When I was growing up super hero comic books were hot. New characters like Spiderman, Ironman and the Fantastic Four were constantly being introduced. I collected hundreds of comic books. I did not want to miss a single story. It was not long before the Marvel super heroes jumped from the pages of comic books and onto the TV. Below is the cartoon intro's that were used back in the 60's. Most people probably don't know that the super hero cartoon theme songs were also available in vinyl record format from both DC and Marvel cartoons. It was a humble origin compared to today's Marvel Blockbuster movies. This page is dedicated to those early days of super hero cartoons. Those were the days when any child could turn into a super hero by tying a towel around their neck and flying around the yard. I soon found out that a towel did not make you invincible. I broke my leg flying off a shed while tripping over my brother's head. The cape did not make me invincible or a super hero but it gave me some super memories.
Captain America's Origin 1940
As the world teetered on the brink of global war, frail Steve Rogers entered a secret laboratory and was transformed into the American super soldier! For four years, he battled the Axis powers - until a freak stroke of fate threw him into suspended animation. When he awoke, he was a man decades out of his time! Despite his age Captain America's message remains timeless.
Captain America
Thor
Unlike most superheroes the Mighty Thor is not from the earth.
Odin decides his son needs to be taught humility and consequently places Thor (without memories of godhood) into the body and memories of an existing, partially disabled human medical student, Donald Blake. The mortal experience shaped Thor into an honorable and courteous individual, who is loyal to all comrades. His main foe is his adopted brother Loki. Here is a full cartoon.
After physicist Dr. Robert Bruce Banner was caught in the blast of a gamma bomb that he created, he was transformed into the Hulk, a raging monster. The character, both as Banner and the Hulk, is frequently pursued by the police or the armed forces, often as a result of the destruction he causes. In the first issue the original Hulk was actually gray not green.
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man
After being gravely injured and forced to build a devastating weapon, Tony Stark instead created a suit of power armor to save his life and help protect the world as Iron Man. He is a wealthy industrialist and genius inventor whose suit of armor is laden with technological devices that enable him to fight crime.
The Fantastic Four is formed after an outer space test flight in an experimental rocket ship ran into a storm of cosmic rays. Upon crash landing back on Earth, the four astronauts find themselves transformed with bizarre new abilities. The four then decide to use their powers for good as superheroes.
Fantastic Four
Spiderman
Peter Parker attends a science exhibition where he is bitten by a radioactive spider. Peter later discovers the spider bite has given him an array of spider like powers, including wall-crawling, superhuman strength, speed and agility, and an ESP "spider-sense".
Amazing Fantasy #15 is one of the most valuable comics from the Silver Age of comic books.
The Sub-Mariner is the oldest of the Marvel superheroes. He was first introduced in 1939 in the Timely Comics. Namor is the son of a human sea captain and of a princess of the mythical undersea kingdom of Atlantis. As the U.S. entered the second World War the Sub-Mariner allied himself with the Human Torch against Hitler and the Axis Powers.
Sub-Mariner
If super heroes were hot in the 60's they are super hot today. Spiderman was one of the biggest blockbuster movies of all time. Why was it so big? My guess is because generations of comic book readers have not forgotten the feeling that came with a cape and a dream. I see the eyes of grown men light up when they talk about super heroes. Deep inside each one is a little boy wanting run around in the back yard saving the world. Heck Spiderman does not even need a cape to save the world. Now that's cool.
