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Lots of Marvel Comics heroes got to star in cartoons during the 1990s, but not the Mighty Thor. The Thunder God didn't even appear in the "Power Rangers" inspired (and swiftly canceled) "Avengers: United They Stand."

However, in the late 1990s, there actually was a Thor cartoon in development — just not about the Thor who Marvel fans are familiar with. One of the men involved was prolific cartoon writer Henry Gilroy. As Gilroy tells it, he met famous model Fabio Lanzoni by chance. When he learned Gilroy worked in animation, Fabio's interest piqued. Fabio had previously done a Thor costume fitting for Stan Lee, who had been hoping to sell a Thor TV series. That experience made Fabio want to actually play Thor, in a cartoon and then a movie.

Gilroy and animation director Seth Kearsley ("Mummies Alive!") envisioned...