Brow Beat

When Bill Murray Was the Human Torch

A still from the YouTube dramatization of The Fantastic Four Radio Show, episode 4

In 1975, two New York City DJs pitched the idea of a radio series based on Fantastic Four comic books to Stan Lee, who loved the idea. One of the DJs also worked on the National Lampoon radio hour, and through that connection booked a promising young comic actor to voice the Human Torch: Bill Murray.

The first episode of The Fantastic Four Radio Show was recently uploaded to YouTube, and has been making the rounds. But you can actually find the first 10 (out of 13) episodes on the excellent Internet Archive. And, for Murray enthusiasts, the video to watch is this five-year-old YouTube gem, which pairs the Human Torch-heavy episode #4 with images from the comic on which it’s based. Enjoy.

Previously: Bill Murray Gets His Facts Checked