| This article is written from the Real World perspective |  |
| Fantastic Four (TV Series) | |
|---|---|
 Season One Title | |
| Beginning date | September 24, 1994 |
| End date | February 24, 1996 |
| Number of Episodes | 26 Season One Season Two |
| Original Channel | Syndication |
| Previous Series | Iron Man |
| Next Series | Spider-Man |
Fantastic Four was the third series to air in the Marvel Animated Universe. It is the third series to focus on the Fantastic Four after Fantastic Four and Fantastic Four. The series premiered on September 24, 1994 and ended February 24, 1996. There were two seasons, with thirteen episodes per season, for a total of twenty-six episodes.
Background[]
Fantastic Four debuted alongside the animated Iron Man series as part The Marvel Action Hour, comprising the second half. Before the episode, Stan Lee would have a short segment speaking about the characters, situations, and inspirations.
Larry Houston left working on X-Men to take over for the show's second season. "Having the freedom to accurately depict and adapt the classic Fantastic Four stories was the main reason that, after directing the first four years of the X-Men, I left the series. I grew up on Marvel in the 60s. With so many of those Kirby/Lee stories embedded in my imagination for decades, I had to jump at the chance to do them right. My personal approach has always been to adapt any book/story and follow it as closely as possible. You have to change things, when going from a book to moving cinema. But you only changes things when you have to, NOT because you can."[1]
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
Actor Role(s) Beau Weaver Mister Fantastic/Reed Richards
Trapster
Koh
T'ChakaLori Alan Invisible Woman/Susan Richards Quinton Flynn
Brian Austin GreenHuman Torch/Johnny Storm Chuck McCann Thing/Benjamin J. Grimm John Vernon
Simon TemplemanDoctor Doom Neil Ross Doctor Doom
Puppet Master
Krang
Super-SkrullPauline Arthur Lomas Alicia Masters
Quinton Flynn was the only actor to reprise his role for the team's appearance on Spider-Man. John Semper, Jr. disliked the Fantastic Four and didn't want the voice cast to join in.
Recurring Cast[]
Actor Role(s) Edward Albert
Robin SachsSilver Surfer Gregg Berger Mole Man Mary Kay Bergman Princess Anelle Jane Carr Lady Dorma Rocky Carroll Triton Jim Cummings "Slash" Curtis
"Bull" Donavon
"Skink" Lomas
Bill Clinton
VotanMichael Dorn Gorgon Ron Feinberg Terrax Ron Friedman Blastaar Mark Hamill Kree Sentry
Maximus
TritonJess Harnell Impossible Man
Super-SkrullJamie Horton Psycho-Man Charles Howerton Klaw Kathy Ireland Crystal Tony Jay Galactus
TerraxClyde Kusatsu Annihilus
KarnakKay E. Kuter Ego Joan Lee Lavinia Forbes Stan Lee Himself Kerrigan Mahan Seeker Katherine Moffat Lyja Iona Morris Medusa Alan Oppenheimer Firelord
UatuRiff Regan Melinda Robert Ridgely Skrull Emperor Gina Tuttle Female TV Reporter James Warwick Namor
Sam Jaggers
Guest Cast[]
Actor Role(s) Dick Clark Himself Keith David Black Panther Brad Garrett Hydro-Man George Gee Himself Dan Gilvezan Morrat Benny Grant Rick Jones Richard Grieco Ghost Rider Green Jelly Themselves Leeza Miller McGee Nova/Frankie Raye Richard McGonagle Franklin Storm Gary Owens Himself Ron Perlman Hulk
Bruce Banner
WizardJohn Rhys-Davies Thor Bill Smitrovich Daredevil
Ron Perlman also played Hulk and Bruce Banner on Iron Man. John Rhys-Davies and Richard Grieco reprised the roles of Thor and Ghost Rider on The Incredible Hulk.
Episodes[]
The series ran for twenty-six episodes between September 24, 1994 and February 24, 1996.
Reaction[]
During the first season critics and fans were disappointed with the show's more silly dialogue, crude animation, plot holes, and claimed the opening song was more annoying than anything else. Though fans believed that the second season had improved in every area. The Johnny Storm actor was replaced, Thing had less campy dialogue, a more heroic theme featuring no lyrics, and the writing became generally more mature. However, ratings still dropped, probably from the poor first season, and the series was not picked up for a third season.
Fantastic Four comic writer Tom DeFalco parodied the series in Fantastic Four #396. In it, the Scott Lang version of Ant-Man, who was then a member of the team, found a fictional series based on the Fantastic Four and ridiculed Thing for being desperate for money. DeFalco reportedly got into some trouble for it. It happened to the final issue DeFalco served as Editor-in-Chief for Marvel.[2]
References[]
- ↑ How Embracing Lee and Kirby Saved The Fantastic Four Animated Series at Comic Book Resources
- ↑ Even Marvel Thought That the 1990s Fantastic Four Cartoon Was Lame at Comic Book Resources
External Links[]
| Marvel Animated Universe | |
|---|---|
| X-Men • Iron Man • Fantastic Four • Spider-Man • The Incredible Hulk • Silver Surfer • Spider-Man Unlimited • The Avengers: United They Stand • X-Men '97 | |