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Cartoon Network Orders 26 FANTASTIC FOUR Episodes!!
I am – Hercules!!
Cartoon Network has ordered 26 episodes of a new weekly “Fantastic Four” series that it will begin airing in Autumn.
Now if last summer’s craptacular movie version hasn’t sufficiently diminished your expectations, here’s a detail likely to seal the deal: It will target 6- to 11-year-old viewers.
Learn more of thishere.
Firefly: The Complete Series
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You say you don’t live in Los Angeles and have grown miserable hearing of Herc’s adventures at the Museum of Television’s William S. Paley Festival? Then you might have a gander at these:
2005 Paley Festival: Lost
2005 Paley Festival: Desperate Housewives
2005 Paley Festival: Boston Legal
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When I was a kid, this show starred "Herbie the Robot" instead of the Human Torch. Dare we hope for something to rival that magnum opus of Saturday Morning animation?
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This is the obligatory "they cancelled JLU and bought THIS?" post. Thank you.
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it was indeed craptacular. but it also had jessica alba in it & she's seven kinds of lucious. i'd just thought i'd mention that.
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Same ol' crap, right?
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That was the movie's target too. Ba-dum-bum!
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Bow? Does this mean "begin" in Variety-speak?
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Was it great? Nah. But it was enjoyable, and isn't that really all one should ask for from a film based on a comic book?
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In Plastic Man #20, Kyle Baker drew a funeral for Billy Batson (Cap. Marvel). One of the quotes was "It's all about the children. Children look to us for inspiration and moral instruction. They imitate us, wearing our costumes, and declare their love for truth, justice, and the American way." That says it all, and what's wrong with a lot of fandom/ geekdom right now. Sue Storm shouldn't be babe material, Wonder Woman shouldn't be snapping necks, and Vertigo TPBs shouldn't be masquerading as DC titles (I'm looking at you, Identity Crisis). yeah, there's room for adult titles, and adult themes in comics. But there's a point where comics should reconnect you to your childhood, where the heroes remind you of what you looked up to. And comics should be fun, for crying out loud. I can name three fun comics, and they're all by Dan Slott. Even Batman: TAS was fun to watch, and it's the darkest cartoon I can think of (besides Spawn). Adults can still enjoy comics (and cartoons, for that matter) as long as the storytelling is strong enough. But too many people are substituting edginess and darkness for quality storytelling. Done properly, and appropiately (the new BSG for example), it helps. Shooting Blue Beetle in the temple? Hmm, not seeing it. Wonder Woman titty shots in a cheesecake special? Maybe if it was Witchblade or Vampirella, but not one of the Big Three! So, I'm not too upset by a 6-to-11 FanFour show. It'll be better than the UPN kids' days. Yeesh, those cartoons suck! (Still, how else could I get my Avengers West Coast fix? IRON MAN should have been called Avengers West Coast, that's what it was. And Spider-Man Unlimited deserved to be on UPN, not Fox. I never had to pretend a cartoon didn't exist before until then. Not even for Street Sharks.) Okay, I'm out.
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Which is great for them, but crappy for those of who are fans of the more "adult" JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED series. Hey Cartoon Network! How about a little comic book series love for those of us who can stay up past 10 p.m. and have considerably more disposable income for your advertisers?
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Jeez...don't you remember watching Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends on Saturday morning? Shouldn't subsequent generations get their own version?
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and it's very enjoyable. Four Kings, the CSI spin-offs, and Mind of Mencia is aimed at my age group and they fucking suck. It doesn't matter what their target is if they are just going to throw shit at it. I wouldn't mind a gee-whiz style Fantastic Four cartoon. The movie could have used that spirit instead of the "that ought to hold those bastards" attitude.
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solid voice acting, good action sequences, engaging stories? makes me feel ok watching something on cartoon network that isn't related to adult swim... definitely not for 7-11 year old kids.
as far as movies based on comic books, it's up to the viewer - if it's your favorite comic book characters being crapatized on screen, it's going to hurt a lot to watch, and you're going to talk out about it. and besides that, if it's a great comic book, shouldn't someone make a great movie (if they should even make a movie)?
what if uwe boll had obtained the rights to make 'watchmen'? or brett rattner obtained the directoring gig on x-me... oh wait... -
I didn't hate FF, but it was certainly far blander than it should have been. If FF were more famous, they would probably have risked spending more dosh on making the movie's vision more elaborate. There was SO much more they could have done visually and stylistically... and it's a shame storytelling constraints meant they had to shoe-horn Doom as a "fifth crewman" and make him a Lex Luthor wannabe. I always imagined something akin to The Incredibles meets Armageddon in terms of "look" for a FF movie.
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My kids will enjoy watching to new show as they did the movie. The movie was very kid-safe. There's a huge market for 6-11 y.o. if you haven't noticed. Keep the kids involved and they will come back for more later...I did, watching the Amazing Spider-Man and the terrible Spidey and Friends I was excited to see Spider-man and X-men as an adult.
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I have no problem with the show being targeted to young kids. In fact, I think that
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The movie was as well, it's just that a bunch of 25+ nerds(ie. me) who grew up on Marvel stuff got mad because it wasn't written with them in mind. I get disappointed(at least somewhat) by EVERY comic flick that's come out in the past few years, because the eight-year-old in me has been waiting almost twenty years to see these movies. Fantastic Four was a superficial cheesefest, but it wasn't a BAD flick per se. The problem was that it was aimed at little kids and not bitter grown-ups who've matured artistically. Did I enjoy the movie? Nope, not really. Did I have a problem with it? Not after seeing my girlfriend's six-year-old nephew get so into the FF after seeing it. You just can't expect to be a grown-up movie fan who goes from Truffaut to the Fantastic Four and expect to be satisfied. We've all outgrown this stuff in most ways, as depressing as that sounds.
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I agree with your assessment, especially the part about being room for both kid and adult themes. If any Marvel characters should be kid material, it's Fantastic Four. They're not dark, are chipper about their powers, they're celebrities, and they're a family. But I'm glad there's Dark Knight stuff too. Which is why I argued last summer for a universe in which both FF and Batman Begins could exist and flourish (instead of comparing their box office and trashing one or the other). Having said that, I think things are a bit more complicated than you state. Especially with your Wonder Woman example. Even when I was a kid, I knew I watched the old show for one reason: Lynda Carter's rack. There's always been a fetishistic quality to superhero material, and even though kids might not view it this way consciously, I'd argue that it still feeds the childhood equivalent of sexual fantasies (even if it's not about sex, it's about beating stuff up with the Hulk or dressing in funny costumes like the JLA). Also, I think younger kids could still benefit from something more socially relevant like the X-Men, but that can be a hit or miss venture, as some X-Men stuff is just so far over the top. I recently read the X-23 miniseries from last year (the pre-teen clone of Wolverine), and I have to say it's one of the most disturbing 'superhero' comics I've ever read. Maybe I'm more sensitive to these things now that I have kids, but the thought of a little girl being genetically engineered, tortured, abused and brainwashed into being a heartless killing machine just freaks me out a bit. So I guess I'm conflicted on this issue.
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"Hi this is Herbie...may I take your order?"...
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They had some good storylines. I'll give FF a chance. The movie was a giant shitburger, tho'.
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if this one is aimed for Kids, although if they follow the Namor lusting for Sue story line, those kids may be a might confused. I don't care as long as they bring back my damn JLU.
And Spiderman was aimed for older than 6 years kiddies. It was more for the 11 to 14 year olds. And it's still an awesome cartoon especially when compared to the utter shite that was Teen Titans.
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It's the only show I pine for. It's really a super hero comic fans wet dream, outside of live action that works.
More of this for me. I'll watch FF. -
Spiderman and his Amazing Friends?
Thats the cartoon I have the best childhood memories of. -
and i dont care how hot jessica alba is, bad movies or tv shows are not made watchable just because someone declare "but (insert name) is so hot!" So what? you want a hot babe to oogle over, watch a porno
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Let's look at it this way, did FFs box office actually indicate to Marvel that kids were clamoring for an FF cartoon? Yeah it did alright, yeah it was profitable, but those numbers were low, and were definitely not the kind of numbers a "successful" kids movie gets. Each of the Harry Potter movies has made almost a billion dollars each, Narnie made near 700 million, FF did piss poor compared. Also, is the Thing going to be saying "GODDAM" a lot in this cartoon which is also aimed at 6-11 year olds?
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It was always the lamest of all the Marvel titles when I was a kid. The Human Torch was the only character I was even remotely interested in. Why is it a surprise that the movie and tv show are geared towards kids? I'm not a hater, but c'mon people. Who really cares? The old comics and cartoon series are for kids so why try to make it "adult" now?
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Agreed in principle, but: "Sue Storm shouldn't be babe material" - Sue has always been depicted as a beauty (but completely wholesome); "Wonder Woman shouldn't be snapping necks" Yeah, but given the very contrived situation that forced her to snap a neck everyone should have recognized that she didn't have any other choice instead of being hysterically horrified (and self-righteous).
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...her "acting" abilities make her much less attractive. She really seems dumb to me. Not cute dumb, but annoying dumb. The 90's Fantastic Four cartoon had some decent cameos in it (Silver Surfer, Galactus, Ghost Rider, Daredevil)............First season was terrible but the second season improved the tone, animation and story quality 100X. Too little, too late I guess. Just watch season 2 of the 90's toon and stop complaining.
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It's too lame even for them. FF is for 40 year olds who grew up with questionable taste in comics.
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...about the unfortunate cancellation of JLU, which was a superhero cartoon with wide-ranging appeal (I enjoyed many an episode alongside my five-year-old nephew, sitting down with him after the abominably dumbed down Teen Titans half hour before it had ended). But I don't see why anyone would be surprised that FF is targetting kids specifically. As has been pointed out, the movie made every attempt to be the first truly kid-friendly comic-book movie in years. And, in that regard, it succeeded fantastically (ba-dum-bump). The kids ate it up and I, despite being very put out by the changes to Dr. Doom's background and basic character, enjoyed it on several rather primal levels as well (how cool was it to see the Thing and the Human Torch in action on the big screen?). FF was almost always at its best when it was being lighthearted, whimsical and silly (the exception being the Doom issues, which generally trended much darker and more serious, and pretty much anything to do with Galactus). So why not let the kids have their franchise without crapping all over it for them? I didn't spend any time telling my nephew how dumb and unfaithful to the comics I remembered the Teen Titans show was. Let them enjoy something while they can...before they turn into the embittered asshats we've all become.
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scratch that- the ONLY good part about fantastic four was seeing Jessica Alba in her underwear on the bridge. She covered herself up right away so that really wasn't worth the price of admission.
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"Oh yeah, with that invisible bitch, 'Flame On!', all that shit." ~ "Okay...The Thing. Motherfucker looks just like The Thing."
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I have seen pictures of the FF characters and the THING is going to be the lamest looking one.
He has the number 4 SPRAYPAINTED on his chest!!!
Who was the stupid person to think of that idea!!! -
Please point us to them!
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Please?
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...cartoons are for kids.
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the one character who is a stripper we DON'T see naked. if it were Julia Roberts, fine. she puts asses in the seats (don't ask me why). but what clout has Alba got? i'll never get it.
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Alright, you guys made good points about Wonder Woman and Sue Storm. Oisin, I haven't read X-23, but a lot of the "mainstream" titles have tonal issues. X-Factor and Astonishing are both dark; it's in their story: it fits. Little girl turned into a killing machine, huh? Sounds like a MAX title to me. The character show up anywhere she wants, but even if material like that is a part of her origin, put it where it belongs. As for the whole babe issue, look I wasn't stupid as a kid. Jim Lee's Psylocke was one of my favorites for a reason. Just as long as it's not overdone, or way too explicit (cameltoe, etc.) I don't think most parents would have a problem with it. Good grief, who knows how long the average male comic reader has to put up with muscle-bound dudes all day! Still, as far as character goes, I draw the line at wholesome girls becoming wholesome hoes. There are no such thing (except in movies and, well, comics)! Still, MBeemer, I'll admit that Sue Storm has major babe/MILF potential, I just hope, as far as the kids are concerned, it remains unrealized.
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...Better that the movie... it apparently targeted Newborn to Weening!
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And right on the money. In fact, the comic book companies are making a concerted effort to offer lines of comic books aimed specifically at a younger audience. Why? Because the comic book audience has become almost totally 40-something year old geeks who want all super heros to be dark, psycotic and "edgy". The companies have to cultivate a new audience before their current consumer base all die of heart attacks from too many years of Taco Bell takeout eaten in a dim basement.
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thats the age group for the movie as well.
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It was like Taco Bell, you know its crap and that you shouldn't eat it all the time, but once in a while if you can pull your head out of your ass you can enjoy it for what it is. A great B movie. ITs based on a comic about characters who magically transform and get powers. One of which is being stretchy. What did you expect? Angst? Drama? Character development? I was happy to see a comic movie where they just had some fun even if it was a piece of trash. And I was wholly expecting to hate it. That being said, they shouldn't give up on JLU.
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I think a lot of people are confusing comic fans wanting something that's worth watching with something "dark and gritty." For example, my problem with Teen Titans is that, well, it wasn't Teen Titans. It was a hackneyed attempt to emulate anime with a DC property. If they made an FF that was faithful to the spirit of the original comic (big science gizmos, Galactus, the Mole Man, etc.) the rest will take care of itself. It doesn't have to be about angst, death, sex, etc. It just has to entertain and compel. And a lot of people translating comic stuff to the screen (for whatever age group) seem to have forgotten that.
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...the Fantastic Four at the beginning of the Sixtes was Marvel's breathrough title, and smashed comic conventions for most of its first 100-issue run--at least through the introduction of Galactus and the Surfer (around #50). Makes me sad that it's not deserving of respect anymore, and crap movies don't help.
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and the solution is simple. I have seen all the various FF cartoons through the ages along with the movie. They seem to miss the major element the Kirby magic. The live action film I wanted to like, but it just was lifeless to me. The FF was the first Marvel comic that got the ball rolling and 95% had to do with Jack Kirby. They were comics that were aimed at kids, but worked for adults also. They had a fun charm, sense of wonder, fun villians, kick ass visuals, etc. All these adaptations seem to miss many of these elements. In fact I have yet to see any Marvel cartoon really kick ass. I saw some old episodes of one of the Spiderman and friends and wow it was painful to watch. Hey they might as well just create more of those old Marvel cartoons where they did limited animation from actual panels. Back to FF look at those first 100 or so FF issues and mine them. I think they should always have cartoons and comics aimed at kids and if they can work on more levels like the great Dini/Timm BATMAN/JUSTICE LEAGUE then great. I have seen glimpses of this new FF cartoon and will it is not for me. Make mine Jack KING Kirby. Also when is $(@&%$ Marvel going to give him a credit line in their books?
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Heck, where's the KRYPTO cartoon?
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A cartoon aimed at kids. What the hell are they thinking. Hate to break it to you hardcore comic geeks, but every pre-90's comic cartoon was aimed at kids.
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and with superheroes! Why, I bet they're not going to be the least bit faithful to Fantastic Four Annual # 3's backstory for Impy the Impossible Man! The heresy! the outrage! The sheer unmitigated gall! How dare they not target 30ish virgins hunched over their computers! HOW. DARE. THEY.
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Like "W.I.T.C.H.," that quasi-anime style that looks frustratingly blurry, like you're viewing it after you've been beaten about the head with a sock full of pennies.
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"gall"...
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Found the website. It's in french thoug. They have a pic with the whole team in heroic pose and all.
http://www.moonscoop.com
They also do the vomit inducing "Code Lyoko". There's info on their other shows and each looks progressively worst. Though I have to admit, that FF pic looks pretty awesome. But seeing their track record...
Why the hell don't they get Tom Tataranowicz back? his FF was jaw dropping. Damn great, way up there with the best of the animated X-Men from the 90s.
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Last I checked, my kids watch Cartoon Network more than I. In fact, with the writing and creativity behind Adult Swim getting more and more lazy, I would say it is a safe bet that Cartoon Network is best suited for the same demographic that the FF cartoon is targeting. I'm glad, because my "little ones" might get turned on to the FF even more (yup, my 3 year old loved the movie), and as they mature, so will their taste. They might even pick up a comic later and read some classic reprints. An age demographic doesn't necessarily means lackluster writing in all cases.
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What the hell age range do you folks think JLU was designed for? I'll give you a hint...it's the same age range that Herc's bitching about the FF Cartoon being designed for. The reason it appealed to so many older viewers is because of the execution, not some master plan to do a cartoon for the oh-so important "thirtysomethings still living with their parents" marketshare. Here's an idea...why not actually WATCH the damn FF cartoon before stringing it up?
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So many people, speaking so much truth. Take it and think about it comic book bitches.
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Darqueguy, I just read your "What the hell age range do you folks think JLU was designed for?" comment, and it makes me think you haven't watched the show. It's a perfect example of a show that works on all levels. The stories work for both kids and adults, and it talks down to neither group while giving something for everyone. It reminds me of the original Looney Tunes which, when watched today, have stuff that goes over some kids' heads but the adults get and laugh at. For example, the line "That's not relaxing" in one of the more recent JLU's; that wasn't for the kiddies, but it was couched in a kid-safe way. It's a great example of how to broaden a show's appeal... if CN would actually RUN the show more often.
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I have watched every episode of the show repeatedly (have them all on tape), as well as all of the Batman and Superman episodes and I still stand by what I said before. Like I said, everything you're saying has to do with the execution of the show, which I think is the gold standard that all other action-centric cartoons should aspire to be. However, as far as who the show is designed to appeal to--who it HAD to be designed to appeal to in order to get it past the Cartoon Network brass--the age range is the same as what they're talking about for the FF. There's no way CN would ever approve a cartoon like JLU specifically designed for 18 year olds or older--the only shows that get that treatment are the Adult Swim material. So, yeah, it's a fantastic show but I don't buy for one second that it was put together without that specific age range in mind. They're just masters of their craft to make it appeal to kids and adults. Your comparison to the Looney Tunes was absolutely spot-on.
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I don't want to sound like an old fart but kids need solid role models - it's not just about the flying around, having adventures and blowing things up - like the poster above who quoted from Plasticman indicated, it's about themese of family, loyalty and doing the right thing. Guys remember back to when we were kids, cartoons were much more explicit about giving lessons - fucking He-Man used to come out at the end (err...not that way) and recap the lessons we have learned today. So did Lion-O as far as I remember. And I'm sorry but cartoons aimed at kids these days are shite - all that Pokemon, Digimon stuff, apart from the fact that I don't really understand what's going on it just seems to have one message: Buy Our Product. Yes, He-man was the same but at least they tried to send a positive message as well. And for fuck's sake, it's the CARTOON NETWORK. What the hell did you think you were going to get?
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It is a cartoon on a cartoon network which aims its products at kids. Enjoy what you get and have got before. Don't like it then don't watch.
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"Though I have to admit, that FF pic [on http://www.moonscoop.com - MB]looks pretty awesome." Huh? The only pic I see is too small to make out any detail. Is there a larger version I missed?
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Found an article (http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0511/02/index.htm) with a link to a promo pic (http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0511/02/fantasticfour.htm). It looks more manga style than I'd prefer, but I'll watch before making up my mind.
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Timm and crew were presneted with the charge to make a new cartoon [yeah, notice how I didn't say "animated series"] that would "sell toys to seven-year-olds." What could have been really craptacular ended up being a nice temporal bookend to the now-defunct universe which began with Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: TAS and Justice League/JLU [and The Zeta Project--notice the Zeta 'bots that Supergirl fights in "Far From Home" LOL...]
Long story short, none of us have even SEEN this new FF 'toon. Give it a chance...it COULD be good! -
Some of us grew up in the late 80's and early 90's and our generation of superhero cartoons were serious and could easily be enjoyed by older people. I was 10 when Batman TAS and X-Men started, then 2 years later we had Spider-Man, all on Fox. So our idea of what a superhero cartoon should be is a little different than some of you.
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I said earlier that the THING will suck on the animated series. They have somehow blocked out all links to the FRENCH MADE animated series. But for those who want to see the picture of the animated Thing looks like pick up the newest Toyfare magazine # 105 and go to page 48. The FOUR spraypainted on his chest looks like an AMPERSAND.
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Local news said a man in an, Eyes Wide Shut mask, stormed the building. demanding they take southpark off the air. he was throwing knives and blew up a cartman standup. witnesses say it was cruise because he kept laughing for no reasons. he also said everyone was glib. will keep you informed.
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believe it or not, it was a breath of fresh air when it came out after years of crap from Hanna Barbera and Filmation. Same for the Hulk show it was later companioned with. The animation was above average for the time, and they had some cool guest stars, like the episode with the X-Men - it was cool as shit seeing Cyclops blast the Juggernaut through a wall in that episode. I'm not certain, but that show and the animation from DIC might have started the downfall of H/B.
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It can't be worse than the Fox Animated Avengers series (all 4 episodes that aired?)....can it?
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Mar 18, 2006 10:55:50 AM CST
"Some of us grew up in the late 80's and early 90's"
by voice o. reason
Lucky bastard.
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"isn't that really all one should ask for from a film based on a comic book?" since that's all you and all the "ones" you refer to ask for, that's all you're going to get. thanks for spending money on crap so that more crap can be made.
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Because they are all under the thumb of this moarallistic interefeering groups whose Job it is to write to Bush backed FCC and complain thaqt their little johnny or Mary is being upset about what there kids are seeing on TV, whats on in the cinema what they hearing on albums. They even got at Emenem evetually hes gon corporate. I remember the Gen 13 movie debacle. That was all about a mousey red head who turns into 7 ft amazonian. it was being made by Disney untill they saw the scene where Caitlin Farichild is naked and of course they pulled the funding. It never got a release but you can by it on amazon, I think. Remember the superbowl with janet jackson. That was about more than just just a few people complaining. It was all political. In Ireland we couldnt see what all the fuss about. We just sat and laughed at those who complained.
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If I remember it was released in the Philippines and the originals came from there.
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