Fantastic Four Radio Show (1975)

[Pat Payne]

(Note, the format is shamelessly cribbed from A7's much better done anime reviews. A7, don't sue me because I'm unimaginiative )

The Fantastic Four, part of Marvel Comics on the Air

"Attention, all true believers -- Marvel Comics is on the air!"

This 13-episode radio series served as a trial balloon to see whether radio adaptations based on the familiar Marvel Comics characters would survive. As the first of the "Marvel-Age" comics, The Fantastic Four was tapped to be the first Marvel characters to appear on radio, which up through the Golden Age was largely a preserve of the Distinguished Competetition and their Superman and Batman juggernauts. The show premiered sometime in 1975 (the actual airdates are unclear) and, whatever the listenership at the time, Marvel and their sponsors and network decided that the show was just not going to bring in any revenue. Other adaptations were in the wings (Spider-Man would most likely have been next) but never went anywhere as the great experiment faded into obscurity. Even for die-hard FF fans, it's probably the rare one that knows this show exists and can be heard on the web.

Each 20-minute episode (save two two-episode story arcs) were self-contained stories straight from the Fantastic Four comics issues 1-13 (pretty much in order, too).

Story -- A++

This is no adaptation of the comics. The stories ARE the comics, (coming roughly from the first year or so of the FF continuity) with Stan Lee's original dialogue changed only slightly for clarity, time and pacing, and with added narration. Only a few real big changes were made, and most of these were for the better (such as making the Thing less erudite in the opening of the first episode). To a listener of the 2000s, the episodes may come off as a little hokey and campy (particularly having Dr. Doom send the FF off on a mission to get Blackbeard's treasure chest), but then again, so would the original comic stories, and therein lies the charm.

Acting -- B-/C

The cast is so-so in the adaptations. Jim Pappis (sp?) as the Thing and a young, pre-SNL Bill Murray are the stand-outs, and even their work is spotty. Murray, at times shows a saucy charm and confidence, particularly when sparring with The Thing, but at others, it's obvious that he's just reading from the script. The worst acting comes from whoever plays Ant-Man in one episode...He sounds less like a super-hero and more like the boss Lumbergh from Office Space. But on the other hand, they all do workman-like jobs, and avoid drooping to the level of the usual Robotech cast.

Cast

Cynthia Adler (a bit player in TV and movies) played Sue Storm/Invisible Girl, Bob Maxwell (a local radio personality in New York and Detroit, apparently) played Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Jim Pappis (sp?) played Ben Grimm/The Thing, and Bill Murray (yes, that Bill Murray) played Johnny Storm/Human Torch. Providing narration was some guy named Stan Lee (now, what was he famous for, again? )

The Bottom Line

The Fantastic Four's foray into radio, while less than Fantastic, is still a great way to kill an hour, if you can track down the episodes. The show's never going to be mistaken for The Shadow, but you can do much worse. Give it a whirl, true believers.

links: This is the site where I found the complete series

Sources: The Superhero Book.