The Avengers: United They Stand
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Infobox television The Avengers: United They Stand (also known simply as The Avengers) is an animated series based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Avengers.[1] It consists of 13 episodes, which originally premiered on October 30, 1999, and was produced by Avi Arad. It was canceled on February 26, 2000.[2]
The series features two founders of the team, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and introduces Wonder Man, Tigra, Hawkeye, Falcon, Vision and Scarlet Witch.[3]
Ownership of the series eventually passed to Disney following Saban Entertainment’s closure, which also includes Marvel Productions.
Plot
The series features a team broadly based on the West Coast Avengers, composed of the Wasp, Wonder Man, Tigra, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Falcon, and Vision, and led by Ant-Man/Giant-Man. For undetermined reasons, the Avengers' "Big Three" were not regular fixtures in the series – Captain America and Iron Man made only guest appearances in one episode each, while Thor did not appear outside of the opening titles.
The series features many of the Avengers' major comic book foes, including Ultron, Kang the Conqueror, Egghead, the Masters of Evil, Grim Reaper, and Zodiac, as well as associated characters the Swordsman, the Circus of Crime, Namor, Attuma, Agatha Harkness, and the Salem's Seven.
Cast
- Linda Ballantyne as Wasp
- Tony Daniels as Hawkeye, Aries, Aquarius, Brutacus
- Graham Harley as Edwin Jarvis
- Ray Landry as Raymond Sikorski
- Carolyn Larson as Computer
- Stavroula Logothettis as Scarlet Witch
- Hamish McEwan as Wonder Man
- Gerry Mendicino as Taurus
- Martin Roach as Falcon
- Ron Ruben as Vision
- John Stocker as Ultron
- Rod Wilson as Ant-Man
- Lenore Zann as Tigra
Additional voices
- Denis Akiyama as Dr. Chris Johnson (in "Kang")
- Philip Akin as Attuma
- Oliver Becker as Carl "Crusher" Creel / Absorbing Man
- Wayne Best as Scorpio
- Normand Bissonette as Ringmaster
- Dan Chameroy as Captain America
- Conrad Coates as Remnant Leader (in "Remnants")
- Rob Cowan as Boomerang
- Carlos Diaz as Tiger Shark
- Francis Diakowsky as Iron Man
- Paul Essiembre as Swordsman
- Nigel Hamer as Gemini (male head)
- Ken Kramer as Kang the Conqueror
- Robert Latimer as Elihas Starr / Egghead
- Julie Lemieux as Gemini (female head)
- Stephen Ouimette as Nicholas Scratch
- Susan Roman as Moonstone, Dragonfly
- Tate Roswell as Andrew Wilson (in "Kang")
- Allan Royal as Grim Reaper
- Elizabeth Shepherd as Agatha Harkness
- Phillip Shepherd as Baron Zemo
- Raoul Trujillo as Namor
- Peter Wildman as Cardinal, Whirlwind
Appearing in the comics
- Natasha Romanova / Black Widow[4]
- Baron Strucker[5]
- HYDRA[5]
- Nathan Garrett / Black Knight[6]
- Doctor Doom[6]
- A.I.M.[4]
- Collector[7][8]
Production
In 1997, Roland Poindexter, the supervising executive in charge of animated series at Fox Kids Network, approached two X-Men (1992) animated series writers named Robert N. Skir and Marty Isenberg to develop a proposal for an Avengers cartoon. After creating a detailed Bible that included a 13-episode story arc, the network decided a Captain America series would be more suited to its schedule. But before Fox Kids could green light either series, Marvel went into bankruptcy, effectively ending the development process for all its shows. It was not until after the publisher's financial woes were resolved in late 1998 that Poindexter revived interest in the Avengers project, using the series bible written by Robert N. Skir and Marty Isenberg; because Skir and Isenberg were already committed to spearhead Beast Machines: Transformers, the network approached former X-Men animated series story editor Eric Lewald and his wife, Julia, to come on board as story editors for the series. In January 1999, Fox finally gave the official go-ahead and Ron Myrick was hired to oversee the show's visual development.
The Avengers roster for the cartoon is loosely based upon the roster for the 1984 Avengers spin-off series The West Coast Avengers. Notably absent from the lineup are the traditional core members: Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor, who were originally prohibited from appearing in the series due to licensing issues. Story editor Eric Lewald has commented on their absence and had said "We want this to be a team of Avengers, instead of making it 'Captain America and the Avengers' or 'Thor and the Avengers. We prefer to have a balanced team of superheroes rather than a superstar on the team."Script error: No such module "Unsubst". However, Captain America and Iron Man each made one guest appearance (in "Command Decision" and "Shooting Stars", respectively), while Thor did not appear outside of the opening sequence.
The decision to pair Scarlet Witch and Wonder Man up as a couple was based upon the storyline then running in the Avengers comic in which Scarlet Witch resurrects Wonder Man to serve as her protector after an evil sorceress transforms the planet into a medieval world under her control. During their time together, the two fall in love and become a couple.
In the promotional images of the series, and the action figure photos, Hawkeye did not wear a mask. However, in the series and the final version of the figure, he wore a mask similar to that he wore during the Avengers: The Crossing storyline.
This series was commissioned by Fox in the wake of the success of Batman Beyond (1999). In order to attempt to emulate Batman Beyond, changes were made to the Avengers franchise as the series was set in the future. Myrick explained that they were "setting the series about twenty-five years in the future" and that "New York City will be a mix of future and contemporary looks, sort of the way the city looked in the movie Blade Runner (1982) but not as dark." The Avengers were also featured wearing elaborate armor costumes when they went into battle. Myrick explained, "The armor will give them the capability to go into different environments like extreme heat or cold, or underwater, or outer space, and it'll enhance their abilities." The Avengers also featured an "A" on their costumes that was like a Star Trek comlink, where they could hit it and communicate with each other and the mansion's computer.
Episodes
The following list reflects the correct viewing order of The Avengers: United They Stand episodes, according to Marvel's official site.
Home media
United Kingdom
In May 2004, Maximum Entertainment released two boxsets which contained the show as well as segments from The Marvel Super Heroes. Both box sets made up all thirteen episodes of the series.[9] On May 21, 2007, the company re-released the series as a standalone DVD release.[10]
On April 16, 2012, Clear Vision re-released the series on DVD as a two-disc set.[11]
Merchandise and media
Toys
Toy Biz released a line of action figures for the cartoon series. The figures included Ant-Man, Captain America, Falcon, Hawkeye, Kang, Tigra, Vision, Ultron, Wasp and Wonder Man. Air Glider and Sky Cycle vehicle toys were also produced. In the promotional images of the series, and the action figure photos, Hawkeye did not wear a mask. However, in the series and the final version of the figure, he wore a mask similar to that he wore during the Avengers: The Crossing storyline.
Comic book
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Comics infobox sec/formcatTemplate:Comics infobox sec/genrecat The Avengers: United They Stand comic book series by Ty Templeton and Derec Aucoin was published to accompany the series. Due to low sales it lasted only seven issues.
The first two issues are set before the series premiere, Avengers Assemble, Part 1 & 2. No. 1 has the Avengers injured by an early version of Ultron. This issue was used to explain the armor worn by Hawkeye, Wasp and the Falcon in the series, which uses Pym Particles to reduce the pain caused by injury. It is mentioned by Hawkeye that Hank built his own armor after his legs were broken by Dragon Man, and felt no pain in his legs until he removed the armor. No. 3 takes place after the premiere as the Vision is being interviewed about his membership. He is also briefed on how Wonder Man and Hawkeye joined the team.
The Black Panther would appear in No. 1 and 6–7 of the series. In No. 1 he is among the Avengers who are injured by Ultron. Because of that, he refuses to rejoin the team until Hank steps down from being leader. Captain America appears in #6–7 as well. Quicksilver is mentioned twice in the series. In issue 1, Wanda is shown writing a letter to him. Issue 3 shows him in the flashback alongside Captain America, Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch.
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Script error: No such module "Portal".
- Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:WikidataCheck
- Avengers Forever: Animated Avengers Cartoon
Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Marvel animation Template:Ant-Man and Wasp Template:Fox Kids
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- Title pop
- Avengers (comics) television series
- Fox Kids
- Fox Broadcasting Company animated television series
- 1999 American animated television series debuts
- 2000 American television series endings
- 1990s American animated television series
- 2000s American animated television series
- 1990s American children's television series
- 2000s American children's television series
- 1990s American superhero television series
- 2000s American superhero television series
- 1999 Canadian television series debuts
- 2000 Canadian television series endings
- 1990s Canadian animated television series
- 2000s Canadian animated television series
- 1990s Canadian children's television series
- 2000s Canadian children's television series
- Animated television series based on Marvel Comics
- Animated series produced by Marvel Studios
- American children's animated action television series
- American children's animated adventure television series
- American children's animated superhero television series
- American English-language television shows
- Canadian children's animated action television series
- Canadian children's animated adventure television series
- Canadian children's animated superhero television series
- Television shows based on Marvel Comics
- Television series by Saban Entertainment
- Works by Len Wein