The New Fantastic Four (1978)
TV SeriesOptional
Reed, Sue and Ben team with a robot called H.E.R.B.I.E. in place of the Human Torch. Released in 1978, it’s a Marvel series that isn’t part of the MCU timeline, so it’s optional and stands on its own. It has 13 episodes, about 4h 46m in all.
| Release date | September 9, 1978 |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 13 × ~22 min |
Why it’s worth knowing about
A curiosity remembered for swapping out Johnny Storm because the Human Torch rights were tied up elsewhere.
About The New Fantastic Four (1978)
The New Fantastic Four is an animated series that aired on NBC from September 1978 to September 1979. Reed Richards, Sue Storm and Ben Grimm take on classic Fantastic Four foes like Doctor Doom, the Mole Man, Magneto and the Impossible Man, with a small, wisecracking robot filling Johnny Storm's seat on the team. On screen the show simply calls itself The Fantastic Four.
DePatie–Freleng Enterprises made it with Marvel, and Stan Lee wrote several of the teleplays, with Roy Thomas also contributing. Jack Kirby worked on the look of the show and designed H.E.R.B.I.E. The voice cast includes Mike Road as Mister Fantastic, Ginny Tyler as the Invisible Girl, Ted Cassidy as the Thing, Frank Welker as H.E.R.B.I.E. and John Stephenson as Doctor Doom. Network standards were strict: the Thing wasn't allowed to punch anyone, and guns were off the table. It lasted one season. Cassidy died, NBC president Fred Silverman disliked it, and even Stan Lee wasn't happy with it.
Good to know
- The Human Torch was missing because Universal held his rights for a planned live-action project, which was later scrapped.
- Stan Lee came up with a robot teammate inspired by R2-D2, and Jack Kirby designed it.
- H.E.R.B.I.E. joined the comics in Fantastic Four #209 (August 1979), adapted from the cartoon by Marv Wolfman and John Byrne.
- H.E.R.B.I.E. reached the MCU in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), voiced by Matthew Wood.
- Working with DePatie–Freleng led Marvel to set up its own animation studio, Marvel Productions.
How to watch it
This is the second Fantastic Four cartoon, after Hanna-Barbera's 1967 series, so it sits early in any animated Marvel watch-through. It works best as a time capsule. Start with the premiere, "A Monster Among Us," and then try "The Menace of Magneto" and "The Impossible Man" to see the Kirby-flavored designs at their best. It makes a fun warm-up for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where H.E.R.B.I.E. finally appears in live action.
Where to watch The New Fantastic Four (1978) in the US
| Streaming (subscription) | Not currently on a US subscription service |
|---|
Where to watch The New Fantastic Four (1978) outside the US
| Country | Stream | Other options |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not included | Not available |
| Canada | Not included | Not available |
| India | Not included | Not available |
Streaming availability last verified: October 16, 2026
All streaming options for Marvel movies and shows, by service and country.
Related guides
The New Fantastic Four (1978) FAQ
Why isn't the Human Torch in The New Fantastic Four?
Universal Pictures held the Human Torch's rights for a planned live-action project at the time, so Marvel replaced him with the robot H.E.R.B.I.E. Concerns that kids might copy a character who sets himself on fire were also cited.
Who created H.E.R.B.I.E.?
Stan Lee came up with the idea of a robot teammate, and Jack Kirby designed it. The robot was later brought into the comics by Marv Wolfman and John Byrne in 1979.
Why was The New Fantastic Four canceled?
It ended after one season. Ted Cassidy, the voice of the Thing, had died, and NBC president Fred Silverman thought the show was poor quality.
Can you skip The New Fantastic Four (1978)?
Yes. It’s not on the MCU timeline, so you won’t miss any MCU story by skipping it.
How many episodes does The New Fantastic Four (1978) have?
The New Fantastic Four (1978) has 13 episodes, around 22 minutes each.
Is The New Fantastic Four (1978) part of the MCU?
No. It was made outside the Marvel Cinematic Universe and isn’t on its timeline.