The Eastern Desert of Mongo is home to Gundar, a bandit chieftain known as the Desert Hawk. He captured Flash Gordon, Dr. Hans Zarkov, Dale Arden, and Queen Desira when they were in the desert to escape Prince Barin, who had usurped Desira. Gundar planned to sell them to Barin but when Barin betrayed him he joined his prisoners to fight Ming the Merciless.