Funshine Friday: The Fantastic Four (cartoon series, 1978)

"The greatest team of superheroes the world has ever known." ('The Fantastic Four,' 1978)

“The greatest team of superheroes the world has ever known.” (‘The Fantastic Four,’ 1978)

DePatie-Freleng’s animated version of The Fantastic Four originally ran on NBC from September to December, 1978. 13 episodes, featuring limited animation and over-the-top dialogue, were produced.

This 70s-era re-imagining of the Fantastic Four is somewhat notorious for replacing Johnny “Human Torch” Storm with a lovable robot called H.E.R.B.I.E. Apparently, rights to the Human Torch were tied up at the time in a separate, live-action TV deal (which never came to fruition).

The Thing, Mr. Fantastic, H.E.R.B.I.E. and Invisible Girl. Wait. Something's wrong here.

The Thing, Mr. Fantastic, H.E.R.B.I.E. and Invisible Girl. Wait. Something’s wrong here.

The Fantastic Four voice cast included; Mike Road (Mr. Fantastic), Ginny Tyler (Invisible Girl), Ted Cassidy (The Thing) and Frank Welker (H.E.R.B.I.E.). Interestingly, famed artist and Fantastic Four co-creator, Jack Kirby actually worked on this series as a storyboard artist.

Fantastic Four Cartoon Intro, 1978

The Fantastic Four (1978) Wiki, IMDb

Previously, on Funshine Friday: Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch

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