. Kalihari | 1986-10-23 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 35 | The Mystery of the Book | 1986-10-24 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 36 | Flash Times Four | 1986-10-27 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 37 | The Frozen Heart | 1986-10-28 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 38 | Rick Gordon, One Man Army | 1986-10-29 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 39 | The Rites of Zesnan | 1986-10-30 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 40 | Audie and Tweak | 1986-10-31 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 41 | Return of the Skyband | 1986-11-03 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 42 | Dracula's Potion | 1986-11-04 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 43 | One of the Guys | 1986-11-05 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 44 | 100 Proof Highway | 1986-11-06 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 45 | The Time Freezer | 1986-11-07 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 46 | The Prince Makes His Move (1) | 1986-11-10 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 47 | The Prince Triumphant (2) | 1986-11-11 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 48 | The Prince Weds (3) | 1986-11-12 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 49 | The Prince's Royal Hunt (4) | 1986-11-13 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 50 | The Prince Dethroned (5) | 1986-11-14 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 51 | Lothar's Homecoming | 1986-11-17 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 52 | Suspended Sabotage | 1986-11-18 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 53 | Call of the Eternals | 1986-11-19 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 54 | The Return of Doctor Dark | 1986-11-20 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 55 | The Deadliest Battle | 1986-11-21 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 56 | The Necklace of Oros | 1986-11-24 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 57 | Torn Space | 1986-11-25 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 58 | Ming Winter | 1986-11-26 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 59 | The Golden Queen (1) | 1986-11-26 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 60 | The Gravity of Ming (2) | 1986-11-27 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 61 | Flesh and Blood | 1986-12-01 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 62 | Drowning World | 1986-12-02 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 63 | The Adoption of Kshin | 1986-12-03 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 64 | Street Smarts | 1986-12-04 | 30 min |
| Season 1 | Episode 65 | The Thunderlizards of Ming | 1986-12-05 | 30 min |
| Writing | Alex Raymond | Characters |