As in previous versions, Flash teamed up with Dale Arden (also a teenager) and balding, bespectacled scientist Hans Zarkov.

The trans-dimensional portal was placed there by Ming the Merciless, the despotic emperor of the planet Mongo, who hoped to provide open access for his invading armies.

In this series, Ming had reptilian humanoid characteristics, and seemed to have a human wife, who was long dead (it was implied in some episodes that she had gone to Earth).

Zarkov mistakes them for two crew members that were supposed to bring him an important piece of his near completed inter dimensional rocket craft.

The rest of the show follows the earthlings adventures as they discover other nearby planets with anti-Ming factions and put together a loose coalition, determined to overthrow Mongo's evil emperor and return Princess Thundar, Flash, Dale, and Zarkov to their native planets and restore Mongo to independence and freedom from Ming's cruelty.