Post by kidcage on Jun 7, 2010 18:10:03 GMT -5
I'm beginning to go through all the animated Marvel stuff that I have on DVD, and thanks to slow times at work I've been able to watch the majority of them here. So anywho, we'll see how long I can keep this up, lol.
FANTASTIC FOUR 1994 - 1995 Series
Saban Entertainment - 26 Episodes
This was part of the "Marvel Action Hour" that was a cartoon staple, depending on where you lived, with the animated Iron Man animated series. This cartoon series ran 26 episodes over two seasons, from September 24, 1994 until February 24, 1996. The cartoon is based off the 1961 comic book series launched by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Voice talents included Beau Weaver (Mr. Fantastic), Lori Alan (Invisible Woman), Chuck McCann (The Thing), and Brian Austin Green & Quinton Flynn (Human Torch, season 1 and 2 respectively.)
The 2-part pilot was of course their origin story, mixed in with a showdown with the Puppet Master. Introduced along with perenial love interest for the Thing, Alicia Masters, the series seemed to me to start off on a good foot. Within the first season we had Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Skrulls, Silver Surfer & Galactus, Doctor Doom (in a three-part story), Super Skrull, and the Mole Man all make their entrances. When going through the disc, as the series went on noticed that the artwork got increasingly crisper. The second season had a better show opening, as while I enjoyed the fun, hokey theme song for the majority of the first season, I was more than happy to have some heroic sounding music and better artwork. As season two came to fruition we were blessed with Daredevil, the Frightful Four, Inhumans, Psycho-Man, Malice, Thor, Ego, Black Panther, Terrax, Ghost Rider, The Hulk, and Impossible Man arrive in story-sequences. Marvel characters such as the Avengers had some "blink and you miss them" cameos throughout the series, but nothing of note to write home about. A third series was believed to be in production, but the series came to a close.
Having caught episodes on TV during the initial run, as of last week I watched the complete series from beginning to end, thanks to the 4-Disc DVD series that came out. Set allows each episode to be introduced by Stan Lee, who gives a maybe thirty second introduction to the episode, and each one is enthusiastic. The set also has a six minute or so interview with Lee chronicling the beginning of the Fantastic Four origins in comic lore. As I stated before, the set is four discs, giving each character their own disc to be featured on for disc art.
As a review of the overall series, I did enjoy it. One thing I was worried about was how dated it might be, watching it 16 years(!) after it's initial run, however I was pleasantly surprised with how it held up. The series did seem to want to include anyone Marvel they could, and one of my personal favorite episodes was episode #22 "Nightmare in Green" which saw Dr. Doom trick the Hulk into fighting the Fantastic Four. This sets up for an animated showdown between Hulk and Thing, and I thought this was a great showdown. Dr. Doom was well animated, perfectly showing the FF's longtime and greatest nemesis. Also, smaller details given to the relationship of Human Torch/Crystal and also Thing/Alicia Masters really helped their relationship grow throughout the series.
Overall, if I decided to rate the series on the school grading system, I'd give it a solid B+. While some of the animation seemed to be choppy at the outset of the series, it did get increasingly better, and the stories were all very well put together and had a good "comic book" feel.
Episode Listing (1 - 13 are Season One, 14 - 26 are Season Two)
1. Origin of the Fantastic Four (p. 1)
2. Origin of the Fantastic Four (p. 2)
3. Now Comes the Sub-Mariner
4. Incursion of the Skrulls
5. The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus (p. 1)
6. The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus (p. 2)
7. Super Skrull
8. The Mask of Doom (p. 1)
9. The Mask of Doom (p. 2)
10. The Mask of Doom (p. 3)
11. Mole Man
12. Behold the Negative Zome
13. The Silver Surfer & the Return of Galactus
14. And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them
15. Inhumans Saga: And the Wind Cries Medusa (p. 1)
16. Inhumans Saga: The Inhumans Among Us (p. 2)
17. Inhumans Saga: Beware the Hidden Land (p. 3)
18. Worlds Within Worlds
19. To Battle the Living Planet
20. Prey of the Black Panther
21. When Calls Galactus
22. Nightmare in Green
23. Behold, a Distant Star
24. Hopelessly Impossible
25. The Sentry Sinister
26. Doomsday
FANTASTIC FOUR 1994 - 1995 Series
Saban Entertainment - 26 Episodes
This was part of the "Marvel Action Hour" that was a cartoon staple, depending on where you lived, with the animated Iron Man animated series. This cartoon series ran 26 episodes over two seasons, from September 24, 1994 until February 24, 1996. The cartoon is based off the 1961 comic book series launched by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Voice talents included Beau Weaver (Mr. Fantastic), Lori Alan (Invisible Woman), Chuck McCann (The Thing), and Brian Austin Green & Quinton Flynn (Human Torch, season 1 and 2 respectively.)
The 2-part pilot was of course their origin story, mixed in with a showdown with the Puppet Master. Introduced along with perenial love interest for the Thing, Alicia Masters, the series seemed to me to start off on a good foot. Within the first season we had Namor the Sub-Mariner, the Skrulls, Silver Surfer & Galactus, Doctor Doom (in a three-part story), Super Skrull, and the Mole Man all make their entrances. When going through the disc, as the series went on noticed that the artwork got increasingly crisper. The second season had a better show opening, as while I enjoyed the fun, hokey theme song for the majority of the first season, I was more than happy to have some heroic sounding music and better artwork. As season two came to fruition we were blessed with Daredevil, the Frightful Four, Inhumans, Psycho-Man, Malice, Thor, Ego, Black Panther, Terrax, Ghost Rider, The Hulk, and Impossible Man arrive in story-sequences. Marvel characters such as the Avengers had some "blink and you miss them" cameos throughout the series, but nothing of note to write home about. A third series was believed to be in production, but the series came to a close.
Having caught episodes on TV during the initial run, as of last week I watched the complete series from beginning to end, thanks to the 4-Disc DVD series that came out. Set allows each episode to be introduced by Stan Lee, who gives a maybe thirty second introduction to the episode, and each one is enthusiastic. The set also has a six minute or so interview with Lee chronicling the beginning of the Fantastic Four origins in comic lore. As I stated before, the set is four discs, giving each character their own disc to be featured on for disc art.
As a review of the overall series, I did enjoy it. One thing I was worried about was how dated it might be, watching it 16 years(!) after it's initial run, however I was pleasantly surprised with how it held up. The series did seem to want to include anyone Marvel they could, and one of my personal favorite episodes was episode #22 "Nightmare in Green" which saw Dr. Doom trick the Hulk into fighting the Fantastic Four. This sets up for an animated showdown between Hulk and Thing, and I thought this was a great showdown. Dr. Doom was well animated, perfectly showing the FF's longtime and greatest nemesis. Also, smaller details given to the relationship of Human Torch/Crystal and also Thing/Alicia Masters really helped their relationship grow throughout the series.
Overall, if I decided to rate the series on the school grading system, I'd give it a solid B+. While some of the animation seemed to be choppy at the outset of the series, it did get increasingly better, and the stories were all very well put together and had a good "comic book" feel.
Episode Listing (1 - 13 are Season One, 14 - 26 are Season Two)
1. Origin of the Fantastic Four (p. 1)
2. Origin of the Fantastic Four (p. 2)
3. Now Comes the Sub-Mariner
4. Incursion of the Skrulls
5. The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus (p. 1)
6. The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus (p. 2)
7. Super Skrull
8. The Mask of Doom (p. 1)
9. The Mask of Doom (p. 2)
10. The Mask of Doom (p. 3)
11. Mole Man
12. Behold the Negative Zome
13. The Silver Surfer & the Return of Galactus
14. And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them
15. Inhumans Saga: And the Wind Cries Medusa (p. 1)
16. Inhumans Saga: The Inhumans Among Us (p. 2)
17. Inhumans Saga: Beware the Hidden Land (p. 3)
18. Worlds Within Worlds
19. To Battle the Living Planet
20. Prey of the Black Panther
21. When Calls Galactus
22. Nightmare in Green
23. Behold, a Distant Star
24. Hopelessly Impossible
25. The Sentry Sinister
26. Doomsday