1994 animated television series
Fantastic Four
, also known as
Fantastic Four: The Animated Series
,
[2]
is the third
animated television series
based on
Marvel
's
comic book
series of the same name
.
[3]
Airing began on September 24, 1994, until ending on February 24, 1996. The series ran for two seasons, with 13 episodes per season, making 26 episodes in total.
[3]
Overview
[
edit
]
In the early-to-mid-1990s,
Genesis Entertainment
and
New World Entertainment
syndicated
a new Fantastic Four animated series as part of the
Marvel Action Hour
weekend block, later renamed
Marvel Action Universe
(second use of the
name
), with the addition of another show.
[4]
The first half of the hour was an episode of
Iron Man
; the second half an episode of
Fantastic Four
. During the first season,
Stan Lee
was featured speaking before each show about characters in the following episode and what had inspired him to create them.
[3]
The show has also aired on
Fox Kids
,
[5]
and
Disney XD
in the United States.
Season 1
[
edit
]
Most episodes in the first season consisted of fairly accurate re-interpretations of classic 1960s
Fantastic Four
comic book stories by Stan Lee and
Jack Kirby
. For instance, this series stayed true to the original
comic book story
that recounted the
Silver Surfer
and
Galactus
' coming to Earth in a two-part episode as well as
Doctor Doom
's theft of the Surfer's powers.
[6]
[7]
However, the season's cost-effective animation (provided by
Wang Film Productions
and Kennedy Cartoons) and attempts to add humor through the inclusion of a fussy
British
landlady (portrayed by Lee's wife Joan) for the Fantastic Four were generally met with displeasure by fans ? to say nothing of then-current Fantastic Four comic book writer
Tom DeFalco
, who got in trouble for penning a scene in issue #396 of the series that featured
Ant-Man
watching and lambasting an episode of the cartoon.
[8]
It's also the only season to use
digital ink and paint
in some episodes.
In the two-part premiere "The Origin of the Fantastic Four",
Puppet Master
took control of the
Thing
and used him to capture
Invisible Woman
.
Mister Fantastic
freed the Thing from his control and defeated the Puppet Master. Upon returning to his apartment to reclaim his final doll, he ended up in a fight with
Alicia Masters
, and then he apparently fell to his death from the apartment window. The Fantastic Four weren't able to find his body and claimed that he "vanished from Earth."
In "The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus", the
Silver Surfer
,
Firelord
, and
Terrax
fight the Fantastic Four while
Galactus
attempts to feed on Earth. By season 2 however, all but the presence of Silver Surfer in that battle is ignored as Terrax is seen again and referred to as being the replacement for the Silver Surfer. In the episode "When Calls Galactus", Terrax is killed/turned into a worm and
Nova (Frankie Raye)
becomes the new
herald of Galatcus
.
In the three-part special episode, "Mask of Doom",
Doctor Doom
captures the Fantastic Four and forces Mister Fantastic,
Human Torch
, and the Thing to go back in time and obtain an object for him. In the aforementioned episode "Silver Surfer and the Return of Galactus", Doom steals the Silver Surfer's powers and tries to steal Galactus' powers, only to be thwarted by the planet devourer himself.
Season 2
[
edit
]
Both the
Fantastic Four
and
Iron Man
series were radically
retooled
for its second and final season, sporting brand-new opening sequences, improved animation (as previously mentioned, the animation for the first season thirteen episodes was done by
Wang Film Productions
and Kennedy Cartoons, while the second season's animation was provided by the
Philippine Animation Studio
), and more mature writing (the first season was primarily written by
Ron Friedman
, while the second season was overseen by
Tom Tataranowicz
), though noticeably having fewer introductions by
Stan Lee
, with several of the new shorter intros being used more than once. Not only that,
Four Freedoms Plaza
replaced the
Baxter Building
as the Fantastic Four's home base in season 2. The season 2 episodes also drew upon
John Byrne
’s 1980s
run on the Fantastic Four comic
(as well as
John Buscema
's artwork), in addition to further Lee and Kirby adventures.
In the second season's premiere episode "And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them" (guest starring
Daredevil
),
Doctor Doom
strikes at a now fully powerless Fantastic Four and has his hand crushed by the Thing. Doom next appears in "Nightmare in Green", where he directs
Hulk
to attack the team.
Wizard
appears in the episode "And the Wind Cries Medusa" (Part One of the three-part
Inhumans Saga
). In his debut appearance, he assembles
Medusa
,
Hydro-Man
, and
Trapster
to form the
Frightful Four
. On a related note, this episode aired one week from Hydro-Man's debut appearance in
Spider-Man
. Wizard also used a device to control the Thing. Meanwhile,
Crystal
, along with the other
Inhumans
Black Bolt
,
Gorgon
,
Karnak
, and
Lockjaw
, also make their debut in the three-part "Inhumans Saga" episode. After escaping the Negative Barrier, Crystal goes on to become the girlfriend of the Human Torch.
Seeker
appears in the episode "Inhumans Saga: Beware the Hidden Land". He is sent by
Maximus the Mad
to retrieve the Inhuman Royal Family. After saving the Fantastic Four from the explosion, Seeker briefly shares the history of the Inhumans to them.
Susan Richards as
Malice
appears in the episode "Worlds Within Worlds". Malice's appearance is the result of
Psycho-Man
using his
empathic
abilities to make Susan turn against her Fantastic Four teammates. Eventually, Susan is freed of Psycho-Man's influence and defeats him.
The
Black Panther
appears in the "Prey of the Black Panther". He lures the Fantastic Four to
Wakanda
to see if they are worthy enough to help fight
Klaw
. As in the comics, Klaw's history of killing
T'Chaka
is included as well as T'Challa using Klaw's own weapon on his right hand.
In "To Battle the Living Planet," the Fantastic Four ask Galactus' help in confronting
Ego the Living Planet
.
Thor
meanwhile guest stars in two episodes. In "To Battle the Living Planet," the Fantastic Four help him fight Ego the Living Planet even when they enlist Galactus' help. In "When Calls Galactus," he and
Ghost Rider
(he uses the penance stare, so it is more likely it is the
Daniel Ketch
version instead of the
Johnny Blaze
version) both help the Fantastic Four fight Galactus. Also in "When Calls Galactus",
Nova
volunteers to replace the treacherous
Terrax
as Galactus' herald. As in the comics, Frankie Raye ends up getting her powers when she is accidentally doused in the chemicals that gave the android Human Torch his powers.
Franklin Storm
appears in the episode "Behold, A Distant Star". Just like in the comics, Franklin Storm lost his wife in an accident, and an altercation with a loan shark led to an accidental murder. When Invisible Woman has shrapnel in the lower part of her brain after a recent
Skrull
attack (
Lyja
is shown as a commander to the Skrull army), he has to come out of hiding to perform the surgery. He turns himself over to the arriving police. After being freed from his volcanic prison,
Super-Skrull
replaces him in prison and takes on the guise of the Invincible Man, who breaks out of prison, goes on a rampage on the city, and runs afoul of the Fantastic Four. They soon realize that Franklin Storm is Super-Skrull in disguise. Warlord
Morrat
has a concussive energy beam projector attached to Dr. Storm's chest. The projector is set to go off the moment he sees the Fantastic Four. When Storm appears, he warns the Fantastic Four to stay away and rolls over on the floor, taking the full force of the deadly concussive blast.
In "Hopelessly Impossible", Lockjaw helps the Human Torch get the
Impossible Man
to The Great Refuge and away from the Super-Skrull.
In what turned out to be the series finale, "Doomsday", Doctor Doom acquires the almighty
Power Cosmic
. He once again tries to go after Galactus, only to hit the barrier that prevents the Silver Surfer from leaving Earth.
The Incredible Hulk
crossover
[
edit
]
Simon Templeman
reprised his role of Doctor Doom for guest appearances in two episodes, in which Doom held Washington, D.C. captive, only to be defeated by
She-Hulk
, whom he later attempted to claim revenge upon. With his appearance on this show, it can be assumed that Doom survived the fate he met on the
Fantastic Four
series, if both shows are to be considered within the same continuity.
Following Doctor Doom's first appearance (he appears again in the second-season episode "Hollywood Rocks"), comes the episode "Fantastic Fortitude" featuring his nemesis, the
Fantastic Four
. The episode seems to place this show in the same continuity with the
Fantastic Four
cartoon of the same decade, as this episode plays off the Hulk's appearance in the other show. More to the point,
Beau Weaver
(
Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic
) and
Chuck McCann
(
Ben Grimm/The Thing
) reprise their roles from the
Fantastic Four
series. In the episode, Mister Fantastic and the other Fantastic Four take their vacation prior to Hulk, She-Hulk, and Thing fighting Leader's Gamma Soldiers. Meanwhile, She-Hulk flirts with Thing, but Ben chooses to rekindle his relationship with
Alicia Masters
. While the
Yancy Street Gang
never appear in the solo
Fantastic Four
cartoon itself, they appear in "Fantastic Fortitude", where they pull a prank on the Thing. After being defeated by the villain Ogress, the Gang, always off camera, distributes leaflets marked "THING WHUPPED BY A WOMAN!", much to Thing's chagrin.
Proposed season 3
[
edit
]
According to season 2 supervising producer
Tom Tataranowicz
, had there had been a third season of
Fantastic Four
, he would have wanted to go into the whole
Sue Storm
pregnancy story arc. In Tataranowicz's eyes, this would have given the production crew a chance to do their own take on the
Sub-Mariner
(who only appeared in season 1), as he played into the arc in Fantastic Four issues leading up to and around issue #100. Tataranowicz also wanted to bring
Medusa
and
She-Hulk
into the mix as part of the Fantastic Four.
Cast
[
edit
]
Main
[
edit
]
Guest cast
[
edit
]
- Edward Albert
?
Norrin Radd / Silver Surfer
(season 2)
- Gregg Berger
?
Mole Man
- Mary Kay Bergman
? Princess
Anelle
- Jane Carr
?
Lady Dorma
- Rocky Carroll
?
Triton
(first voice)
- Dick Clark
? Himself
- Jim Cummings
? Slash Curtis, Bull Donovan, Skink Lomas, President
Bill Clinton
, Votan
- Keith David
?
Black Panther
- Michael Dorn
?
Gorgon
- Ron Feinberg
?
Terrax
(season 2)
- Ron Friedman
?
Blastaar
- Brad Garrett
?
Hydro-Man
- George Gee
? Himself
- Dan Gilvezan
? Warlord
Morrat
- Benny Grant ?
Rick Jones
- Richard Grieco
? Danny Ketch /
Ghost Rider
- Mark Hamill
?
Kree Sentry
,
Maximus the Mad
, Triton (second voice)
- Jess Harnell
?
Impossible Man
, Super-Skrull (season 2)
- Jamie Horton ?
Psycho-Man
- Charles Howerton
?
Klaw
- Kathy Ireland
?
Crystal
- Tony Jay
?
Galactus
, Terrax (season 1)
- Green Jelly
? Themselves
- Clyde Kusatsu
?
Annihilus
,
Karnak
- Kay E. Kuter
?
Ego the Living Planet
- Joan Lee
? Mrs. Lavinia Forbes
- Stan Lee
? Himself
- Kerrigan Mahan
?
Seeker
- Leeza Miller McGee ?
Nova
- Richard McGonagle
?
Franklin Storm
- Katherine Moffat ? Commander
Lyja
- Iona Morris
?
Medusa
- Alan Oppenheimer
?
Firelord
,
Uatu
the
Watcher
- Gary Owens
? Himself
- Ron Perlman
? Bruce Banner /
Hulk
,
Wizard
- Riff Regan ? Melinda
- John Rhys-Davies
?
Thor
- Robert Ridgely
?
Skrull Emperor
- Robin Sachs
? Norrin Radd / Silver Surfer (season 1)
- Bill Smitrovich
?
Daredevil
- Gina Tuttle
? Female TV Reporter
- James Warwick
?
Namor
, Sam Jaggers
Episodes
[
edit
]
Season 1 (1994)
[
edit
]
Season 2 (1995?1996)
[
edit
]
Crossovers
[
edit
]
The Incredible Hulk
[
edit
]
Chuck McCann
and
Beau Weaver
reprised their roles (as the
Thing
and
Mister Fantastic
respectively) on
The Incredible Hulk
.
Spider-Man
[
edit
]
Only
Quinton Flynn
(who replaced
Brian Austin Green
as the voice of the
Human Torch
in the second season) came back for
Spider-Man
.
Beau Weaver
,
Lori Alan
, and
Chuck McCann
were replaced by
Cam Clarke
,
Gail Matthius
, and
Patrick Pinney
as
Mister Fantastic
, the
Invisible Woman
, and the
Thing
respectively, and
Doctor Doom
was voiced by veteran voice actor
Tom Kane
for parts 2 and 3.
Broadcast and release
[
edit
]
Despite the fact that the show ended in 1996, the success of the live-action
Fantastic Four
film have sparked more interest in new fans, allowing the series to air in reruns on
Jetix
block on
Toon Disney
due to its new owners:
The Walt Disney Company
.
In February 2012,
Marvel.com
uploaded every episode for streaming purposes, although they have now been removed.
The entire series is available to purchase on the
iTunes Store
,
[31]
Amazon Prime Video
,
[32]
and
Google TV
.
[33]
The series with both seasons combined into one complete season has been shown on Disney's streaming service
Disney+
since its launch on November 12, 2019, however, the episode "Incursion of the Skrulls" is omitted for reasons unknown.
[34]
Home media
[
edit
]
During the series' run, some episodes were released on
VHS
. These were from
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
.
VHS Name
|
Episode Titles
|
Release Date
|
Publisher
|
Stock Number
|
Notes
|
The Origin of the Fantastic Four
|
"The Origin of the Fantastic Four" Parts 1 & 2
|
July 2, 1997
[35]
|
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
|
4193
|
|
In the late 1990s, another selection of VHS compilations were released by
Marvel Films
/
New World Entertainment
(these tapes were distributed in Canada by Telegenic Entertainment). These releases featured episodes edited into 40 minute movies based on the particular
story arc
.
VHS Name
|
Episode Titles
|
Release Date
|
Publisher
|
Stock Number
|
Notes
|
The Origin
|
"The Origin of the Fantastic Four" Parts 1 & 2
|
May 19, 1998
[36]
|
Marvel Films/New World Entertainment
|
03033
|
This Tape Is In SP Mode.
|
Region 1
[
edit
]
On July 5, 2005,
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
released the complete series on a 4-disc
Region 1
DVD
boxset. This set was created to cash-in on the release of the
live-action film
which was released theatrically a few days later. It features new introductions by Stan Lee for all 26 episodes (replacing the original introductions, which had been removed for network broadcast) as well as an interview where Stan Lee talks about how he created the Fantastic Four. Additionally, pieces of footage from the episodes themselves had also been removed for network broadcast, and it is these cut episodes that comprise the DVD set.
[37]
Region 2
[
edit
]
In July 2005, Buena Vista Home Entertainment released a
Region 2
single-release DVD titled
Fantastic Four: A Legend Begins
. It comprises the first two episodes and the trilogy of the first appearance of Doctor Doom, and includes the same bonus features as the US boxset.
[38]
In April 2008, Liberation Entertainment secured the home media rights to select Marvel shows from
Jetix Europe
in select European territories.
[39]
The company were due to release both seasons in the United Kingdom, but the company shuttered their UK operations on October 22, 2008.
[40]
Lace International released their remaining stock, including both seasons of the show and a boxset containing all twenty-six episodes in November 2008, with remastered video and audio footage. In April 2009, Liberation released the Seasons 1 and 2 boxset in some European countries with Dutch
subtitles
.
Clear Vision
later took over UK and German distribution rights, re-releasing the season volumes as separate sets. Season 1 was released on May 4, 2009 and May 13, 2009, while Season 2 was released on June 10, 2009 and June 17, 2009.
[41]
Comics
[
edit
]
An 8 issues comic-book series based on the show was published by Marvel:
- Marvel Action Hour: Fantastic Four
(November 1994 to June 1995)
[42]
Merchandising
[
edit
]
An action figure line based on the TV show was produced by
Toy Biz
, and ran for four series. The line included the main characters and many of the various guest-stars, as well as characters that never even appeared on the show, such as
Dragon Man
and
Thanos
.
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"A Bedrock of U.S. Cartoon Production"
.
Los Angeles Times
. MANILA. AP. August 28, 1995
. Retrieved
May 28,
2014
.
- ^
Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (TV Series 1994?1996) - Release info - IMDb
, retrieved
2023-03-06
- ^
a
b
c
"Fantastic Four on TV"
.
IGN
. 16 June 2007
. Retrieved
2010-09-09
.
- ^
"
New mice on the block. (Genesis Entertainment to add 'Biker Mice from Mars' animated children's program to its Marvel Action Hour syndicated television block) (Brief Article)
." Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media LLC. 1994.
- ^
Fantastic Four (1994) Season 1 End Credits
(video). 1994.
Archived
from the original on 2021-12-21
. Retrieved
May 26,
2016
.
- ^
"Coming of Galactus episode on the 1994 Fantastic animated series"
. Archived from
the original
on 2012-05-11
. Retrieved
2007-03-05
.
- ^
"Return of Galactus episode on the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series"
. Archived from
the original
on 2007-09-27
. Retrieved
2007-03-05
.
- ^
"The Fantastic Four Comic Book Ridicules The Show"
. DRG4 Wario Company. Archived from
the original
on 2012-02-07
. Retrieved
2008-12-21
.
- ^
Actor
John Vernon
is mistakenly credited with performing Doom in the on-screen credits to "The Mask of Doom, Part 1" only, but it is Ross's voice that is heard in the episode itself
- ^
Stu (1994-09-24).
"The Origin of the Fantastic Four (Pt. 1)"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1994-10-08).
"Now Comes the Sub-Mariner"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
"Marvel Action Hour ? FF episode"
. rec.arts.comics.misc (
Google Groups
). 1994
. Retrieved
1 June
2011
.
- ^
Stu (1994-10-15).
"Incursion of the Skrulls"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1994-10-22).
"The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus, Part 1"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1994-11-05).
"Superskrulls"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
a
b
c
Stu (1994-11-12).
"The Mask of Doom, Part 1"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1994-12-03).
"Mole Man"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1994-12-10).
"Behold the Negative Zone"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2011-04-20
.
- ^
Stu (1994-12-17).
"The Silver Surfer & the Return of Galactus"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1995-09-23).
"And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
a
b
c
Stu (1995-09-30).
"The Inhumans Saga"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1995-10-21).
"Worlds Within Worlds"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1995-11-04).
"To Battle the Living Planet"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1995-11-11).
"Prey of the Black Panther"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1995-11-18).
"When Calls Galactus"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1995-11-25).
"Nightmare in Green"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1996-02-03).
"Behold, a Distant Star"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu.
"Hopelessly Impossible"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1996-02-17).
"The Sentry Sinister"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
Stu (1996-02-24).
"Doomsday"
. PopGeeks
. Retrieved
2020-06-13
.
- ^
"The Marvel Action Hour: Fantastic Four, Season 1"
– via iTunes Store.
- ^
The Marvel Action Hour: Fantastic Four
, Amazon Prime Video
- ^
"Fantastic Four - TV"
.
Google TV
.
- ^
Fantastic Four
on
Disney+
- ^
Fantastic 4: Origin of the Fantastic 4 [VHS]: Movies & TV
. 2017-05-13.
ISBN
978-0793941933
.
- ^
Fantastic Four: Origin of Fantastic Four VHS]: Movies & TV
.
ASIN
0793941938
.
- ^
"
"Fantastic Four": The Complete 1994-95 Animated Television Series DVD Review"
.
- ^
Fantastic Four (Animated) [DVD]
[
better source needed
]
- ^
"Liberation Entertainment to Bring Classic Marvel Cartoons to DVD"
. 24 April 2008.
- ^
"Liberation Ent. Closes U.K. Division"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
. Archived from
the original
on 2008-10-25.
- ^
Clear Vision
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
"Marvel Action Hour: Fantastic Four (Volume)"
.
Comic Vine
.
External links
[
edit
]
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