Fantastic Four (1978 TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = Fantastic Four


caption =
show_name_2 = The New Fantastic Four
genre = animated television series
creator = Stan Lee & Jack Kirby ("characters")
director =
developer =
presenter = DePatie-Freleng Enterprises
Marvel Comics Animation
starring =
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Dean Elliott, Eric Rogers
opentheme =
endtheme =
composer =
country = USA
language =
num_seasons = 1
num_episodes = 13
list_episodes =
executive_producer = Lee Gunther
producer = David H. DePatie, Friz Freleng
asst_producer =
editor = David H. DePatie, Richard Cannon, Richard Corwin
location =
camera =
runtime =
network = NBC
picture_format =
audio_format =
first_run =
first_aired = September 9, 1978
last_aired = December 16, 1978
preceded_by =
followed_by =
related =
website =
imdb_id =
tv_com_id =

"Fantastic Four" is an animated series produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises and Marvel Comics Animation in the late 1970s. It is the second animated series based on Marvel's comic book series Fantastic Four. The 1978 series replaced the character of the Human Torch with a robot named H.E.R.B.I.E., (Humanoid Experimental Robot, B-type, Integrated Electronics). A long-lasting rumor stated that this change was made by the TV network (NBC) because executives did not want young viewers to imitate the Human Torch by setting themselves on fire. This rumor proved to be untrue, as the 1978 rights to use the character were tied up in a movie that ended up never being produced. [ [http://www.povonline.com/iaq/IAQ02.htm "Is it true that the Human Torch was replaced in the 1978 Fantastic Four cartoon show because the network was afraid that kids would imitate him and set themselves on fire?"] -- POVOnline.com. Retrieved on 7 December 2007.] .

Episode list

# A Monster Among Us
# The Menace Of Magneto
# The Phantom Of Film City
# Medusa And The Inhumans
# The Diamond Of Doom
# The Mole Man
# The Olympics Of Space
# The Fantastic Four Meet Doctor Doom
# The Frightful Four
# Calamity On The Campus
# The Impossible Man
# The Final Victory Of Doctor Doom
# Blastaar, the Living Bomb Burst

Cast

* Ted Cassidy - Thing/Benjamin J. 'Ben' Grimm
* Mike Road - Mister Fantastic/Prof. Reed Richards
* Dick Tufeld - Opening Narrator
* Ginny Tyler - Invisible Woman/Susan 'Sue' Richards
* Frank Welker - H.E.R.B.I.E., Impossible Man
* John Stephenson - Doctor Doom, Magneto, Karnak, Professor Gregson Gilbert

DVD

This series is planned for release on Region 2 DVD in the UK in November 2008 by Liberation Entertainment as part of a release schedule of Marvel Animated series. [http://dvdsuperheroes.co.uk/schedule_en.php]

References

External links

* [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ff1978/ Marvel Animation Age: "Fantastic Four" (1978)]
* [http://dreamers.com/indices/foros.cgi?indice=series/390&mostrarforo The Dreamers: "The New Fantastic Four" (1978)]