The Official Marvel Animation DVD Thread, Part 2

[Jon T]

If they had to include H.E.R.B.I.E. the second time around becuase of possible safety issues involving kids lighting themselves on fire (intelligent) then how did they have the Human Torch used in the first cartoon?

I thought this point had been mentioned before?

Anyway, the real reason the torch wasn't in the 1978 show is that his character was optioned for a live-action film, most likely a TV pilot, since Marvel was pushing a few prospective super-hero projects to the networks at the time. Spider-Man, Hulk, Captain America and Dr. Strange all made it to live-action in some form. The Human Torch did not, but since his rights were tied up with another studio (Universal, I think), the makers of the '78 FF show simply did it without him and substituted H.E.R.B.I.E.

The whole issue of kids setting themselves on fire is something of an urban myth, at least with regard to the '78 FF show. It may have had some basis in a statement from Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends producer Dennis Marks, who did state once that they wanted the Human Torch to be the third Spider-Friend, but held off just in case kids lit themselves up (although this doesn't quite explain how Firestar was used instead...).

I prefer to think that this notion came from a late '70s Dan Ackroyd Saturday Night Live sketch where he's talking about obviously dangerous kids toys - including a 'human torch' costume that is little more than oily rags and a lighter!

 

[Spider-Friends]

The whole issue of kids setting themselves on fire is something of an urban myth, at least with regard to the '78 FF show. It may have had some basis in a statement from Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends producer Dennis Marks, who did state once that they wanted the Human Torch to be the third Spider-Friend, but held off just in case kids lit themselves up (although this doesn't quite explain how Firestar was used instead...).

As Don Glut told to me, Firestar was explained as to emit "visible heat"...not fire.

I'm sure Marvel Productions was simply expecting the network to reject a fire character and so probably never even proposed the Human Torch for SMAHAF. They just wanted to sell the show. To do so, one would obviously want as few road blocks as possible. I believe they explained Firestar's power as "visible heat" to get the show sold without any hurdles...then didn't really worry about adhering to that description once they actually started making the show. (As evidenced by the opening credits where Firestar engulfs the Green Goblin in fire!)

 

[Spider-Man]

(As evidenced by the opening credits where Firestar engulfs the Green Goblin in fire!)

Wow...pretty interesting stuff!

So there is hope we'll see a nice amount of animated Marvel properties out on DVD this year. If anything the big screen movies usually provide a bit of a payoff for the cartoon fans. I just wish the payoff was a bit larger.

 

[Stu]

The Marvel Superheroes Show is coming to DVD on June 28th, 2005!

Toon Zone News has the details!

 

[Spider-Friends]

I don't see anything in the article that says Disney or Buena Vista has confirmed this. Amazon.com has had the title listed for quite a while with it already being pushed back once. (It was originally due in November 2004.) It appears to me that someone at comics2film.com simply discovered the infomation at Amazon.

The Marvel/Disney lawsuit came about after this title was listed at Amazon.com. Since Spider-Man: The Venom Saga was pulled, I'm expecting this title to be pulled as well. I'd take this news with a grain of salt.

 

[James Harvey]

A brief update:

During a recent conversation with Boyd Kirkland, he informed me that WB is hard at work on the next DVD set for X-Men: Evolution. The biggest surprise is the fact that WB is heavily considering putting the entire third season in one set. It's not confirmed, but WB is considering playing around with the format for the next release. With any luck, we should be getting an announcement very soon.

 

[Pyro]

That's great news. I was hoping they'd consider releasing them together. And here's to hoping that they go through with it.

 

[Spider-Man]

That's great news, Jim! I hope they do start speeding up these releases. I'm really anxious to get the next two seasons of X-Men: Evolution. I missed someof the episodes and they never seem to rerun on YTV. I reeally hope we see some Marvel DVD announcements soon. I still hope we somehow get Spider-Man: The Venom Saga.

 

[Dogbert]

During a recent conversation with Boyd Kirkland, he informed me that WB is hard at work on the next DVD set for X-Men: Evolution. The biggest surprise is the fact that WB is heavily considering putting the entire third season in one set. It's not confirmed, but WB is considering playing around with the format for the next release. With any luck, we should be getting an announcement very soon.

Good to hear. If it's true we'll get the rest of X-Men: Evolution for less money and quicker than we expected. However, I'm not too excited because we will get season 3 & 4 either way. I just wish we'd get Disney to release something. Even if they don't think it's profitable, they could at least air the smaller series (FF, Hulk, SS, Iron Man) a little more.

 

[addismad]

i hope thats true, i was thinkin the other day we should be hearing soon as to when the next DVD is out

I hope that it is a box set, saves waiting a year to get the whole lot, but either way as long as they release em ill be

if they were to release season 3 as a box season then hopefully that might mean season 4 will come out quicker to as a box set, i cant imagine them just releasing two DVDs

 

[Spider-Man]

i hope thats true, i was thinkin the other day we should be hearing soon as to when the next DVD is out if they were to release season 3 as a box season then hopefully that might mean season 4 will come out quicker to as a box set, i cant imagine them just releasing two DVDs

The last X-Men: Evolution DVD came out in November right? So we should be hearing something anytime now I'd think. I think it'd be nice to get all thirteen episodes in a nice two-disc set. Maybe the extras would be a bit more indepth too.

 

[addismad]

i think it would be on 3 discs rather than two, would then be able to stick more than 5 episodes on? not sure?

but i woudnt mind a one of the discs to have quite a few features on, im getting a bit tired of the Evolution begginings that they had on i think every disc in season 2

 

[Dogbert]

i think it would be on 3 discs rather than two, would then be able to stick more than 5 episodes on? not sure?

A DVD-9 can hold 7-9 episodes without compression depending on length and the number or audio channels. The length of X-Men evolution should allow for 8 episodes, but it might be less if they include other languages or extras.

 

[Pyro]

I don't know if this has been talked about yet... There's a new Spider-Man: The New Animated Series (MTV) release titled Extreme Threat. I'm assuming that this will be another compilation of about 3 episodes from season one (maybe the last three of the season?) but I haven't seen any descriptions for it. Does anyone know if this is anything new or not?

 

[Stu]

Nah, it's just another 3 episode release, like the previous ones. Nothing new here sorry.

 

[Spider-Man]

Nah, it's just another 3 episode release, like the previous ones. Nothing new here sorry.

I don't understand why Sony released these. Sure they could be labelled as impulse buys but these single disc releases were about five or six dollars less than the entire season release. Thirteen episodes or three episodes? I know they're trying to milk this cartoon but come on! Just make us some new episodes.

 

[Stu]

Watching the Superman and Batman box sets has me craving for a similar set for the likes of Spider-Man and X-Men. Seeing them in order on DVD would simply be the best thing ever. These sets are selling well, and, if I remember correctly, Spidey and the X-Men were higher rated shows than Batman/Superman.

Disney/Marvel needs to put these shows out. A few measly episodes once a blue moon simply isn't enough anymore.

 

[Spider-Man]

These sets are selling well, and, if I remember correctly, Spidey and the X-Men were higher rated shows than Batman/Superman.

I love the Marvel shows but something does need to be straightened out here. They got better ratings because Fox had more affiiates than WB back during that time. While Batman was on Fox it was usually their highest rated show or was neck and neck with X-Men and Spider-Man. When they moved Batman to WB Spider-Man and X-Men got way better ratings but only because WB hadn't hit it big yet like they are now.

I do agree with you though. Seeing those box sets not only makes me appreciate the MTV Spider-Man disc set but makeme wish Disney would wise up and get cracking on Spider-Man and X-Men box sets. I really hope there is some outcome on that Dusney/Marvel lawsuit becuase I really need some Marvel DVDs and soon!

 

[Stu]

I love the Marvel shows but something does need to be straightened out here. They got better ratings because Fox had more affiiates than WB back during that time. While Batman was on Fox it was usually their highest rated show or was neck and neck with X-Men and Spider-Man. When they moved Batman to WB Spider-Man and X-Men got way better ratings but only because WB hadn't hit it big yet like they are now.

So it was more of a network influence than the kiddies choice? A lot of this type of thing is lot on me, being British.

Still, they were popular in thier day. I'm sure, if packaged correctly, Marvel DVDs could sell nicely. The single Spider-Man discs apprantly didn't do so bad, and the 67 set must've sold well, as the Marvel Superheroes Show is getting released later in the year.

 

[ShadowDemon]

So it was more of a network influence than the kiddies choice? A lot of this type of thing is lot on me, being British.

Not influence, coverage. Fox physically had more affiliated stations than WB, which allowed it's programming to be seen in more homes.