Marvel animated universe

The Marvel animated universe (a.k.a. MAU) is a series of animated television shows and related spin-offs which share the same continuity. All of the animated series' were adapted from Marvel Comics properties.

Continuity

While there have been several animated series based upon Marvel Comics characters over the decades, what is commonly accepted as the "Marvel animated universe" refers to the stable of shows that spin-off from "X-Men", the original show in this universe. Older shows such as "Spider-Man (1967)" and newer shows such as "Fantastic Four (2006)" and ' are not part of this continuity; despite being released during the same time period, the same goes for the "Silver Surfer" [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/surferx.html?f=fs DRG4's Silver Surfer the Animated Series Page] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/silversurfer/ Marvel Animation Age Presents: Silver Surfer] ] animated series. Though it had a successful beginning with the "X-Men" in 1992, it failed to reach to the 2000s like its DC counterpart, which started around the same time with '.

TV series (in chronological order based on debuts)

*"X-Men" [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/x.html?f=fs DRG4's X-Men Page] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/ Marvel Animation Age Presents: X-Men] ] (1992)
*"Iron Man" [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/im.html?f=fs DRG4's Iron Man Page] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman Marvel Animation Age Presents: Iron Man] ] (1994)
*"Fantastic Four" [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/ffx.html?f=fs DRG4's Fantastic Four Page] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/ Marvel Animation Age Presents: Fantastic Four] ] (1994)
*"Spider-Man" [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/index.html?f=fs DRG4's Spider-Man Page] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/ Marvel Animation Age Presents: Spider-Man] ] (1994)
*"The Incredible Hulk" [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/hulkx.html?f=fs DRG4's Incredible Hulk Page] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk Marvel Animation Age Presents: The Incredible Hulk] ] (1996)
*"Spider-Man Unlimited" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideyunlimited/ Marvel Animation Age Presents: Spider-Man Unlimited] ] (1999)
*"" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/avengersunited Marvel Animation Age Presents: The Avengers: United They Stand] ] (1999)

Crossovers

*X-Men [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/xother.html Other X-Men Appearances] ]
#"Fantastic Four" - The X-Men (Cyclops, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/cyclops Cyclops (X-Men)] ] Jean Grey, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/jean Jean Grey (X-Men)] ] , Gambit, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/gambit Gambit (X-Men)] ] and Wolverine [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/wolverine Wolverine (X-Men)] ] ) appeared in their civilian outfits in the Season 2 episode "Nightmare in Green". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/nightmaregreen/ Nightmare in Green] ] The Juggernaut's [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/villains/juggernaut Juggernaut (X-Men)] ] arm was also seen briefly reaching out of the water, placing the episode around the middle of the third season of "X-Men". The X-Men's Blackbird is briefly seen attacking Doctor Doom in the episode before being turned to stone Doomsday. [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/doomsday/ Doomsday] ]
#"Spider-Man: The Animated Series" - All of the X-Men [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/x-men X-Men (Spider-Man)] ] appeared in the Season 2 episodes "Mutant Agenda" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/mutantagenda Mutant Agenda] ] and "Mutant's Revenge". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/mutantsrevenge Mutant's Revenge] ] Also, Storm guest-starred during Season 5 of "Spider-Man", during the "" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/secretwars1 Arrival] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/secretwars2 Gauntlet of the Red Skull] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/secretwars3 Doom] ] three parter. She was not voiced by Alison Sealy-Smith, but by Iona Morris, the original voice of Storm. [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/storm Storm (X-Men)] ]
#"Avengers: United They Stand" - The entire cast from "X-Men: The Animated Series" were going to appear in a planned, but unmade two part episode during Season 2. The series was, however, cancelled before Season 2 was made. The X-Men were to have be voiced by their respective voice actors/actresses. Some of the voice cast for "Avengers" had worked on "X-Men". Lenore Zann, voice of Rogue, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/rogue Rogue (X-Men)] ] for instance voiced Tigra.

*Fantastic Four [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/ffapp.html Other Fantastic Four Appearances] ]
#"The Incredible Hulk" - The whole team appeared in the Season 1 episode "Fantastic Fortitude". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/episode/fortitude/ Fantastic Fortitude] ] Both Beau Weaver (Mister Fantastic [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/mrfantastic Mr. Fantastic Mr. Fantastic (Fantastic Four)] ] ) and Chuck McCann (The Thing [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/thing Thing (Fantastic Four)] ] ) reprised their roles for this episode.
#"Spider-Man: The Animated Series" - In the fifth season (in the three part "" storyline), Spider-Man [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/spider-man Spider-Man (Spider-Man)] ] enlisted the aid of the Fantastic Four (who sport their "Heroes Reborn" uniforms) [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/ff Fantastic Four (Spider-Man)] ] to help him battle Doctor Doom. Quinton Flynn, the second Human Torch [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/humantorch Human Torch (Fantastic Four)] ] (Brian Austin Green was the first) was the only cast member from the "Fantastic Four" to reprise his role on "Spider-Man". The main reason for the overhaul wasn't because Beau Weaver (Mister Fantastic), Chuck McCann (The Thing), and Lori Alan (The Invisible Woman) were unavailable, it was because John Semper, Jr., the producer and story editor of "Spider-Man" simply wasn't a fan of the "Fantastic Four" animated series [ [http://hometown.aol.com/drg4/semper.html DRG4: Also about the Secret Wars, how come you guys didn't get the rest of the FF voice cast? It was really disappointing to hear only Quinton Flynn's familiar voice and not the rest. John Semper: I HATED that show and most of the cast that came with it. I think we recast it better.] ] from around that same period.
#"The Silver Surfer" - Had production of the second season of "The Silver Surfer" had not been shut down due to Marvel's bankruptcy, then the team would've appeared in a three part episode entitled "Down to Earth". [ [http://drg4.wariocompany.com/eSurf19.html "Down to Earth", Part 1] ]

*Iron Man [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/imapp.html Other Iron Man Appearances] ]
#"X-Men" - An alternate version of Iron Man is seen very briefly in the episode entitled "One Man's Worth". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/onemansworth One Man's Worth] ] War Machine makes a brief cameo during the Phoenix Saga saving some innocent bystanders.
#"The Incredible Hulk" - Iron Man, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/ironman Iron Man (Hulk)] ] War Machine, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/warmachine War Machine (Hulk)] ] and H.O.M.E.R. [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/bios/heroes/homer/ H.O.M.E.R. (Iron Man)] ] guest-starred on the Season 1 episode entitled "Helping Hand, Iron Fist". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/episode/helpinghand/ "Helping Hand", "Iron Fist"] ]
#"Fantastic Four" - Although he never spoke, Iron Man made several cameos in some "Fantastic Four" episodes, actually appearing on a TV show in the first-season episode "The Silver Surfer and the Return of Galactus" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/surfergalactuspt1/ The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus (Pt. 1)] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/surfergalactuspt2/ The Silver Surfer & the Coming of Galactus (Pt. 2)] ] and the Season 2 episodes "To Battle the Living Planet" and "Doomsday".
#"Spider-Man: The Animated Series" - Iron Man [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/ironman Iron Man (Spider-Man)] ] and War Machine [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/warmachine War Machine (Spider-Man)] ] both appeared on "Spider-Man", but Iron Man appeared in more than one storyline. They both appeared in the two part Season 3 episodes that brought back Venom [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/villains/venom Venom (Spider-Man)] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/venomreturns.htm Venom Returns] ] and introduced Carnage. [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/villains/carnage Carnage (Spider-Man)] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/carnage.htm Carnage] ] While Robert Hays reprised his role of Iron Man, War Machine was voiced by James Avery, the original voice of War Machine, rather than Dorian Harewood, who previously played the villain Tombstone [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/villains/tombstone Tombstone (Spider-Man)] ] on "Spider-Man". Iron Man returned to aid Spider-Man in the Season 5 three parter, entitled "".
#"Avengers: United They Stand" - Iron Man briefly appears in the "Avengers" episode "Shooting Stars". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/avengersunited/episode/shootingstar/ Shooting Stars] ] Robert Hays however, didn't reprise his role as Iron Man (as was the case on "The Incredible Hulk" and "Spider-Man"). Instead, Iron Man was voiced by Francis Diakowsky.

*Spider-Man
#"X-Men" - during an episode of the "Phoenix Saga", [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/dark1 Dark Phoenix Saga, Part 1: Dazzled!] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/dark2 Dark Phoenix Saga, Part 2: Inner Circle] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/dark3 Dark Phoenix Saga, Part 3: Dark Phoenix] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/dark4 Dark Phoenix Saga, Part 4: The Fate of Phoenix] ] there was a little glimpse of Spidey's hand throwing his web to prevent a chair from falling over inoccent bystanders. The Scarlet Spider [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/scarlet/ Scarlet Spider (Spider-Man)] ] appeared briefly in the episode "One Man's Worth".
#"Fantastic Four" - The Scarlet Spider appeared briefly on the Season 2 episode "Nightmare in Green".

*Hulk [ [http://members.aol.com/drg4/hulkot.html Other Incredible Hulk Appearances] ]
#"Fantastic Four" - The Hulk [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/hulk Hulk (Fantastic Four)] ] and Rick Jones guest-starred on the second season episode of the show, entitled "Nightmare in Green". Both Hulk [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/hulk/ Hulk (Hulk)] ] and Rick [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/rick/ Rick Jones (Hulk)] ] were voiced by different voice actors than on the subsequent "Hulk" TV series.
#"Iron Man" - The Hulk [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/bios/heroes/hulk Hulk (Iron Man)] ] guest-starred on a Season 2 episode of "Iron Man", called "Hulkbuster". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/episode/hulkbuster/ Hulkbuster] ] [ [http://tv.ign.com/articles/881/881149p4.html "There was some low-key continuity between many of the '90s Marvel animated series, and Perlman again provided the Hulk's voice on Fantastic Four. At the same time, both Banner and Hulk look drastically different from their FF appearances – This Hulk in fact strongly resembles the smart and handsome "Professor" persona created by Peter David in the "Hulk" comics, even though he acts like the more typical "Hulk smash" persona."] ] In addition to the Hulk, The Leader [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/bios/villains/leader Leader (Iron Man)] ] also guest-starred (The Leader was voiced by Matt Frewer just like on the "Hulk" TV series [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/villains/leader Leader (Hulk)] ] ).
#"X-Men" - The Hulk appeared for a few seconds in the Season 3 episode "The Juggernaut Returns", [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/jugreturns Juggernaut Returns] ] though only was a Danger Room simulation.
#"Spider-Man: The Animated Series" - Hulk and She-Hulk were in the original draft to appear in the "" three parter, in the fifth season of "Spider-Man". However, due to the then current show on UPN, they had to be written out. They were replaced by The Lizard. [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/villains/lizard Lizard (Spider-Man)] ]

*The Avengers
#"X-Men" - Alternate versions of the Avengers are seen attacking the Mutant Resistance in the episode entitled "One Man's Worth".
#"Fantastic Four" - The Avengers had non-speaking cameos in the Season 2 episodes "To Battle the Living Planet" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/battlelivingplanet/ To Battle the Living Planet] ] and "Doomsday" (the Avengers appearing in both episodes don't fit with the roster shown in "Avengers: United They Stand"). The Avengers (or Avenger Mansion) are mentioned in the Season 2 episodes "Worlds Within Worlds" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/worldwithinworlds/ Worlds Within Worlds] ] and "The Sentry Sinister". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/sentry/ The Sentry Sinister] ]

Other characters

*Absorbing Man: Besides his appearance as an adversary on "The Incredible Hulk", [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/villains/allure Absorbing Man (Hulk)] ] Absorbing Man appeared as a member of the Masters of Evil in the "Avengers" episode "Command Decision". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/avengersunited/episode/command/ Command Decision] ]

*Captain America: Captain America appeared on the "X-Men" episode "Old Soldiers" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/oldsoldiers Old Soliders] ] and the "Avengers" episode "Command Decision", as well as a recurring role on "Spider-Man". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/cap Captain America (Spider-Man)] ] Lawrence Bryne provided Captain America's voice on "X-Men" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/bios/heroes/captainamerica Captain America (X-Men)] ] while David Hayter provided his voice on "Spider-Man". Although he never spoke, Cap had a cameo as a member of the Avengers in the "Fantastic Four" Season 2 episode "To Battle the Living Planet".

*Daredevil: Daredevil appeared on the "Fantastic Four" episode "And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them…" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/blindman/ And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them] ] and the "Spider-Man" episodes "Framed" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/framed Framed] ] and "The Man Without Fear". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/manwofear The Man Without Fear] ] Bill Smitrovich provided Daredevil's voice on "Fantastic Four" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/daredevil Daredevil (Fantastic Four)] ] while Edward Albert provided his voice on "Spider-Man". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/daredevil Daredevil (Spider-Man)] ]

*Doctor Doom: Besides his appearances against familiar adversaries, the Fantastic Four, [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/villains/drdoom Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four)] ] Doctor Doom appeared on the "Spider-Man" episode arc "Secret Wars" and "The Incredible Hulk" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/villains/drdoom Doctor Doom (Hulk)] ] episodes "Doomed" and "Hollywood Rocks". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/episode/hollywoodrocks/ Hollywood Rocks] ] John Vernon provided Doctor Doom's voice in the first season of "Fantastic Four". Simon Templeman took over for Vernon in subsequent "Fantastic Four" episodes as well as the "Doomed" and "Hollywood Rocks" episodes of "The Incredible Hulk". Tom Kane provided Doctor Doom's voice on "Spider-Man". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/villains/doom Doctor Doom (Spider-Man)] ]

*Doctor Strange: Doctor Strange appeared on the "Spider-Man" episode "Doctor Strange" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/drstrange Doctor Strange] ] and "The Incredible Hulk" episode "Mind Over Anti-Matter". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/episode/mindantimatter/ Mind Over Anti-Matter] ] John Vernon provided Doctor Strange's voice on "Spider-Man" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/strange Doctor Strange (Spider-Man)] ] while Maurice LaMarche provided his voice on "The Incredible Hulk". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/drstrange Doctor Strange (Hulk)] ]

*Ghost Rider: Ghost Rider appeared on the "Fantastic Four" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/ghostrider Ghost Rider (Fantastic Four)] ] episode "When Calls Galactus" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/whengalactus/ When Calls Galactus] ] and on "The Incredible Hulk" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/ghostrider Ghost Rider (Hulk)] ] episode "Innocent Blood". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/episode/innocentblood/ Innocent Blood] ] Richard Grieco provided Ghost Rider's voice on both occasions. He also made a cameo in "X-Men", in which he is seen in Gambit's memories.

*Hawkeye: Hawkeye was a regular character in both "Iron Man" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/bios/heroes/hawkeye Hawkeye (Iron Man)] ] (as a member of Force Works) and "Avengers: United They Stand". He was voiced by John Reilly in "Iron Man" and by Tony Daniels in "Avengers".

*High Evolutionary: The High Evolutionary appeared on the "X-Men" Season 4 episode "Family Ties". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/familyties Family Ties] ] He also was the main villain in "Spider-Man Unlimited". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideyunlimited/bios/villains/highevolutionary/ High Evolutionary] ]

*Hydro-Man: Besides his various appearances as an adversary [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/villains/hydroman Hydro-Man (Spider-Man)] ] on "Spider-Man", [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/hydroman Hyrdo-Man] ] [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/episode/returnhydro Return of Hydro-Man] ] Hydro-Man appeared as a member of the evil Frightful Four on the "Fantastic Four" episode "'The Inhumans Saga, Part 1: And the Wind Cries Medusa". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/episode/inhumanspt1/ The Inhumans Saga, Part 1: And the Wind Cries Medusa] ] Rob Paulsen provided Hydro-Man's voice on "Spider-Man" while Brad Garrett provided his voice on "Fantastic Four". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/villains/hydroman Hydro-Man (Fantastic Four)] ]

*Nick Fury: Besides a recurring role on "Spider-Man", [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/spideytas/bios/heroes/fury Nick Fury (Spider-Man)] ] Nick Fury appeared on the "Iron Man" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/bios/heroes/fury Nick Fury (Iron Man)] ] episodes "The Beast Within" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/episode/beastwithin/ The Beast Within] ] and "Not Far From the Tree". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/episode/notfarfromtree/ Not Far From the Tree] ] Philip Abbott was the original voice of Nick Fury on "Spider-Man" (before Jack Angel took over following Abbott's death) in addition to providing his voice on "Iron Man". He also made a cameo in the "X-Men" episode "Sanctuary". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/xmen/episode/sanctuary Sanctuary] ]

*The Scarlet Witch: Scarlet Witch was a regular character in both "Iron Man" (as a member of Force Works) and "Avengers: United They Stand". She was voiced by Jennifer Darling on "Iron Man" and by Stavroula Logothettis on "Avengers" (In both appearances, she was voiced with a thick Eastern European accent). She also appeared in the "X-Men" Season 4 episode "Family Ties" being voiced by Tara Strong.

*Thor: Thor appeared on the "Fantastic Four" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/fanfourtas/bios/heroes/thor Thor (Fantastic Four)] ] episode "To Battle the Living Planet" and "The Incredible Hulk" [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/bios/heroes/thor Thor (Hulk)] ] episode "Mortal Bounds". [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/hulk/episode/mortalbounds/ Mortal Bounds] ] John Rhys-Davies provided Thor's voice on both occasions. Thor also had a non-speaking cameo in one episode of "X-Men".

*Whirlwind: Besides his various appearances as an adversary on "Iron Man", [ [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ironman/bios/villains/henchmen Mandarin's Henchmen (Iron Man)] ] Whirlwind appeared as a member of the Masters of Evil in the "Avengers" episode "Command Decision".

Video games

There are also several video games that make use of the same voice actors from the cartoons, which implies that they share the same universe.
*""
*"Marvel Super Heroes"
*"X-Men vs. Street Fighter"
*"Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter"
*""
*""
*"Spider-Man" (2000 video game)
*""

Note: This list may not be complete.

ee also

*DC animated universe

References

External links

* [http://www.pazsaz.com/scotpage.html Superhero Cartoon Database]
* [http://members.aol.com/drg4/index1.html DRG4’S MARVEL CARTOON PAGES]
* [http://marvel.toonzone.net/ Marvel Animation Age]
** [http://marvel.toonzone.net/90s.php/ Marvel Animation Age - 1990s]
* [http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=100897 A Cohesive Marvel Animated Universe?]
* [http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=194479 Proposed MAU Timeline]
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0863622/board/flat/71401523?p=1 IMDb :: Boards :: Bruce W. Timm :: What about a Marvel animated universe]