In 1981, Marvel simultaneously launched Spider-Man's second and third animated series, one being a solo series and the other starring some "amazing friends." The solo series proved the less popular of the pair and ran just 26 episodes during 1981 and 1982.
The series featured a slew of classic Spidey villains including the Green Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman, and Black Cat, as well as staple Marvel villains Magneto and Dr. Doom. The short series run even made room for guest stars such as Captain America and Namor who would also be seen in the more successful sister series.
According to TVGuide.com, when Kara Zor-El makes her return to Smallville in the October 8 episode Supergirl, we may actually get a glimpse of the modern Supergirl costume as well as Kara's alter ego Linda Lee Danvers. I am not sure how fans will react to the idea of a costumed Supergirl appearing to the public before a costumed Superman, but at least we know tights and flights for the Man of Steel will be appearing very soon.
The Spider-Woman animated series made its debut in 1979, partly as a response to Filmation's creation of a character named Web Woman whose series debuted the year prior.
In the show, Jessica Drew was bitten by a poisonous spider but when her father saved her life by injecting her with an experimental "spider serum", she gained superhuman powers. The onscreen version of Spider-Woman lacked super strength, but had enough other powers to make up for it. She could fly, fire bursts of energy from her hands called "venom blasts," she possessed a "spider-sense" warning her of danger, she could sling webs organically ala movie Spider-Man, and she could change into costume by spinning (though that may not be an actual power per se), she could talk to spiders like Aquaman does with fish, she possessed a spider-shriek, and she could make a spider-bubble to breathe underwater.
The series featured frequent a couple of guest appearances by Spider-Man who apparently wanted to make sure his "brand" was being well represented. Any other relationship between the two spider-heroes was not made clear.
Like previous Marvel series, this one was short lived lasting just 16 episodes.
Darkseid, one of DC comics most powerful and dangerous big bads first appeared in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 arriving in 1970. This upcoming year looks to be a big one for the Lord of Apokolips who will be featured in an upcoming animated movie and will also be the main villain of Smallville's final season.
Darkseid made his onscreen debut in 1984 on the Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show series. Of course, like any other great villain, Darkseid's ultimate aim was to enter into holy matrimony with the heroic female, in this case Wonder Woman. He was foiled in this and in every other diabolical scheme that followed.
Darkseid was slowly revealed as the ultimate villain of the 1996 Superman: The Animated Series. Not only was he the culprit behind the murder of a main character if the series, but he ended up nearly forever tarnishing Superman legacy on Earth.
After the Superman series, Darkseid would return to plague Superman in the Justice League series where he teamed up with Brainiac. Superman had finally had enough and it appeared as though Darkseid met his end in the episode Twilight.
Darkseid's legacy continued in the Justice League Unlimited series, but the man himself would eventually be resurrected in Alive! leading to one of the most epic Superman battles of all time.
Darkseid next appeared as a floating head in 2008's Justice League: The New Frontier.
Hopefully no punches will be pulled when old Darkseid plays a much more significant role in Superman Batman: Apocalypse based upon the Supergirl story arc of the Superman Batman comic.
In 1979, Fred and Barney from The Flintsones "met" The Thing, well they didn't actually meet but they shared a cartoon block. This Thing did not have three fantastic friends. Instead, transformed into the rock-skinned hero by touching together magic rings and reciting the words "Thing ring, do your thing!" after which he was pummeled by rocks.
The next year, Fred and Barney continued to air with The Thing on Fred and Barney Meet the Shmoo.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles hit the big screen in March of 1990 with a surprisingly dark (though somewhat truer to the source material) tone. The darker tone would be a theme for the live action movie that followed, perhaps a result of the Burtonified Batman the year previous. The film cost $13.5 million and banked 10x that. Though slow at times, this movie is a step ahead of the sequels that followed.
Dick Tracy
Hoping to replicate the previous summer's Batmania with Dickmania, Dick Tracy employed Danny Elfman to write a dark score to this visually interesting film. It also had an all star cast including Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, and Madonna. Not a bad movie, but Tracy is no Batman. The movie broke $100 million, but while Batman received sequels and reboots aplenty, Dick Tracy #2 never materialized.
Darkman
Before there was Spider-Man, Sam Raimi brought us Darkman. The movie is about a dude who is attacked, has his face burnt off, and seeks revenge as the masked Darkman. The movie spawned two sequels and a failed TV pilot, so in all a pretty decent run for an original character.
Captain America
Marvel's Captain America did not come to "theaters everywhere "in the spring of 1990. IThe poorly made movie was instead dumped on the poor Aussies down under late in the year and would quietly arrive in VHS bargain bins in the US a few years later. Thanks to youtube, its crappiness will not be forever forgotten.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
On TV, Captain Planet and the Planeteers launched an incredibly successful series producing 113 episodes in combination with the sequel series The New Adventures of Captain Planet. Apparently heart was the 5th element that went along with earth, wind, fire, and water.
Its not to say the show was very good, but somebody must have been watching it.
Swamp Thing: The Series
Another "green" series, Swamp Thing, also faired better than one would expect lasting 72 episodes.
Death of the Incredible Hulk
Still on the topic of green, the last of the Jade Giants TV specials aired in 1990 titled Death of the Incredible Hulk. This outing unsurprisingly featured Hulk dying. Although there were plans for another TV special, it was not to be and the TV Hulk would rest in peace.
The Flash
Another Danny Elfman scored project was the one season wonder The Flash. Following in the footsteps of the dark Batman film, this series featured a grittier Flash. Later in the season, the tone lightened up a bit to allow for characters such as The Trickster portrayed by Mark Hamil, a role that may have won him the job of voicing The Joker in the Batman Animated Series.
Basically 1990 was a low budget year for the heroes of super. Even though there were a fair amount of shows produced, sadly none of them proved too long lasting.
Sales estimates have arrived at The-Numbers.Com and they do not tell the greatest tale for Batman: Under the Red Hood. The DVD allegedly sold 148,098 units for a total of $2,312,832. According to my home made figure of first week sales below (click to enlarge), if accurate, this is DC's second lowest debut edging out only Wonder Woman.
I cannot for the life of me understand the dip in sales. DC's latest efforts have been solid and this is Batman! DC's flagship. Perhaps the DVD market itself is just screeching to a halt in this economy. Hopefullt hings will pick up with next months Superman Batman: Apocalypse team-up.
In 1981, Marvel simultaneously launched Spider-Man's second and third animated series, one being a solo series and the other starring some "amazing friends." The solo series proved the less popular of the pair and ran just 26 episodes during 1981 and 1982.
