Saturday, November 24, 2012

Forgotten TV Heroes: The Merry Marvel TV Movies

Dork Note: Instead of breaking these all up into their own posts I decided to lump them all under one post called - The Merry Marvel TV Movies

Sorry Rob - I know how much you hate it when I post a shitload of videos on a page:)



The Incredible Hulk (1977)

Fun Fact: The TV series led to a syndicated newspaper strip that ran from 1978 to 1982. It used the same background and origin story as the TV series but narrated stories outside the TV series.



The Amazing Spider-Man (1977)






Dr. Strange (1978)

Fun Fact: In an interview found in the January 1985 issue of Comics Feature magazine, Stan Lee recounted largely positive experiences working on Doctor Strange, especially compared with the other live-action Marvel Comics adaptations under the publisher's development deal with CBS and Universal in the late 1970s, "Just as with the Hulk, Lee had few problems with the TV movie adaptation done of Dr. Strange. 
"I probably had the most input into that one. I've become good friends with the writer/producer Phil DeGuere. I was pleased with Dr. Strange and The [Incredible] Hulk. I think that Dr. Strange would have done much better than it did in the ratings except that it aired opposite Roots. Those are the only experiences I've had with live action television. Dr. Strange and the Hulk were fine. Captain America was a bit [of a] disappointment and Spider-Man was a total nightmare."



Spider-Man Strikes Back (1978)



Captain America (1979)



Spider-Man the Dragon's Challenge (1979)

Fun Fact: The CBS Television Network canceled it, along with Wonder Woman, to avoid being called "the superhero network."



Captain America II Death Too Soon (1979)




Fun Fact: This television movie acted as a backdoor pilot for an unproduced television series featuring the Thor comic book character. This is the first time another character or element from the Marvel Universe appeared in the milieu of the TV series. Thor's appearance differs from the Marvel Comics character created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, resembling a more realistic and divine version of the "Norse God of Thunder" but still closely following the comic in that he is sent to earth to learn humility.Thor was played by Eric Allan Kramer and Dr. Donald Blake by Steve Levitt. In this version Blake does not become Thor, who is a separate character. By holding Thor's hammer Mjolnir and shouting "Odin!" Blake can summon the Viking Warrior to help him, the two interacting and openly discussing their situations: Blake wants Thor off his back, but the latter will not be admitted into Asgard until he has proven himself worthy. The hammer is also not restricted by the worthiness test.


The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989)

Fun Fact: This movie was the first Marvel film or television project to feature a cameo appearance from famed creator Stan Lee, as the jury foreman in Banner's imagined trial. During this scene the Hulk also wears his signature purple pants, the first time the Bixby/Ferrigno Hulk did so. 



The Death of the Incredible Hulk (1990)

Fun Fact: Despite the Hulk's apparent death in the 1990 film, the program's makers had always intended for him to return in The Revenge of the Incredible Hulk, in which he would be revived in a state in which the Hulk had Banner's mind. This third Hulk telefilm was initially announced to feature the Marvel Comics character She-Hulk, just as the previous two had featured Thor and Daredevil. As of early July 1989, it was still firmly expected to do so, and to air that autumn, with Iron Man under consideration for a follow-up. As of July 10, 1990, a script was being written. However, the project was canceled when Bill Bixby's health declined. He died of cancer in November 1993.



Power Pack (1991) (unaired)



Generation X (1996)

Fun Fact: The mansion used for the Xavier Institute is Hatley Castle which was also used in the X-Men films X-Men, X2: X-Men United, and X-Men: The Last Stand, as well as for the home of young Lex Luthor in the Smallville series.

Fun Fact: In the British version there was significantly more swearing and racial slurs. These were edited out of the U.S. version. When Skin encounters Russel Tresh in the Dream World, Tresh calls Skin a "wetback" and threatens to mind-rape Skin's sister if he doesn't help get Tresh back into his body. This scene was edited to remove the racial slur and mind-rape wording in the U.S. version.



Nick Fury Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998)



Man-Thing (2005)

Bonus - Jack Kirby in The Incredible Hulk


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