The Fantastic Four (90's)

Synopsis In 1994, the original Marvel Comics superheroes returned to the small screen for their third animated series. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1961, The Fantastic Four went through considerably fewer cast changes than most superhero teams, and this cartoon version brought back the original foursome.

The Fantastic Four came into being thanks to a rocket designed by ace scientist Reed Richards. Pilot Ben Grimm (Reed’s best friend) took the experimental rocket up for a test flight, bringing along Reed, Susan Richards (Reed’s wife), and Johnny Storm (Susan’s younger brother). When the ship passed through cosmic radiation too strong for its shields to withstand, the passengers were all bombarded with cosmic rays. Crash landing on earth, the four discovered that the radiation had left each of them with a strange, new power.

Reed, soon to be called Mr. Fantastic, became a pliable mass, with limbs that could stretch to seemingly endless limits. Sue gained the power of invisibility, and was thus named The Invisible Woman. Ben became The Thing, an incredibly strong, orange granite behemoth who constantly grumbled about his new lumpy appearance. Johnny gained the ability to "Flame on," encasing his body in fire and giving him the power of flight. The impetuous youth's new powers earned him the nom de superhero The Human Torch.

Unlike previous versions, this Fantastic Four ran storylines adapted straight from the comics, sometimes taking a more serious tone than earlier FF cartoons. Arch-nemesis Dr. Doom made his obligatory appearances, but the FF were also menaced by the planet-eating Galactus and his heralds, the shape-changing Skrulls, and Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, who wanted to make the Invisible Woman his undersea bride. Two and three-part stories were commonplace, and romantic flings (such as Johnny’s with the Inhuman Crystal) covered full seasons.

Aired back-to-back with Iron Man, The Fantastic Four formed half of the weekend syndicated Marvel Action Hour. The package ran for two seasons, with 26 episodes apiece for the two components. After its cancellation, The Fantastic Four returned to the comic world, waiting for another shot at the big time.

Release History 1994 syndicated

Sub Categories animated
sci-fi/fantasy
action/adventure

Studio Marvel, New World Entertainment

Cast

Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards		Beau Weaver
Invisible Woman/Sue Storm		Lori Alan
Human Torch/Johnny Storm		Brian Austin Green
Human Torch/Johnny Storm		Quinton Flynn
The Thing/Ben Grimm		Chuck McCann
Dr. Doom		Neil Ross
Dr. Doom		Simon Templeton
Alicia Masters		Pauline Lomas
Black Panther/T'Challa		Keith David
Crystal		Kathy Ireland
Daredevil/Matt Murdock		Bill Smitrovich
Dick Clark		Himself
Ego, the Living Planet		Kay Kutor
Franklin Storm Sr.*		Richard McGonagle
Galactus		Tony Jay
Gary Owens		Himself
Ghost Rider		Richard Greico
Gorgon		Michael Dorn
Hulk/Bruce Banner		Ron Perlman
Hydro-Man		Brad Garrett
Impossible Man		Jess Harnell
Karnak		Clyde Kusatsu
Maximus the Mad		Mark Hamill
Medusa		Iona Morris
Miss Forbes		Joan Lee
Mole Man		Gregg Berger
Namor, the Sub Mariner		James Warwick
Princess Annelle		Mary Kay Bergman
Psycho Man		Jamie Horton
Puppet Master		Neil Ross
Rick Jones		Benny Grant
The Seeker		Kerrigan Mahan
Silver Surfer		Robin Sachs
Silver Surfer		Edward Albert
Super Skrull		Neil Ross
Terrax the Terrible		Ron Feinberg
Thor		John Rhyes-Davies
Trapster		Beau Weaver
Triton		Rocky Carroll
Ulysses S. Klaw		Charles Howerton
The Watcher		Alan Oppheheimer
The Wizard		Ron Perlman