Vintage Cartoons. . . And "Vintage Movies"

The Fantastic Four, a team of superheroes created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, first appeared in "The Fantastic Four" #1, published by Marvel Comics in November 1961. The team consisted of four individuals with unique superpowers: Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards),

who could stretch his body like rubber; the Invisible Woman (Susan Storm), who could become invisible and create force fields; the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), who could generate and control fire; and the Thing (Ben Grimm),

a rock-like creature with superhuman strength.

Over the years, the Fantastic Four became one of Marvel's most iconic superhero teams, and in the late 1960s and early 1970s, they made their way into animated television.

Here is a brief history of some of the notable Fantastic Four animated series:

1. The Fantastic Four (1967-1968): The first animated adaptation of the Fantastic Four aired in 1967. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and ran for 20 episodes. The show was relatively faithful to the early comic book stories, featuring the team battling various villains from their rogues' gallery.

2. Fantastic Four (1978): This series, produced by DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, was an animated adaptation that aired as part of the "Marvel Super Heroes" programming block. The animation was limited, but it provided a glimpse of the Fantastic Four's adventures for a new generation of viewers.

3. The Fantastic Four (1994-1996): One of the more well-known animated adaptations, this series ran for two seasons and a total of 26 episodes. It closely followed storylines from the comics and introduced characters such as the Skrulls, the Inhumans, and the Silver Surfer.

4. Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes (2006-2007): This series adopted a more stylized animation approach and modernized the team's origin story. It featured 26 episodes and focused on both traditional villains and newer threats from the Marvel Universe.

While these are some of the primary animated adaptations, the Fantastic Four has appeared in various other Marvel animated projects, including guest appearances in series like "Spider-Man: The Animated Series" and "The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes."

It's worth noting that the Fantastic Four has not been as prominently featured in animated form as some other Marvel characters, but they remain integral to the Marvel Comics legacy and have left a lasting impact on superhero storytelling.

I think this is one the best action cartoons that ever came out. (BJ)