I recently discovered the Super Hero Squad Show on Netflix, and it’s got a rather unique charm about it…
Taken at face value, it’s nothing more than a kid-freindly way to get the kids introduced to the Marvel universe of Supers, and it does rely on a bit more pratfalls and toilet humor than I’d like, but dig under the surface, and there are a lot of offhanded and subtle references to the Marvelverse and golden age marvel comics, as well as sci fi, the fourth wall is also routinely destroyed
It’s more of a parody of the Marvelverse that doesn’t take itself too seriously
Series one has the Squaddies fighting the machinations and plans of Doc Doom, who gleefully chews the scenery in any of his scenes in his attempts to rebuild the Infinity Sword and RULE THE UNIVERSE!!!
Series two relegates Doom to a minor role, and brings out the sarcastically amusing (but annoying at first) Skrull, Thanos, and Series two becomes more self-aware, and has more fourth wall breaking moments…
There are also cameos from the Fantastic Four, oh, and Stan Lee is the mayor of “Super Hero City”
A few lines clipped from this page…
DR. STRANGE
Hmm, I could arrange for you to be bitten by a werewolf. If you survive, you’d have wolf powers once a month, and free rabies shots.
MAYOR OF SUPER HERO CITY (Stan Lee)
Thanks, but no thanks, doc. But I seem to remember there was a guy who got incredible powers from being bitten by a radioactive bug.
WOLVERINE CLONE
Oh, come on. You made that up.
ODIN
What else have you?
MAYOR OF SUPER HERO CITY
An official Asgard comic book: Journey into Mystery, starring the mighty Odin. I’d be the writer.
ODIN
You? I didn’t know you could read.
MAYOR OF SUPER HERO CITY
Well, let me put it this way: if I’d written this episode, we’d all be a whole lot funnier.
IRON MAN
I made a new cloaking device: the Stark Stealthsizer 7. Don’t ask about the first six.
MOLE MAN
I knew I should have made the left turn at Albuquerque.
STRANGER (to Beta Ray Bill)
I’ll get you, My Little Pony! You and your friend with the bleached blond hair.
H.E.R.B.I.E.
[wearing a Sentinel mask] I am sentinel Omega 5. These are my prisoners. Prison block transfer for cell block AA-23.
HULK
No one put Ducky in the corner.
WAR MACHINE (voiced by LeVar Burton)
Stop talking like you’re Iron Man.
IRON MAN
Stop talking like you’re on Reading Rainbow.
RONAN THE ACCUSER
Smoke me a kipper, Commander, I’ll be back for breakfast.