The Marvel Action Hour
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.png) The Marvel Action Hour | |
| Network | Syndication |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Owner | Genesis Entertainment (1994-1996) |
| Formerly known as | The Marvel Action Hour |
| Format | Animated series |
| Running time | 60 minutes late 1995: 90 minutes |
| Original language(s) | English |
The Marvel Action Hour, later Marvel Action Universe, was a syndicated television block from Genesis Entertainment featuring animated adaptions of Marvel Comics superheroes Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Biker Mice from Mars.[1] The Marvel Action Hour debuted in 1994. The Marvel Action Hour lasted two seasons before being cancelled.
Format
The first half of the hour was an episode of Iron Man; the second half, an episode of Fantastic Four.[2] During the first season, Stan Lee introduced the episode.[2]
The show underwent a notable modification when broadcast on the BBC 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.
Both the Fantastic Four and Iron Man were radically retooled for the second seasons, sporting new opening sequences, improved animation, 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.
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]
See also
- New World Communications (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.)
- Spider-Man (1994 TV series)
- The Incredible Hulk (1996 TV series)
- X-Men (TV series)
References
- ^ a b "New mice on the block". Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Business Information. 1994. Retrieved April 27, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ a b Hatfield, Don (March 8, 2012). "Ten 90s Animated Series To Rewatch On Netflix Instant". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved June 15, 2016.
- Television programming blocks
- Animated television series based on Marvel Comics
- Fantastic Four television series
- Television programs based on Marvel Comics
- 1990s American animated television series
- 1994 American television series debuts
- First-run syndicated television programs in the United States
- 1996 American television series endings
- Iron Man television series