PETER WYNGARDE: MEMORIALISED IN PLASTIC

General Klytus action figures by Biff Bang Pow!

The ‘Flash Gordon’ line made its debut in 2007 with the red carded Series 1. It featured two versions of Flash, and two versions of Ming the Merciless. The differences between the two Flash figures were subtle enough that they are easily missed by casual glances. The first version of Flash featured a black and red vest with a sword accessory. The second featured a red tank top with a blaster. The difference between the Ming figures is rather obvious with one featuring a red robe, and the other a black.

These days the figures are incredibly difficult to come by. Oddly enough when they are found, they aren’t all that costly. A Flash figure autographed by Sam J. Jones recently sold for just £20.00 (around $26.00).

Although the Series 2 figures a far more commonly found than Series 1, they are still not in abundance. Oddly enough the SDCC versions, which were Entertainment Earth exclusives, seem to be the easiest to obtain. The Series 2 wave featured four new characters, General Klytus, Prince Barin, Dale Arden and another figure of Flash – this time in his white T-shirt from the first 1/4 or so of the film.

As mentioned above, this particular series featured a few SDCC exclusives. Interestingly enough, while series two initially was released in 2008, it wasn’t until 2010 that the convention exclusives were produced.
Each exclusive was a slight alteration from their series two counterpart. For instance, Klytus featured no popped-out eyes from his death scene in the film.

Below, you’ll find more details of the General Klytus figures, plus information about the Klytus model from Funko, Jason Wyngarde from Hasbro and the soon-to-be-released Wandering Planet Number 2 figure from ‘The Prisoner’.

GENERAL KLYTUS BY BIFF BANG POW!

• Name: General Klytus
• Series: Flash Gordon
• Subseries: Series 2
• Manufacturer: Biff! Bang! Pow!
• Year of Release: 2007
• Height: 7 inches

The front of the package remains largely the same with the new yellow Series 2 deco. It has a picture of Klytus on the front from the film looking suitably menacing. The back of the package seems to give with one hand and take with the other. While it shows off every figure in the series, as well as some of the famous ‘Flash Gordon’ film poster art, there are no images of Klytus himself, who had several memorable scenes. As far as articulation goes – unlike the other models in this series, the Klytus figure has only three articulation points, those being his ‘robotic’ (right) arm which moves at the shoulder and bends at the elbow. which makes him posable, and at the hip so his legs can be moved. His left arm has no hinge, nor does his knees. The actual sculpt is very good. Bif Bang Pow really managed to capture the likeness of so many of the characters. Every figure really looked the part and Klytus doesn’t buck that trend. Much like Emperor Ming, Klytus has glitter sprinkles on his clothing to replicate the jewels in his robe which gives off a red and blue glint. It’s used in much less quantity on Klytus than the Ming figure, which makes sense and helps to make him look really sharp. Klytus, admittedly, isn’t the most exciting looking character in terms of design, but it’s his simple look that makes him stand out. He has a Doctor Doom/Druid/Sorcerer look to him and that’s a classic motif. Bif Bang Pow have done am excellent job here. He’s basic but well done. That’s really perhaps the mantra for the entire line. Alas, there are no accessories with the Klytus figure. I’m pretty sure that the original proto pictures for this model showed Klytus with some sort of spiked Mongo tool or weapon, but the end figure comes with nothing. Maybe this was a cost cutting measure(?). As always, at the price point something else would be nice but it’s understandable given that Bif Bang Pow is a small company. Value is always subjective, but Klytus has the most versatility of any of the figures in the line thus far. He is a great looking figure. In addition, most people who are minor Gordon fans will at least want the big three – Flash, Ming and Klytus.

BIFF BANG POW! KLYTUS DEAD VARIANT

This exclusive Flash Gordon Klytus ‘Dead’ Variant action figure is a must-have for collectors. It was released in 2009 as part of the Series 2 line by Bif Bang Pow. This is an Entertainment Earth exclusive with only 1,200 pieces manufactured and sold at San Diego Comic Con in that year. The figure stands 7 inches tall and is made of high-quality plastic. With the exception of the protruding eyes, the packaging, sculpting, articulation and accessories are identical to the previous figure. Item Number: NMBBP02014

Above: Original EE SDCC poster from Comic Con San Diego

GENERAL KLYTUS BY POP! FUNKO

• Series: Flash Gordon
• Subseries: Pop! Vinyl Figures
• Manufacturer: Funko (No. 311)
• Year of Release: 2016
• Height: 4 Inches

Made from vinyl and numbered 311 in the series, this figure is a must-have for both fans of Peter Wyngarde and ‘Flash Gordon’, this piece went on sale in 2016 to bring a touch of intergalactic menace to the world of collectables . With meticulous attention to detail, General Klytus captures the essence of this memorable character, from his expression to his intricate armour. This Funko POP! figure perfectly embodies the ruthless and authoritative nature of the original villain, making it a centerpiece for any “Flash Gordon” enthusiast. Comes in a windowed box so it can be displayed without having to remove it from its original packaging.

JASON WYNGARDE BY HASBORO

• Name: Jason Wyngarde (AKA ‘Mastermind’)
• Series: Marvel Legends
• Subseries: The X Men
• Manufacturer: Hasboro
• Year of Release: 2015
• Height: 6 inches

Inspired by our own Peter Wyngarde in his role of Sir John Cleverly Cartney in the Avengers episode, ‘Epic‘, Jason Wyngarde is the founding member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Jason Wyngarde was the original Mastermind. He was instrumental in the creation of Dark Phoenix, ruining Wolverine’s relationship with Mariko Yashida and later died of the Legacy Virus. His two daughters have inherited his telepathic illusionary powers and name. Custom No. 78431, this is an Amazon exclusive and comes in a pack with 5 other characters from the X Men world (Wolverine, Omega Red, Cyber and Callisto). This figure has premium articulation and detailing. There are joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees so the model can be fixed in multiple poses. The pack comes with 13 accessories, including changeable heads. Current Value: £101.00: $127.00 US For more information on the character of Jason Wyngarde, click here: Comic Book Characters and Peter Wyngarde – Inspiration For The Hellfire Club

NUMBER TWO BY WANDERING PLANET TOYS

• Name: Number 2
• Series: The Prisoner
• Subseries: Series 2
• Manufacturer: Wandering Planet Toys
• Year of Release: 2024
• Height:

Wandering Planet Toys are a group of friends working in the arts and entertainment industries in Los Angeles who came together out of a love for films, cult TV, pop culture, and, of course. ‘The Prisoner’ figures have been produced with the support of British-Based The Unmutual Prisoner website: http://www.theunmutual.co.uk/ In the memorable episode “Checkmate” featuring the iconic human-chess match, Peter brought a suave and particularly crafty take to his Number 2.  Articulated arms, head and legs. Comes in a bubble pack with backing card featuring an iconic image of Peter as Number 2. Please click here for more information.

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