My Crazy Youth: The X-Men Episode With Charles Darwin!

 The original X-Men Cartoon is a classic.

That said, the final Season was weird for numerous reasons (that are widely available online).
All you need to know here is that a different team of Animators worked on it and whatever leftover Stories there were got used.

That's how we got the penultimate Episode of the Series called 'Descent'

With just one Episode to go before the Series Finale (which is still not great), they decided to do an entire Episode about Mr. Sinister's backstory.

Sure- why not?!?

Jack the Ripper is on the loose in 19th Century England.

On the case is James Xavier (Charles' ancestor) who says that he knows who the killer is.

Nathaniel Essex!

He tells a long flashback tale (inside of a flashback tale) about how he was friends with Essex years ago (he has no muttonchops in these Scenes) and tried to help cure his ailing wife.

Both of them met Charles Darwin as he was promoting The Origin of Species.
Essex looks up to him and wants to show off his work.

Said work turns out to be unlocking the latent powers in Mutants, which is viewed as a parlor trick.

He disappears into his work, beginning to experiment on himself (getting his white skin and powers) and his wife.

Xavier finally investigates his Asylum and finds it to be hellish.

Essex loses his Wife's affection when she sees his condition (like glowing red eyes) and he escapes.

In the Present (of the initial Flashback), we learn that he created Jack as a Mutant and he makes a getaway to America, leaving the signed book from Darwin behind.

In the actual Present, Charles Xavier wakes up (did he just see that?) and puts the book away, possibly hearing his ancestor's words about someone hunting down Sinister.

Sinister appeared in the 2-Part Opener and not again.

A weird attempt to fill in the blanks at a late hour, but I can at least appreciate the flex here.

Saban and Company had made many, many X-Men Episodes at this point.  I don't fault them for wanting to try something new.

The main problems are the same ones that affect this entire Season- Production Values.
The Characters look alright, but feel like the 2nd pass (of at least 3) at the final product.

The timing and placement of this is odd too.  Why do his Origin Story now of all times?
Slip it into Season 3, maybe?

Having an entire Flashback Episode with NO X-Men in it was also strange.  Is there a way to tell this with a better Framing Device than 'Xavier sleeps with the Book next to him?'
There had to be.

Lastly, having a literal appearance by Charles Darwin here is very, VERY on the nose.  Referencing him- sure.  Having him Guest-Star- that's too much.

There's so much weird that I can't even get into the 'Mr. Sinister created Jack the Ripper' Plot!  It's still not as weird as Manimal becoming a Time Traveler to stop him though!

Part of me wonders if this will ever be mentioned in X-Men '97 at some point.  I doubt it!

My Crazy Youth: The Fantastic Four vs. Galactus from 1967

 I came around at the time when Shows that were 20 years old were 'retro' and in syndication via Channels like Boomerang.

As such, I saw this Cartoon before the 1994 Fantastic Four Cartoon.

Unsurprisingly, the Hanna Barbera Cartoon also featured the famous fight against Galactus.

Let's see how the original animated showdown went.

...um, phrasing.

A strange effect happens on the Earth.  Rocks form a barrier in the sky.

Is this Reed stretching his neck or an animation error?
You decide!

The Watcher shows up and warns them that they must stop the Herald of Galactus- the Surfer- from signaling him.

There'd be no conflict if they did it in time, so they fail.

Time to punch out the...wait- that's Silver Surfer?!?

Galactus shows up...and he's green.

Coloring in this Show is sure a choice!

This angle also nearly gives us an intergalactic upskirt shot!

As always, Watcher sends Johnny to retrieve the one weapon that can give Galactus pause.

Since this is still in the Kirby Era (he left in 1970- well, the first time), we get some trippy (but also cheap enough for animation) visuals.

Meanwhile, Susan finds the beat-up Surfer and asks him to turn against Galactus to help the Earth.

That or she's giving him therapy.

Tell me about your Space Mother.

The group fight Galactus, essentially just stalling to keep him from getting his machines (which will drain the Earth) running.

Can they stall long enough?

Yes, obviously.

They give the Ultimate Nullifier (in a lovely gift box) to The Watcher who negotiates a deal for Galactus' exit.

Is THIS your card?

In a change from the Comics, Galactus just threatens reprisal against the Silver Surfer.

In the Comics, he put a restriction on him that didn't allow him to leave the Milky Way.

In a bit of pure coincidence, this is the SECOND Fantastic Four content in a row I've covered that ends with Reed waving.

A fun, if very copy-paste version of the famous Comic Book Trilogy.

On one hand, why change what Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created here?
On the other hand, are you just getting paid to do the exact same thing twice?

This is the early days of Saturday Morning Cartoon Animation, so I give i a pass (with a joke) on the little errors, hiccups and the like.

Why make Galactus green?
Why make Surfer look like Iceman?

I guess I can't complain about this one regard, as this isn't like those early Marvel Cartoons which were literally just reused Comic Book Panels (and they didn't pay the Artists again)!

Speaking of payment, I should note that Jack Kirby would go on to work for Hanna-Barbera around 1979, even creating HERBIE for an FF Show (and also Thundarr the Barbarian).

If you were of a certain age to see this new or in syndication (like me), there's a fun charm here.
It's also free to watch and download, so there's that.

Talk to the hand- the Devourer of Worlds isn't listening!

An Episode that fights against the limitations of its day and weird choices made.  A must-see for fans of Retro Animation.

My Crazy Youth: A Fantastic Four Cartoon with a now ironic Guest Star

 A Fantastic Year to be a Marvel fan!

With the release of the first proper Trailer for this July's Fantastic Four: First Steps out now, let me look back at an earlier adaptation of the team.

This is 2006's Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes.

Specifically, I'm covering a later Episode which is notable for its Guest Star.

He...
Is...
I-RON MAN!

In this Show, the Foursome are famous Heroes located in New York City.

They have a sort-of Anime look to them, with the elongated bodies close to that of Aeon Flux.

Anyhow, they're being a fun family when they are attacked by the original Iron Man Suit.

It is soon joined by more!

The team goes right to the source, confronting Tony Stark at his Headquarters.

He's sure that his suits are safe...only to find them missing.

The unseen culprit tries to blow them all up.

As it turn out, the culprit is Dr. Doom!

Yep, that is why this Episode is so ironic to watch now in 2025.

Of course, the Heroes team up to save the day,

Iron Man vows to return the favor.
Does he appear again in the remaining 4 Episodes?

No.

A fun Episode.

After all, we get to see the Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Dr. Doom in one Episode.

I didn't see much of this Show originally, as its original run on Cartoon Network was very erratic.  Apparently only 8 of the 26 Episodes ran originally.

It took until 2009 until all of them actually aired.

The idea of Iron Man and Doom as villains is a popular one, going back to the 1970s where they ended up in Arthurian England.
Of course I'm not kidding.

This Show is pretty fun all around and is worth a look on Disney Plus, along with Iron Man's own show.

Just don't hold his scary smile against him please.

Are there more hidden gems to cover in this Series?  Let me take a look in the coming weeks...

My Crazy Youth: When The Falcon and The Red Hulk Debuted on 'The Avengers' Together

There's lots of talk about the MCU these days.
There's a new Captain America Film coming out.

The promotion of the Film- which fully elevates Sam Wilson from The Falcon to Captain America- is also built around a big name.

The Red Hulk!

This is all quite natural, you see, as both of them debuted on The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes at the same time!

To set the stage for you, The Avengers have saved the world on many occasions.
In spite of that, some people don't trust them, since they have a Hulk!

The most vocal critic is a man named Dell Rusk, who just also happens to be the US Secretary of Defense.

If you don't know the Comic Book story that this is based on, I'll just tell you to look at all of the letters in his name.

What villain name can you spell with 'Pete Hegseth?'

Anyhow, imagine his delight in 'Nightmare in Red' (Season 2, Episode 9) when a mysterious new Hulk shows up on the SHIELD Hellicarrier to smash things up.

This one is Red!

Notably, Bruce Banner is far away with Hawkeye- not in his Hulk form.

They go to the Mansion when the attack hits.

Soon enough, look who shows up- The Falcon!

The pair of attacks are eventually foiled and the plan is revealed.

The Falcon, The Winter Soldier, Red Hulk and Doc Samson (who was also on the Hellicarrier) are all part of Code Red- a team formed by (wait for it) Dell Rusk.

Due to the unique nature of this Show- with a Season-long Plot and individual ones- this is not followed up on again until 11 Episodes later!

In 'Code Red,' the Mansion is gassed with a poison that turns you red.  Hmm...

The members of the titular team attack our Heroes in some one-on-one fights.

The Winter Soldier is awoken!  Dell Rusk's identity is revealed!

He's The Red Skull!

He's defeated, of course, (well, until the next Episode) and the day is saved yet again by a Nazi being punched in the face!

There's a bit more of the Red Hulk on the Show (see 'The Most Dangerous Man Alive') and The Falcon also gets in on the action once more.

A fun pair of Episodes that really get to show off The Red Hulk, who was a pretty new Character when these Episodes aired in 2010.

Will his Live-Action counterpart do as well?

My Crazy Youth: The Time that the DCAU Foreshadowed 'Invincible!'

 DC used to make some great animation back in the day.  From what I hear, they have managed to do some more of that lately with the new Superman Cartoon.

Full confession- I haven't seen any of it.

The Producers faced some challenges about using certain Characters in this Season.

In short, they couldn't use the expanded roster of Batman Characters due to Batman Begins (aka the Bat Embargo) and Aquaman was off the table due to his unsold Pilot in Production.

Looking back at their previous works, I found an Episode with some real accidental foreshadowing.

In Patriot Act, General Wade Eiling is stuck on menial tasks after trying to use the Government to usurp the Justice League.

It all happened in JLU Season 1 (check it out for more context).

He doesn't think that they were wrong, but Amanda Waller tells him to move on.

So he does...by going back to Cadmus and stealing a formula.

The Episode's Cold Open showed us a hero called Spy Smasher (a DC Hero who got a Serial in 1942- beating Batman by a year and Superman by 6) stopping the Nazis from using a super serum.

In the Present, he takes the unstable formula and turns into a tusk-wielding behemoth!

Meanwhile, the Justice League- which basically includes every DC Hero they could license- is spread thin on missions, so a group of them have to take Superman's place in a parade.

The Group- Vigilante, Shining Knight, Stargirl, S.T.R.I.P.E. and Green Arrow- were picked for a few reasons.

Wade attacks and keeps demanding Superman to show up.  Like in the Supergirl Film, however, he's in another Galaxy!

As such, the powerless heroes- they all use tools and/or armor- must battle the metahuman threat.

Along the way, they get help from local kids to get people to safety.  They are a version of Jack Kirby's Newsboy Legion (who he'd write in the 1940s and 1970s)

With all hope lost, backup arrives...in the form of Crimson Avenger and Speedy (Green Arrow's former sidekick).

This was done to complete the full line-up of the 7 Soldiers of Victory (just using new versions- like replacing Starman with Stargirl- of the characters).

Neat.

Ultimately, they can't stop the mad General.

Thankfully, the crowd points out that his fear of metahumans as the real threat is ironic, since he is now one.

He concedes and leaves...sadly never to get a wrap-up (in the Show, at least).

A really good Episode.  It has a good Plot, strong Action and great Characterization.
As mentioned, they had limitations on who they could use.

They sure made the most of it, however, giving many Characters like this a time to shine.  The Legion of Superheroes and Mike Grell's Warlord- among others- also got the spotlight.

This is a good example of changing a Character Background in a great way.  General Wade Eiling becomes this Character in the Comics, but it involves lots of back story, another team of Villains and the continuity of a Silver Age Monster known as The Shaggy Man for it to happen.

I like this version just fine.
Full confession again- I also love Green Arrow in this Show, so I'm a bit biased when he gets to shine.

Why do this Episode though, you may be wondering.

Well, General Eiling is voiced by JK Simmons, who would go on to become Omni-Man, another super-powered guy with a mustache who had a habit of trying to kill other Superheroes.

I'm sure it is just a coincidence, but it is a fun one nonetheless.

JK Simmons was clearly born to play mustachioed superhumans in Cartoons.  I think that this proves it.

My Crazy Youth: The Time That H.G. Wells Wouldn't Let 'Lois & Clark' Consummate Their Marriage

 I spent a whole $1 on this DVD set, so let's get some content out of it!

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman was the first Superman program I saw- for better or worse.

Thankfully, the Animated Series came out soon after to amp things up.

So, this is Season 4 (aka the Final Season), so let's pick out a good Episode.

This one has H.G. Wells...and a Sorcerer?  I'm in!

In 'Soul Mates,' the duo are finally married (after many delays) and now they are ready for a Super Honeymoon.  What could go wrong?

If you guessed 'H.G. Wells shows up,' then you...probably read the Title.

Also you're a bit weird in the head.

Anyhow, he's actually a recurring Character, first showing up in Season 2 and 3.  He'd actually appear once more this Season.

Anyhow, he tells them that Lois will die of a rare disease if she and Clark, well. consummate their marriage.
See- that weird Title wasn't a lie OR exaggeration.

He uses his Time Machine to send all 3 of them back to a past time where the curse- which causes the illness to appear upon consummation- was first placed.

This really is a Silver Age story- just without the consummation.

This version of Time Travel places them in their past bodies- he hand waves away the fact that Superman was born on Krypton, so don't ask- but he's in his own.

I guess his past self didn't exist then?

This puts Clark in the body of a Copyright Free Version of Robin Hood/The Scarlet Pimpernel and Lois as, well, Damsel in Distress.

They theorize that Tempus- also a recurring Character who would show up TWICE more this Season- put the curse on Lois after he lost her hand in marriage.

As such, Clark throw the fight and they return home...to find that Tempus is now King.

If you're wondering how the hell that makes sense, join the club.  Something something evil winning or whatever.

They travel to a more recent time- the Old West.

Clark is another Hero in Disguise (they lamp shade it TBF) and Lois is...another Damsel in Distress.
Sigh.

This time they actually stop Tempus, as well as creating a Causality Paradox when they set up Present Day Jimmy with a girl who he was married to 'in a past life.'

The day is saved and Wells leaves (to return in 11 Episodes as a different Actor).

The pair finally get to get busy as the Episode ends.

That was weird.  That was really weird.

This Episode has...
1) Time Travel
2) A random Sorcerer
3) Past Life Regression

Superman Comics would get pretty weird back in the Silver Age- like when Superman made sure that the Indians sold New York to White Folks or when he lost his virginity to a girl who turned out to be brainwashed by a robot- but this is 1997.

Yes, he's still an Alien that flies and has super powers.  That's pretty standard.

The whole Plot is actually a riff on a different DC Character duo- Hawkman and Hawkgirl.

Their continuity is a mess, but if you just go by the versions from DC's Legends of Tomorrow, you're good.  So, it sure is weird to see Superman and Lois in their exact story, no?

If you want a silly, but fun Episode, this one is it.  I guess they just figured the younger kids were old enough now to see an Episode all built around the conflict of 'Superman and Lois can't have sex unless they stop a villain.'

By the way, if Wells here looked familiar (FYI that Shot I took is also his IMDB Profile Pic), then you likely know him from this...

As I said, it is pretty silly fun, even if the whole conflict could be awkward to explain to your kids.  

Just tell them about the birds and the planes...I mean, bees before this.