Marvel Action Hour : The Fantastic Four

A great many thanks to Douglas E. Rockstead for setting me straight on the episode ordering, and for providing information on the 60's cartoon.

The Marvel Action Universe is a cartoon show that airs once a week, consisting of a half hour Iron Man Cartoon (adapted from the Force Works and Iron Man titles), and a half hour Fantastic Four Cartoon (adapted from the Fantastic Four title). The Marvel Action Hour is now in its second season.

Season One

1.  The Origin of the Fantastic Four : Part 1 (Fantastic Four #1, #8)

This episode explains how the Fantastic Four became to be. It tells of that fateful day, while in space, the soon to be Fantastic Four were bombarded by cosmic rays and gained their Fantastic powers. By the way, this is all taking place at a Dick Clark soemthing or other, where they are recounting the past. They also tell the fans about the Puppet Master, Philip Masters.


2.  The Origin of the Fantastic Four : Part 2 (Fantastic Four #8)

The Puppet Master uses a puppet of the Thing to try to defeat the Fantastic Four. The Puppet Master's step-daughter, Alicia, falls for the Thing and helps the Fantastic Four defeat the Puppet Master.


3.  Now Comes the Sub-Mariner (Fantastic Four #4)

Namor, the Sub Mariner, has come to the surface from his underwater kingdom of Atlantis. While on Earth, he kidnaps Sue Richards, with the intent of making her his queen. Of course, the FF come to the rescue.


4.  Incursion of the Skrulls (Fantastic Four #2)

The Skrulls have come to Earth! Well, anyway, this green skinned alien race has the power to assume any form that they wish. So, they masquerade as the Fantastic Four, committing crimes in an attempt to sully the name of the Fantastic Four.


5.  The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus Part 1 (Fantastic Four #48)

6.  The Silver Surfer and the Coming of Galactus Part 2 (Fantastic Four #49-50)

7.  Superskrull (Fantastic Four #19)

8.  The Mask of Doom Part 1

9.  The Mask of Doom Part 2

10. The Mask of Doom Part 3

11. Mole Man

12. Behind the Negative Zone (Fantastic Four #60-62)

13. The Silver Surfer and the Return of Galactus



Season Two


1.  And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them (Fantastic Four #39, #278)

After being exposed to radiation resulting from Doctor Doom's nuclear bomb, the FF find themselves powerless. Reed discovers a way to reinstate the FF's powers, but not before Doctor Doom takes over the Baxter Building. With the help of the blind lawyer Matt Murdock (alias Daredevil), the Fantastic Four are able to infiltrate the building and reinstate their power. They let Doom escape, and in the process Doom destroys the Baxter Building.



2.  The Saga of the Inhumans : Part 1 (Fantastic Four #36-43)

The Frightful Four are in town, and the FF take off to battle them. The Frightful Four, by the way, consist of the Wizard, Medusa, the Trapster, and the Sandman. Anyway, the FF battle the Frightful Four, and the Frightful Four decide to take control of Ben's mind, so that he can be used to attack the remaining Fantastic Three. The FF eventually overcome this obstacle, and capture the Frightful Four, all except for Medusa, who Johnny lets escape.


3.  The Saga of the Inhumans : Part 2 (Fantastic Four #44-45)

Gorgon comes to town! Anyway, he is in search of Medusa, so that he may return her to the Great Refuge. Medusa forces Johnny to help her flee the city, but Gorgon catches her anyway. The FF later find the hideout where the Inhumans had been staying, Johnny finds a new girl (Crystal), and the FF get to fight with the Inhumans : Karnak, and Black Bolt.


4.  The Saga of the Inhumans : Part 3 (Fantastic Four #46-47)

This episode introduces Maximus, the mad brother of Black Bolt, who is currently king of the Inhumans. When the Inhumans escape back to Attilan (the Great Refuge) via a convinient teleport type thing, Johnny jumps in after Crystal and gets sent to Atillan as well. Turns out the Inhumans don't like humans much, and for that Johnny is attacked by the royal family. The FF go off in search of Attilan and Johnny, find him, help Black Bolt regain his rightful position as king, and they all live happily ever after. Except that Maximus has created a nearly impenatrable negative barrier surrounding Attilan, separating Crystal and Johnny. Sniff.


5.  Worlds Within Worlds (Fantastic Four #280-283)

Reed discovers a new element, tenatively named "Reedium", which turns out to be "goop" from the Micro Verse which affects emotions. It belongs to the Psycho Man, ruler of the Micro Verse who has the power to control emotions. He uses the Hate Monger to capture Sue, and turns her into Malice, Mistress of Hate (Guess what _she_ does). Reed, Ben, and Johnny travel to the Microverse to battle the Psycho Man and hopefully get Sue back. The remaining three have to battle Sue (who overwhelmes them), until Reed cleverly overloads Sue's mind and undoes the Psycho Man's damage.

        
6.  To Battle the Living Planet (Fantastic Four #234-235)

Ego, the living planet has come to Earth, and he is causing earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, etc on Earth. The Fantastic Four can only think of one way to defeat Ego : call on Galactus. Galactus agrees to do away with Ego if the FF agree to allow Galactus to feast on the Earth sometime in the future. Reed sees that this is the only way to protect the Earth against immediate destruction, and agrees. Thor guest stars.


7.  Prey of the Black Panther (Fantastic Four #67)

The Black Panther comes to attack the Fantastic Four in an attempt to test his powers. He then retreats to Africa, and the FF follow him back there. They battle some more, and the FF finally try to talk to the Black Panther. Turns out that the Panther is the leader of an African tribe, and that his father was killed by Klaw, the master of sound. Klaw comes back to attack the Panther, and he is undone by the Vibranium that is native to the area of the Panther's tribe.


8.  When Calls Galactus (Fantastic Four #164, #238, #244)

They tried to cram a lot of stories into this one, and well, they did... In the beginning, Johnny is depressed about Crystal, so, while they are signing autographs, he meets a girl named Frankie Raye, who happens to be a human torch too! (In the comics, Johnny doesn't meet Frankie until after Crystal marries Quicksilver. Oh well.) Anyway, Terrax, who happens to be Galactus' new herald after the Silver Surfer defected, attacks Earth (Manhattan). Galactus isn't terribly pleased to learn that his herald has defected, so he comes back to Earth to do away with Terrax. One problem, Galactus needs to feed, and the only planet in the vicinity is Earth! Since Galactus no longer has a herald to search out planets for him, he attempts to devour Earth. Frankie Raye then agrees to become Nova, Galactus' new herald, and Johnny is heartbroken once more.


9.  Nightmare in Green (Fantstic Four #12)

Bruce Banner, the Incredible Hulk, the alienated super hero, comes to New York. The Thing gets in the way of his destructive streak, and the two duke it out. The rest of the FF comes to Ben's aide, and the Hulk can't help but ask, "Why pretty girl help ugly rock monster?"


10.  Behold, a Distant Star (Fantastic Four #37)

The Invisible Woman requires delicate surgery to save her life, but the operation can only be performed by one person - her father, Franklin Storm. The only problem is that he is in hiding, after being accused of murder many years ago. He comes out of hiding to operate on his daughter, only to be arrested immediately following the operation. While in jail, Super Skrull (who, incidentally, has all of the combined powers of the Fantastic Four) kidnapps Franklin Storm and takes on Storm's appearance, only to attack New York. The real Franklin Storm is killed in the process, and the FF travel to the Skrull galaxy to exact vengence, only to find out that "revenge only keeps the hurt alive." Wow.



11.  Hopelessly Impossible (Fantastic Four #11, Sort of)

The Impossible Man is here. Johnny still longs for Crystal. This is basically a clips episode. There is _some_ plot. The Impossible Man is being chased by Super Skrull, Johnny encounters Lockjaw (Crystal's teleporting dog), and Johnny agrees to protect the Impossible Man if he will tell Lockjaw to take him to the Great Refuge. Whatever.


12.  The Sentry Sinister (Fantastic Four #59, #64)

It's vacation time at Four Freedoms! Anyway, Sue insists that the FF get a little time off for a vaction. Johnny, still longing for Crystal, decides that he doesn't want to go. So Reed, Sue and Ben load up the Pogo Plane and take off for Tee Vu island in the south Pacific. Too bad that Tee Vu island also happens to be the home of the Kree Sentry. A couple of unwiting archaelogists activate the sentry, who quickly attacks the Fantastic Three. In the meantime, Black Bolt has spoken, unleashing a huge destructive force which breaks the negative barrier. Thus, Johnny and Crystal are reunited. Not a moment too soon, however, as Sue sends out a distress signal to Four Freedoms, requesting assistance. Johnny and Crystal teleport into the South Pacific, and battle the menacing sentry.


13.  Doomsday (Fantastic Four #57-60)

Doctor Doom captures the Silver Surfer and steals his power cosmic. Doom uses the power cosmic to battle the FF. The Fantastic Four eventually defeat the good doctor by getting him to cross the cosmic ray barrier which Galactus left surrounding the earth so that the Silver Surfer could not escape.

There have been a great many cameo appearances by other Marvel superheroes in the second season :

The She Hulk (In "To Battle the Living Planet" and "Doomsday")
Iron Man (In "To Battle the Living Planet" and "Doomsday")
Stark Enterprises (They built Reed's Flying Wing in "Doomsday")
The Biker Mice From Mars (Ben is reading one of their comics in "Worlds Within Worlds")
Captain America and Other Various Avengers (In "Doomsday")
The Avengers (Namely : The Vision, the Scarlet Witch, In "To Battle the Living Planet")
Thor (In "To Battle the Living Planet" and "When Calls Galactus")
Ghost Rider (In "When Calls Galactus")
The Scarlet Spider (Hanging on a ledge, in "Doomsday")
The Marvel Comics Office (Ugh. I can't remember)

And, quite obviously, these guys starred in :

Daredevil (In "And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them")
The Incredible Hulk (In "Nightmare in Green")

There are probably more, I just don't remember them right now.



The Hanna Barbara Fantastic Four (circa 1967)

This is the original Fantastic Four cartoon series. Apparently it was recenetly rerun on the Cartoon Network. Unfortunately, my cable service doesn't get the Cartoon Network, so I missed out on it. Oh well.


1.  Three Predictions of Dr. Doom
2.  It Started on Yancy Street
3.  Behold a Distant Star
4.  Demon in the Deep
5.  Danger in the Depths
6.  Prisoners of Planet X
7.  Menace of the Mole Men
8.  Diablo
9.  The Way it All Began
10. Return of the Mole Man
11. Invasion of the Super-Skrull
12. Rama Tut
13. The Mysterious Molecule Man
14. The Terrible Tribunal
15. The Deadly Director
16. The Micro World of Dr. Doom
17. Klaws
18. Behold the Negative Zone.

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