Tuesday 28 February 2012

1994: MARVEL AGE MAGAZINE: MARVEL ACTION HOUR

Here is an article from the final issue of MARVEL AGE MAGAZINE (140, September 1994) covering the launch of Marvel's new animated series (joining the already-on-the-air SPIDER-MAN and X-MEN) MARVEL ACTION HOUR.

MAH was an umbrella title for two shows: THE FANTASTIC FOUR and IRON MAN.  MAH had its own overall title sequence (along with each segment) and was linked by live-action introductions by Stan Lee (playing Master of Ceremonies).

The syndicated MAH was clearly being produced on a lower budget than its networked contemporaries and fans were critical of its sometimes shoddy storytelling and production standards.  Unusually, Marvel seemed to listen and the retooled second (and final) season was a significant improvement.

The show aired on BBC ONE in the UK, with a third animated feature (usually reruns of the early 1980s INCREDIBLE HULK show) added to justify the title on a non-commercial broadcaster.  

Marvel-US launched two monthly series based on the two MAH shows.  In the UK, a MAH comic proved short-lived.  Interestingly, neither the FF or Iron Man reprints were derived from the US tie-ins.

The show was accompanied by a hefty amount of merchandising, including toys.

Both its constituent series have subsequently been released on DVD without the MAH branding or Stan's introductions.






MARVEL AGE MAGAZINE 140
Flip-cover


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