Memorabilia: 1998

• A six-inch cold-cast resin/porcelain bust of the Thing was produced. I belive it was sculpted by Randy Bowen.
• Graphitti Designs released a t-shirt featuring Alan Davis' final splash page from Fantastic Four (vol. 3) #1.
• Graphitti Designs has also released a FF navy blue t-shirt that depicts the black and white "4" logo in the center. Also being released is the same design on a long-sleeved shirt.
• Toy Biz is releasing for a Mr. Fantastic/Invisible Woman two-pack of 8" action figures. It was a Target exclsuive.
• A set of silver medallions, with each member of the FF on his or her own medallion, is being produced. A fifth medallion featuring the entire group will also be included with the set. I am unsure of the manufacturer.
• Marvel opened its second Marvel Mania resteraunt in Universal City, Florida. It will be located in the 12-acre section known as CityWalk.
• Pierce Askegren finished a FF novel called Countdown to Chaos published by Boulevard/Berkley. There are appearances for the Mad Thinker, the Inhumans, and the Red Ghost. Cover by Royo(?).
• TSR has released the Marvel Super Heroes Dice Game. It is a role-playing style game, but not quite as complex as their former RPGs. Scheduled for an October release is a Fantastic Four expansion pack by Michele Carter. TSR's description:

  Join Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing as they try to save Manhattan from the nefarious schemes of Doctor Doom and other evil entities. Features a new game, Future Doom, plus new battle zones and battle options for the Marvel Super Dice game.

  
• McDonald's in Australia used the Marvel Kids line as one of their Happy Meal promotions. Each set featured one of the adventure books (imprinted with the McDonald's logo) and a Marvel figurine. Franklin's Adventure came with a Thing figure.
• The FOX television network began airing a Silver Surfer cartoon in February. Although the first 13 episodes do not cameo the Fantastic Four at all, Nova (Frankie Raye) was featured in "Antibody" and "Second Foundation." A second season was planned and lead writer Larry Brody had scheduled the FF to appear in a three-episode story called "Down To Earth." From his brief synopses, it seemed to be an amalgam of the Lee and Kirby's original Galactus trilogy and John Byrne's Galactus trilogy in FF #s 242-244.
  The episodes that did air are:
  • The Origin of the Silver Surfer - Part 1
  • The Origin of the Silver Surfer - Part 2
  • The Origin of the Silver Surfer - Part 3
  • The Planet of Dr. Moreau
  • Learning Curve - Part 1
  • Learning Curve - Part 2
  • Antibody
  • Inner Visions
  • Second Foundation
  • Radical Justice
  • The Forever War
  • Return to Zenn-La
  • The End of Eternity