Fantastic Four: Encyclopedia II - Fantastic Four - Other media

Fantastic Four - Other media

Over the years, there have been three short-lived TV animated series and two feature-length film adaptations (though one was never released, and is only available in bootleg) of the Fantastic Four comic book series. Currently, there is a new animated series being planned for 2006 (estimated). The Fantastic Four also guest-starred in the "Secret Wars" story arc of the 1990's Spider-Man animated series.

Fantastic Four - 1967 Animated Series

The first series was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions (with character designs by Alex Toth) and aired on ABC from 1967 to 1969. It lasted for 20 episodes, and it is favorably remembered as one of the better cartoon adaptations of a Marvel comic book series. This Fantastic Four series was rerun as part of the continuing series Hanna-Barbera's World of Super Adventure.

• Gerald Mohr - Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards) (voice)
• Jo Ann Pflug - Invisible Woman (Susan Storm Richards) (voice)
• Jack Flounders - The Human Torch (Johnny Storm) (voice)
• Paul Frees - The Thing (Benjamin J. Grimm)/The Watcher/Additional Voices (voice)

1. Klaws
2. Menace Of The Mole Men
3. Diablo
4. The Red Ghost
5. Invasion Of The Super Skrulls
6. Three Predictions Of Dr. Doom
7. The Way It All Began
8. Behold A Distant Star
9. Prisoners Of Planet X
10. The Mysterious Molecule Man
11. Danger In The Depths
12. Demon Of The Deep
13. Return Of The Mole Man
14. It Started On Yancy Street
15. Galactus
16. The Micro World Of Dr. Doom
17. Blastarr
18. The Terrible Tribunal
19. Rama-Tut
20. The Deadly Director

Fantastic Four - 1978 Animated Series

The second series was produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises (who would ironically become known as Marvel Productions, Ltd. in 1980) in the mid-1970s. It is infamous for starting a long-running urban legend that persists in comic book and animation fandom to the present day. The 1970s Fantastic Four series replaced the character of the Human Torch with a "cute" (and "annoying" by many Four fans) robot named H.E.R.B.I.E. A long-lasting rumor persisted that this change was made by the TV network (NBC) because they supposedly did not want young viewers to imitate the Human Torch by setting themselves on fire. However, this rumor was false; the true reason for the change was because of merchandising concerns. (A movie featuring the Human Torch was in the early stages of production at the time, though the film was never completed.)

• Ted Cassidy - Thing/Benjamin J. 'Ben' Grimm (voice)
• Mike Road - Mr. Fantastic/Prof. Reed Richards (voice)
• Dick Tufeld - Opening Narrator
• Ginny Tyler-Hilton - Invisible Girl/Susan 'Sue' Richards (voice)
• Frank Welker - H.E.R.B.I.E. (voice)

"It was the world's strangest accident. While testing a new rocket ship, our heroes were bombarded by mysterious cosmic rays from outer space. Though they crash-landed safely, the strange and powerful rays had changed each one of them. Transforming their leader, Reed Richards, into the plastic-skinned Mr. Fantastic; Sue Richards into the "now you see her, now you don't" Invisible Girl; and Ben Grimm into a mighty-muscled powerhouse called The Thing. Now together with H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot, the newest member of the group, they have become the greatest team of superheroes the world has ever known. The NEW Fantastic Four!"

1. A Monster Among Us!
2. The Menace Of Magneto
3. The Phantom Of Film City
4. Medusa And The Inhumans
5. The Diamond Of Doom
6. The Mole Man
7. The Olympics Of Space
8. The Frightful Four
9. Calamity On The Campus!
10. The Impossible Man
11. Meet Doctor Doom
12. The Final Victory Of Doctor Doom

Fantastic Four - 1994-96 Animated Series

In the mid-1990s, Marvel Productions syndicated a new Fantastic Four animated series as part of the "Marvel Action Hour". The first half of the hour was an episode of Iron Man; the second half an episode of Fantastic Four (many episodes of which were direct recreations of episodes from the original 1960s series). 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. Both Fantastic Four and Iron Man were radically retooled in their second seasons, sporting new opening sequences, improved animation and more mature writing, though noticeably missing the introductions by Stan Lee. The "Marvel Action Hour" lasted two seasons before being cancelled. Recently, the entire 94-95 series was released on DVD, now featuring new introductions by Stan Lee for all 26 episodes.

• Beau Weaver - Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards
• Lori Alan - Invisible Woman/Susan Storm Richards
• Quinton Flynn - Human Torch/Johnny Storm (season 2)
• Chuck McCann - The Thing/Benjamin J. Grimm
• Brian Austin Green - Human Torch/Johnny Storm (season 1)

Opening lyrics:

Closing lyrics:

1. The Origin Of The Fantastic Four - Part 1
2. The Origin Of The Fantastic Four - Part 2
3. Now Comes The Sub-Mariner
4. Incursion Of The Skrulls
5. The Silver Surfer & The Coming Of Galactus - Pt 1
6. The Silver Surfer & The Coming Of Galactus - Pt 2
7. Super Skrull
8. The Mask of Doom - Pt 1
9. The Mask of Doom - Pt 2
10. The Mask of Doom - Pt 3
11. Mole Man
12. Behold The Negative Zone
13. The Silver Surfer & The Return of Galactus

1. And A Blind Man Shall Lead Them (guest starring Daredevil)
2. Inhumans Saga Pt 1: And The Wind Cries Medusa
3. Inhumans Saga Pt 2: The Inhumans Among Us
4. Inhumans Saga Pt 3: Beware The Hidden Land
5. Worlds Within Worlds
6. To Battle The Living Planet (guest starring Thor)
7. Prey Of The Black Panther
8. When Calls Galactus (guest starring Ghost Rider and Thor)
9. Nightmare In Green (guest starring the Incredible Hulk)
10. Behold, A Distant Star
11. Hopelessly Impossible
12. The Sentry Sinister
13. Doomsday

Fantastic Four - Video Games

In 1998 a side-scrolling video game was released for the PlayStation based on the Fantastic Four characters. In the game you and a friend could pick among the Fantastic Four characters, along with the She-Hulk and battle your way through various levels until you meet up with Doctor Doom. The game was widely panned by critics for having a weak storyline, and handling of the characters powers.

The Fantastic Four also appeared in the Super NES and Sega Genesis video game based on the 1990's Spider-Man animated series, and inevitably, they starred in their own multiplatform games based on their 2005 movie.

Fantastic Four - Movies

A movie adaptation of The Fantastic Four was completed in 1994 by famed b-movie director/producer Roger Corman. While this movie was never released to theaters or video, it has been made available from various bootleg video distributors. The film was made on a shoestring budget and is largely mocked by fans of the comic book foursome for what they see as poor acting and disappointing special effects (at one point, The Human Torch turns into an obvious cartoon).

It was ultimately revealed by Stan Lee that unbeknownst to the cast and crew, this movie was never intended to be released in the first place. It was only because the studio who owned the rights to make a Fantastic Four movie would have lost the rights if they did not begin production by a certain date.

Another feature film adaptation of The Fantastic Four was released July 8 2005, directed by Tim Story. Fantastic Four opened in approximately 3600 Theaters and despite predominately poor reviews grossed US$156M in North America and a total of $329M worldwide, weighed against a production budget of $100M and an officially undisclosed marketing budget. It stars Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Jessica Alba as Susan Storm/Invisible Woman, Chris Evans as Johnny Storm/Human Torch, Michael Chiklis as Ben Grimm/The Thing and Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom, with Stan Lee making a cameo appearance as Willie Lumpkin, the mailman.

On October 22, 2005, a sequel was announced, tentatively directed by Tim Story and written by Mark Frost.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Other media", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki