The Marvel Action Hour Explained

Marvel Action Universe
Formerly Known:The Marvel Action Hour
Channel:Syndication (U.S.)
Country:United States
Parent:Genesis Entertainment
Format:Animated series
Runtime:60 minutes
late 1994 and 1995: 90 minutes
Language:English

The Marvel Action Hour, later Marvel Action Universe, was a 1994–1996 syndicated television block from Genesis Entertainment featuring animated adaptations of Marvel Comics superheroes Fantastic Four and Iron Man, with Biker Mice from Mars added for the block's second season.[1] It aired in syndication[2] for two years before being cancelled.[3]

Format

The first half of the hour was an episode of Iron Man;[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] the second half, an episode of Fantastic Four.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] During the first season, Stan Lee introduced the episode.[12]

Both the Fantastic Four[18] [19] [20] and Iron Man[21] were radically retooled[22] for the second seasons, sporting new opening sequences, improved animation,[23] and more mature writing, though the introductions by Stan Lee were shortened and now against a green screen displaying various production paintings from both shows.[24]

In most markets, the second season was known as Marvel Action Universe, which was the name of a previous syndicated programming block in the late 1980s, with the addition of Biker Mice from Mars extending the block to 90 minutes.[1] The structure was like this: there was a pre-opening overview of the each respective series, then the Marvel Action Universe opening, then the Stan Lee intro, then the episode prologue, then the regular show opening, and finally the episode.

UK modification

The show underwent a notable modification when broadcast on the BBC[25] in the United Kingdom; because the BBC does not feature commercial breaks, the two shows that made up the Marvel Action Hour would actually only have totaled about forty minutes, and so episodes of the 1980s Incredible Hulk series were added between the two original shows to bring the whole bundle up to the promised hour in length. The Stan Lee segments were, however, dropped. First series was broadcast from 20 April[26] until 22 June 1996[27] with 3 further episodes in late August and early September. The series was repeated in 1997 and 1998; however, the BBC did not screen Marvel Action Universe, due to the fact Channel 4 held the UK rights to Biker Mice from Mars.

Series overview programme

CBBC Animated Series overview programme

Stations

Generally, New World owned television stations broadcast The Marvel Action Hour along with generally Fox, The WB, UPN, or independent stations in markets where New World did not own a station.

City Station
Albany GAWFXL 31 (Fox)[28]
Albany NYWXXA 23 (Fox)[29]
AtlantaWAGA 5 (Fox)
WUPA 69 (UPN)[30]
AustinKXAN 36 (NBC)
BaltimoreWBFF 45 (Fox)[31]
Baton RougeWGMB 44 (Fox)
BellinghamKVOS 12 (Ind)
BirminghamWDBB 17 (Fox)[32]
BostonWSBK 38 (UPN)
BuffaloWKBW 7 (ABC)
CharlestonWTAT 24 (Fox)[33]
CharlotteWJZY 46 (UPN)[34]
ChicagoWPWR 50 (UPN)[35] [36]
ClevelandWJW 8 (Fox)
CincinnatiWSTR 64 (UPN)[37]
ColumbusWSYX 6 (ABC)
WWHO 53 (UPN)
DaytonWKEF 22 (NBC)[38]
DetroitWJBK 2 (Fox)[39]
Fort Worth/DallasKTXA 21 (UPN)
KDFW 2 (Fox)
HartfordWFSB 3 (CBS)[40]
HoustonKTXH 20 (UPN)
Goldsboro/RaleighWNCN 17 (WB)[41]
Greensboro/High Point/Winston-SalemWGHP 8 (Fox)
Greeneville/BristolWEMT 39 (Fox)[42]
JacksonvilleWBSG 21 (WB)[43]
Kansas CityKSMO 62 (UPN)[44]
Los AngelesKTLA 5 (WB)[45]
MiamiWDZL 39 (WB)[46]
MilwaukeeWITI 6 (Fox)[47]
New YorkWPIX 11 (WB)[48]
Oklahoma CityKOCB 34 (WB)[49]
OrlandoWKCF 18 (WB)[50]
PhiladelphiaWPHL 17 (WB)[51]
PhoenixKSAZ 10 (Fox)
PittsburghKDKA 2 (CBS)[52]
PortlandKPTV 12 (UPN)[53]
RochesterWROC 8 (CBS)[54]
SacramentoKPWB 31 (WB)[55]
San DiegoKNSD 39 (NBC)
San FranciscoKBHK-TV 44 (UPN)
SeattleKTZZ 22 (WB)[56]
St. LouisKTVI 2 (Fox)
St. Petersburg/TampaWTVT 13 (Fox)
WTTA 38 (Ind)[57]
Washington, D.C.WBDC 50 (WB)[58]
West Palm BeachWTVX 34 (UPN)
YakimaKCYU 68 (Fox)[59]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: New mice on the block. https://web.archive.org/web/20160805161421/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-15893400.html. dead. 2016-08-05. April 27, 2015. Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information. 1994.
  2. Web site: Marvel Action Hour: A Look Back At the 'Iron Man' and 'Fantastic Four' Series. Marnell. Blair. November 26, 2019. Marvel.
  3. Book: Erickson . Hal . Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 . 2005 . 2nd . McFarland & Co . 978-1476665993 . 317–321.
  4. Web site: There was a time when Iron Man sucked so bad he couldn’t get a credit in his own cartoon. Bricken. Rob. March 21, 2013. Gizmodo.
  5. Web site: Marvel Animation Age Presents: Iron Man. marvel.popgeeks.com.
  6. Web site: Every Marvel Cartoon On Disney+ Ranked Worst To Best. Sims. Chris. December 6, 2019. Looper.
  7. Web site: IRON MAN: The Animated Series Review. Caire. Fernando. May 9, 2010. cgchannel.com.
  8. Web site: SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS: IRON MAN (1994). Mathers. Anthony. June 28, 2014. Two-Headed Nerd.
  9. Web site: Review: ‘Iron Man The Complete 1994 Animated Television Series’. Greenberger. Robert. May 5, 2010. ComicMix.
  10. Web site: 1994's Iron Man Introduced Tony Stark With a Risqué Hot Tub Scene. Nolan. Liam. November 12, 2020. CBR.
  11. Web site: Iron Man: 10 Things That Make No Sense About The 90s Animated Series. Allan. Scoot. December 6, 2019. CBR.
  12. News: Hatfield. Don. Ten 90s Animated Series To Rewatch On Netflix Instant. https://web.archive.org/web/20160520134916/http://www.mtv.com/news/2624499/90s-animated-series-netflix/. dead. May 20, 2016. June 15, 2016. MTV. Viacom Media Networks. March 8, 2012.
  13. Web site: The 'Fantastic Four' '94 Reading Guide. Dietsch. TJ. November 20, 2019. Marvel.
  14. Web site: Behind The Scenes of the Marvel Action Hour. Russo. Tom. DRG4's Marvel Cartoon Pages.
  15. Web site: Fantastic Four: The Team's '90s Theme Song Was Absolutely Awful. Grech. Aaron. January 11, 2021. CBR.
  16. Web site: Marvel’s First Family: Revisiting Fantastic Four (1994-1996). James. Dave. August 17, 2015. SquabbleBox.co.uk.
  17. Web site: Fantastic Four : The Complete 1994-95 Animated Series. Cyrenne. Randell. July 10, 2005. Animated Views.
  18. Web site: FANTASTIC FOUR (1994) SEASON TWO. September 20, 2000. doctor-multiverse.com.
  19. Web site: 5 TIMES THE FANTASTIC FOUR WERE FANTASTIC IN CARTOON FORM. Anderson. Kyle. August 10, 2015. Nerdist.
  20. Web site: How Embracing Lee and Kirby Saved The Fantastic Four Animated Series. Kendell. G.. August 12, 2018. CBR.
  21. Web site: How the Animated ‘Iron Man’ Series Introduced A New Generation to Tony Stark. Dietsch. TJ. November 13, 2019. Marvel.
  22. Web site: DVD REVIEW: IRON MAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Adler. Matt. May 9, 2010. iFanboy.
  23. Web site: Why Iron Man's Animation Changed So Dramatically in Season 2. Denton. Taylor. November 18, 2020. CBR.
  24. Web site: Marvel Action Hour: A Look Back At the 'Iron Man' and 'Fantastic Four' Series. Marvel Entertainment. August 1, 2020.
  25. Web site: Marvel Action Hour Description. Retro Junk.
  26. Web site: BBC One London - 20 April 1996 - BBC Genome. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. August 1, 2020.
  27. Web site: BBC One London - 22 June 1996 - BBC Genome. genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. August 1, 2020.
  28. Web site: Retro: Albany, GA, Saturday, July 20, 1996. June 26, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  29. Web site: Retro: Albany/Schenectady/Troy, Friday, September 30, 1994. October 30, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  30. Web site: Retro: Rome, GA, Thursday, December 18, 1997. March 9, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  31. Web site: Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Thursday, May 14, 1998. August 8, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  32. Web site: Retro: North Alabama (Birmingham and Huntsville) Saturday 8/31/96. August 28, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  33. Web site: Retro: South Carolina/Augusta/Savannah Sat, July 27, 1996. July 9, 2007. Radio Discussions.
  34. Web site: Retro: Charlotte Saturday, September 16, 1995. September 16, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  35. Web site: Retro Chicago TV - Saturday September 23, 1995. February 11, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  36. Web site: Is Marvel Action Hour cancelled?. May 29, 1995. rec.arts.comics.other-media.
  37. Web site: Retro: Dayton/Cincinnati, Sunday, November 13, 1994. February 14, 2019. Radio Discussions.
  38. Web site: Marvel Action Hour times.... October 2, 1994. rec.arts.animation.
  39. Web site: Retro: Detroit, December 10-11, 1994 (weekend of WJBK/WKBD/WGPR affiliation swap). December 2, 2015. Radio Discussions.
  40. Web site: Retro: Hartford/New Haven - Fall 1995 - Networks. April 7, 2006. Radio Discussions.
  41. Web site: Retro: Raleigh/Durham/Fayetteville, July 15-16, 1995. August 4, 2005. Radio Discussions.
  42. Web site: Retro: Tri-Cities TN/VA Sat, Aug 19, 1995. August 19, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  43. Web site: Retro: South Georgia UHFs Saturday, August 26, 1995. August 26, 2010. Radio Discussions.
  44. Web site: Retro: Kansas City/Topeka, Sunday, March 12, 1995. December 19, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  45. Web site: 1994: MARVEL AGE MAGAZINE: MARVEL ACTION HOUR . February 28, 2012 . STARLOGGED.
  46. Web site: Retro: Miami/West Palm Beach, Saturday, January 21, 1995. October 27, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  47. Web site: Retro: Milwaukee, Dec. 10-11, 1994. October 21, 2015. Radio Discussions.
  48. Web site: Retro: Albany/Schenectady/Troy, Thursday, December 11, 1997. July 15, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  49. Web site: Retro: Oklahoma City - Week of May 26th, 1996. October 27, 2018. Radio Discussions.
  50. Web site: RETRO: ORLANDO - 3/11/1995. April 23, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  51. Web site: Marvel Action Hour: Philly/S.Jersey. September 23, 1994. rec.arts.comics.misc.
  52. Web site: RETRO: PITTSBURGH - 2/04/1995. November 17, 2011. Radio Discussions.
  53. Web site: Retro: Portland, OR, Sat. January 14th, 1995. September 17, 2012. Radio Discussions.
  54. Web site: Retro: Syracuse and Upstate New York, Saturday, 9/24/94. August 24, 2005. Radio Discussions.
  55. Web site: Marvel Action Hour times.... September 20, 1994. rec.arts.comics.misc.
  56. Web site: Retro: Seattle/Tacoma, Sunday, Mar 5, 1995. July 28, 2013. Radio Discussions.
  57. Web site: RETRO: TAMPA BAY - 6/22/1996. November 6, 2011 . Radio Discussions.
  58. Web site: Retro: Baltimore/DC/Lancaster, Tuesday, July 7, 1998. October 8, 2017. Radio Discussions.
  59. Web site: Retro: Yakima/Seattle Saturday April 20, 1996. July 26, 2010. Radio Discussions.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Marvel Action Hour".

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