Saturday, October 03, 2009

365 Days with Ben Grimm, Day 276 (with bonus Saturday Afternoon Cartoon!)

Fantastic Four TV Show ad.
Marvel Comics ad for the 1978 Fantastic Four cartoon series, featuring the first appearance of H.E.R.B.I.E.


Noticeably absent from this version: the Human Torch. A false urban legend had it that Johnny Storm was removed from the series for fear kids would try to imitate his powers—actually, since the Human Torch character had been signed to another studio for development, he couldn't be used in the series. Here's how they explained it within the FF universe:

FF #209
Panel from Fantastic Four #209 (August 1979), script by Marv Wolfman, breakdowns by John Byrne, pencils and inks by Joe Sinnott, colors by Glynis Wein, letters by Tom Orzechowski


Yes, of course that was an urban legend. Because no kid is that stupid as to set himself on fire to be just like the Human Torch. Isn't that right, John Byrne?

FF #209
Panel from Fantastic Four #285 (December 1985), script and pencils by John Byrne, inks by Al Gordon, colors by Glynis Oliver


Um, let's move along. Nothing more to see here, folks...

...except this Saturday Afternoon Cartoon which shows you the glory and the grandeur that is FF '78!




4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Magneto with a car makes sense to me. Best way to keep bugs off of your helmet.

Magneto not realizing he didn't need to drive through New York traffic in it doesn't...

Anonymous said...

FUEL IS FOR LESSER MEN!

God I love that video.

Bill D. said...

Sweet ride, Mags!

This entire episode was on this "Best of Marvel Comics" video I rented from the video store probably a dozen times as a kid, and I'm positive I drew at least a couple of pictures of Magneto's car. Wish I could find them now!

Timothy Burke said...

The very sight of that sign offends me!


Man, I feel like going on a supervillain rampage by parking in some tow-away zones later today.