The Fantastic Four (1978)

 

The ads began in the summer of 1978, advertising a new Fantastic Four cartoon.  Stan Lee talked about it in his soapbox, getting the "true believers" hyped up about the show.  Since Stan was a consummate showman, the hype was amazing.  It sure worked, as well.  Then the pictures started showing up... there was no Human Torch, and an R2D2 clone was there.  The concern began, as what was a Fantastic Four without Sue's hotheaded little brother Johnny?

This was the answer.  Now, knowing why the cartoon was what it was, it is far more enjoyable, but that damn robot was the DePatie-Freleng version of Scrappy-Doo for us Marvelites at the time.  The stories are good, and the acting is great.  The show suffers from the lack of superheroic action that all of the cartoons at the time do, but they get around it pretty well.  Perhaps the series will finally be released on legit home video if the MCU FF does well.