In the Continuous Casting process, molten metal is poured through a die of the desired outside profile. If an inner shape is also desired, the material may flow around a mandrel to create that profile. As the material flows through the water-cooled die, sufficient heat is extracted to solidify an outer shell.
In the comic strip, when the heroic Flash Gordon and his friends land on the fictional planet Mongo, they found it was ruled by an evil Emperor, a despot who quickly becomes their enemy. He was not named at first, only being known as the Emperor until several issues later when his name was revealed to be Ming.
Ming the Merciless is a character who first appeared in the Flash Gordon comic strip in 1934. He has since been the main villain of the strip and its related movie serials, television series and film adaptation. Ming is depicted as a ruthless tyrant who rules the planet Mongo.