Fantastic Four Animated Series Discussion

[Malus]

Maybe if the FF get another shot at animation, those in charge will try sticking to the source material.
I can see why some viewers enjoyed it, but for my money it was not the Fantastic Four.

 

[ultimatefan]

Only watched an ep on youtube, didn´t care much for it. If it´s cancelled, will be the shortest-lived FF cartoon ever - including the old Human Torch-less one...

 

[Bishop2]

Maybe if the FF get another shot at animation, those in charge will try sticking to the source material.
I can see why some viewers enjoyed it, but for my money it was not the Fantastic Four.

It stuck to the source material very well in terms of its storytelling. It only deviated largely in the visual presentation.

 

[Malus]

It stuck to the source material very well in terms of its storytelling. It only deviated largely in the visual presentation.

Exactly.
If they hadn't screwed the whole thing visually with unnecessary, bizarro "improvements" like Pikachu-head Johnny and spray-painted Ben, maybe the show would still be on.
The look of the FF wasn't broke and there was no need to "fix" it.

No offense to any of you who enjoyed the new cartoon. I think we all want a fun FF cartoon on the air. I would just prefer one that sticks to the traditional, recognizable, iconic FF.

I'm hoping FF2 is a huge hit so that maybe we'll finally get an FF cartoon that's truly faithful to the source material.
Until then, the closest thing is the second season of the '94-'96 series.

 

[Bishop2]

I'm hoping FF2 is a huge hit so that maybe we'll finally get an FF cartoon that's truly faithful to the source material.
Until then, the closest thing is the second season of the '94-'96 series.

If FF2 is a huge hit, you'll probably just get a cartoon based on the movies. In other words, something FAR REMOVED from the source material.

 

[Malus]

If FF2 is a huge hit, you'll probably just get a cartoon based on the movies. In other words, something FAR REMOVED from the source material.

A cartoon based on the movie FF would have been closer to the source material. The indignities (in appearance alone) committed on Johnny Storm on this show trumped anything they got wrong in the film, including Doom.

An old aquaintance of mine works at Cartoon Network in Atlanta. According to him, a lot of folks at CN were disappointed with the show. He says the powers-that-be were hoping for something that more closely resembled the traditional Fantastic Four - or at least the film version.

Of course, CN didn't produce the show, they just took an option to air it.
I blame Avi Arad (finally gone, thank God) and the French animation studio Marvel chose for the atrocity (in my opinion) that's been airing.

But apparently CN has already paid to air the remaining episodes, so they'll probably be seen at some point.

 

[Bishop2]

A cartoon based on the movie FF would have been closer to the source material. The indignities (in appearance alone) committed on Johnny Storm on this show trumped anything they got wrong in the film, including Doom.

You yourself just admitted that the only thing really changed about the FF in this was the visual style. I'd rather have visual style changes than MAJOR FREAKING STORY AND CHARACTER CHANGES. This series got all the characters, their relationships and even all the vocal performances perfectly right. It just looked funky.

 

[Malus]

You yourself just admitted that the only thing really changed about the FF in this was the visual style. I'd rather have visual style changes than MAJOR FREAKING STORY AND CHARACTER CHANGES. This series got all the characters, their relationships and even all the vocal performances perfectly right. It just looked funky.

I don't disagree with that. And I don't even object to animated series (or movies) taking visual liberties in some cases.
But for me (and a number of other fans) this was just too much, and the changes didn't do anything to improve the characters.

The bottom line for me is that there is truly nothing to improve upon. I just want them to adapt the original, classic FF stories faithfully.
I feel certain if they had, the show would still be on the schedule.

And I believe if they ever do adapt Fantastic Four faithfully..it will be one of the biggest monster hits the genre has ever seen.

 

[Bishop2]

I don't know if the original stories have aged that well to adapt them faithfully. I'd say try adapting some of the Mark Waid run's style. The storytelling style, yes, but especially the visual style - it's perfect for a cartoon.

 

[Malus]

I don't know if the original stories have aged that well to adapt them faithfully. I'd say try adapting some of the Mark Waid run's style. The storytelling style, yes, but especially the visual style - it's perfect for a cartoon.

I think Mark Waid & Mike Wieringo would be the first to disagree with that sentiment.
The Lee/Kirby comics (FF#1-102) are the genesis and heart of everything that the FF have ever been or will ever be. There's nothing dated about the visual revolution that was Jack Kirby. That's why his work is still studied and imitated and beloved to this day.
The dialogue is another matter; there are some cultural references that are specific to the 1960's that would probably be better left out. And I'd probably deviate a bit from the earliest adventures' depiction of Sue as a damsel in need of frequent rescue. again, that was typical for the time.
But otherwise, the Lee/Kirby run is pure gold.
Later FF creators like Waid and even John Byrne would probably be the first to say that the FF adventures they crafted were at best gold-plated.

Again, just my opinion.
I'm not holding my breath for a solid animated FF any time soon, if ever.

 

[Bishop2]

The dialogue is another matter; there are some cultural references that are specific to the 1960's that would probably be better left out. And I'd probably deviate a bit from the earliest adventures' depiction of Sue as a damsel in need of frequent rescue. again, that was typical for the time.

What about Ben constantly erupting into a rage at everything and everyone around him? He's not very heroic at all for a long time at the start. Plus he even screams out at the team about his lust for Sue at one point, which I could do without.

Hey, remember the one where Reed lies to an entire race of people about giving them a "cure" for their tiny state, then ditches out and laughs to the others about how they're just gonna have to learn to deal with their new lifestyle? Maybe that played better in the '60s, but it sure does come off badly now.

I think those older stories would need some serious overhauling.

 

[Malus]

What about Ben constantly erupting into a rage at everything and everyone around him? He's not very heroic at all for a long time at the start. Plus he even screams out at the team about his lust for Sue at one point, which I could do without.

Hey, remember the one where Reed lies to an entire race of people about giving them a "cure" for their tiny state, then ditches out and laughs to the others about how they're just gonna have to learn to deal with their new lifestyle? Maybe that played better in the '60s, but it sure does come off badly now.

I think those older stories would need some serious overhauling.

Re:Early Ben...Uh, yeah...That was certainly how he was at the beginning. That was pretty much gone a year or so into the series. He kept a mad-on at Reed for a very long time though; that's a big part of the character.

Actually I don't recall the Reed laughing bit at all. Issue reference?

 

[Bishop2]

Actually I don't recall the Reed laughing bit at all. Issue reference?

I'll have to delve into the CD-ROM I have of the first 50 or so issues. Basically, the story was that aliens use a ray to turn people against the Fantastic Four, so the team goes to find out what the aliens want. It seems a comet is streaking towards their world and they can't fit their 5 billion people into their two little ships. So Reed invents a shrinking ray in like an hour, so they are all shrunk and sent away. He gives them a canister of gas that will restore them to their former size when they get home.

As they are flying off, Sue asks how he knows the growing gas will work. He chuckles and says that the universe is a big place, with room for lots of diversity. There IS no growing gas. They can learn to make do as tiny antlike people. Ha ha?

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

God damn it.I cant belive that some did not like it,personally im thinking this is a stunt of some kind.Ill keep my eyes open,and watch for the other episodes.Its a good thing i actually taped some episodes,like the Hulk episode.Things like this need to be given time,people need to ajust.

 

[Casius--J]

I'll have to delve into the CD-ROM I have of the first 50 or so issues. Basically, the story was that aliens use a ray to turn people against the Fantastic Four, so the team goes to find out what the aliens want. It seems a comet is streaking towards their world and they can't fit their 5 billion people into their two little ships. So Reed invents a shrinking ray in like an hour, so they are all shrunk and sent away. He gives them a canister of gas that will restore them to their former size when they get home.

As they are flying off, Sue asks how he knows the growing gas will work. He chuckles and says that the universe is a big place, with room for lots of diversity. There IS no growing gas. They can learn to make do as tiny antlike people. Ha ha?

Yeah i remember that issue, to be honest it didnt come across badly to me, in my eyes they got what they deserved they should've asked the fan4 nicely lol.


Anyways this news really sux, i was getting into this series, storytelling wise i didnt think it deviated from the comics at all. I found them to be pretty faithful.

I think an improvement for season 2 would be some more violence, like how the season's jumped dramatically from one to two in the 90's episodes.

I hope they air them all quite soon though, i'd like to see how they progressed through the episodes.

 

[gerbstat]

Re:Early Ben...Uh, yeah...That was certainly how he was at the beginning. That was pretty much gone a year or so into the series. He kept a mad-on at Reed for a very long time though; that's a big part of the character.

Actually I don't recall the Reed laughing bit at all. Issue reference?

It was Kurrgo from Planet X. I don't recall Reed laughing about it, though. He did deceive them by claiming he had a serum to return them to their original size.

 

[Bishop2]

Good news - looks like the show is coming back on the air after all. The episode "Impossible" is scheduled for Nov. 18th in the original timeslot.

 

[Arkady Rossovich]

Thank god.At first i was thinking that CN would hold the FF off until the movie came out,and would air it around that time to try and get ratings from the movie.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

Whew thats good news.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Whew thats good news.

Indeed!

Sounds like we'll be seeing The Impossible Man...

 

[Malus]

"Well as long as I get my royalty checks, it's all good. I'm just sorry we won't be shooting more episodes. I was really starting to get the hang of yelling 'flame on!'"

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

"Well as long as I get my royalty checks, it's all good. I'm just sorry we won't be shooting more episodes. I was really starting to get the hang of yelling 'flame on!'"

...Huh?

 

[Malus]

...Huh?

Just a mean joke.
I've thought since day one that the "new" Johnny on this cartoon looks a lot like Xandir on Comedy Central's "Drawn Together."
Mainly the hair (especially the locks extending below his jaw) and that horrible pointed chin. (Actually, Johnny's is even more pointed.)
I'm actually looking forward to seeing the last few episodes of this thing.
I think.

 

[Bishop2]

I'm actually looking forward to seeing the last few episodes of this thing.
I think.

"Last few episodes"? They've aired seven so far. There are still 19 to go! We're not even a third of the way through this yet! t:

 

[DOG LIPS]

Good news - looks like the show is coming back on the air after all. The episode "Impossible" is scheduled for Nov. 18th in the original timeslot.

You sure? It's not on the schedule.