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Martin Mystery
File:Mart-mys.jpg From Left to Right: Billy, Diana, Martin and Java
Created by	Alfredo Castelli Stephane Berry
Starring	Samuel Vincent Kelly Sheridan Dale Wilson Teryl Rothery
Country of origin	Canada France
No. of episodes	66 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time	approx. 0:22 Minutes
Original release
Network	Marathon Production Disney Channel Disney Channel Nickelodeon/4Kids TV (2005) Disney Channel Asia YTV Disney Channel Asia
Release	October 1, 2003 – Present

Martin Mystery (2003) is an animated television series. It is loosely based on the Italian comic Martin Mystère.

The series reimagines the title character Martin Mystery and his step-sister (his father married her mom) Diana Lombard as 16-year-olds attending Torrington Academy, a high school in Sherbrooke, Quebec. They work for the covert organization "The Center", which secretly protects the people of Earth from extraterrestrial and supernatural threats. Not everyone who works for the organization is human. The short and green-skinned Billy is one of Martin's best friends. Java works as a janitor of Diana and Martin's school and is a caveman from 200,000 years ago. As far as "The Center" is concerned, Martin's vast knowledge of the supernatural and his remarkable intuition compensate for his poor personal hygiene and huge ego. Diana resents these qualities at times, as Martin does not seem to often understand the seriousness of his missions, but generally loves him like any real brother. In a small twist of irony, Diana and Martin are lovers in the original comics version, and not siblings.

Diana is prone to many of the missions' scarier moments and often becomes a victim that Martin has to rescue, much to her chagrin. Together they form an excellent mystery solving team at the same time full of horrors and dangers.

Martin Mystery had been aired in Canada on YTV and KidsDiscovery Channel in English and on VRAK.TV in French since 2004. In May 2005, Nickelodeon and NickToons Network began to air Martin Mystery as well, Nickelodeon removed Martin Mystery from their line up in August 2005. It is also seen on MBC 3 & ART Teenz channels nowadays but in Arabic (Starring "Mariam El Khesht" as "Diana Lombard" & "Mo'awad Ismail" as "Martin"). Martin Mystery began airing on Disney Channel on 2004 on its weekday afternoon line up. It was temporarily replaced by Sabrina, The Animated Series and was returned on the line up. Its airing schedule was changed from Monday to Friday to Thursday and Friday as Emperor's New School airs from Monday to Wednesday. This January, it was totally removed from the weekday line up. It currently airs on Disney Channel Asia every weekend mornings.

The show is produced by Marathon Production (a French television production company based in Paris), which also produces Totally Spies and Team Galaxy. Like Totally Spies, Martin Mystery takes on a style reminiscent of Japanese anime, although it is produced in Europe. Boys resembling Martin and his rival, Marvin, and Diana have appeared as cameos in Totally Spies in its episode "Super Agent Much?" and many others.

Characters

Monsters

Martin's U-Watch

Martin Mystery, who is very much the leader of the trio, carries a high-tech device called the U-Watch. This is a piece of equipment that is an essential part on their missions, and is also the way they are usually paged to the Center. While the "U" has never been told as to what it stands for, it probably stands for Utility, since many of it's gadgets are utility items. Marvin also wears one. The primary functions are:

• Legendex: a database of every monster, curse, creature, and event worthy of note known to The Center

• Slime Scan: analyzes slime samples if it is of unknown origin. This is arguably the function most utilized by Martin

• Bio Scan: analyzes any biological residue and sends information on The Center's database. Billy's pod can also perform a bio scan (as seen in the episode "Curse of the Hole Creature")

• X-Rod: fires a net to capture a creature. It can also extend into a quarterstaff (like Sun Wukong's staff) for melee combat

• I-Cutter: creates an energy blade that cuts through walls, locks, and doors; it has also been shown to shoot a concentrated "laser blast" on an occasion. Like the X-Rod, it is the only other weapon capable of actual fighting.

• Tracker: has a GPS system that can used to track down people or objects

• Turbo Bungee: a grappling hook that enables the wearer to escape from confined spaces

• Alpha Goggles: a pair of glasses with internal light beams mounted at the rims, perfect for viewing in enclosed or dark locations

• U-Shield: generates a force field that can cover the area of an entire room. It also acts as an air supply for limited durations underwater (but only for an amount of time)

• Phone-Number Search Mode: the U-Watch's A.I. responds with an address and name when the user states a phone-number

It should be noted that the 'unofficial' functions include an internal flashlight, communications device, and even a laser/blaster function which is rarely used. On one occasion, it's shown that the U-Watch has a slot for what looks like memory cards, and allows it to run additional programs from them (this is seen in the "Curse of the Necklace" episode before Martin heads into the portal for his mission. He gains the ability to detect "dead zones" and uses it shortly after). Interestingly enough, it has never been verified that the U-Watch actually tells the time.

M.O.M. wears her own U-Watch, the 'Ultra U-Watch' which is also capable of opening portals. (Martin (possessed by an alien named Gastromo) was once seen using his normal U-Watch to open a portal to the centre. Martin has never used this ability) There is also an upgraded version of the U-Watch: the 'X-Watch,' given to higher-ranking agents. It has additional functions such as 'Hologram', 'Ultra-Concentrated Sunbeam', and 'X-Goggles.' These features have been indicated in the episode "The Lost Tribe", and it is a device that Martin desires.

Episode Guide

Interesting Facts

• Diana's favorite comfort food is poached salmon.

• Martin is actually the senior advisor of the Psi Psi Psi sorority.

• Although Martin's outfits always include a red top with yellow flames, his favourite color is actually orange.

• Number of times Jenni expressed interest in Martin: 5

• MOM's office doubles as a nightclub, and she has been described as "a real party animal".

• In an episode where Martin and the group go investigate the paranormal in Oregon, all the townsfolk are pictured as stereotypical southern hillbillies, despite being a northern state, and is one of the closer states to Canada. Some have interpreted this as the company's view on Americans in general.

• "Code 7-5-9-2" brings MOM's office into full lockdown.

• The Center SUVs that appear in the show resembles a 1998-2003 Dodge Durango and a 2003 Hummer H2

• The Episode "Haunting Of The Blackwater" makes several references to The Shining

• While Java is a caveman, he has adapted to a modern lifestyle, except for his unremitting fear of technology, and his unbearably smelly foot problem, which probably stems from his feet's lack of ventilation, as cavemen didn't wear shoes. In addition, he does not wear socks with his shoes. It is often noted that Diana is grossed out by the stench, and must wear a respirator to protect herself whenever Java takes off his shoes, because the smell is just too overwhelming. However, this odor may be caused from Java's lack of hygiene.

• In the first episode, It Came From the Bog, a subtle reference to the Metal Gear Solid series is made. As Martin, Java, and Diana leave MOM's room to go on the mission she states "Now I must save Agent Anaconda from the reptile dispatching cyborg", a reference to snake and one of the bosses.

• Martin, in most of the episodes during the first season, wore a black long-sleeve shirt under the normal shirt (the one with the flames) he usually wears.

Media Releases

A Martin Mystery DVD, with episodes from the 1st season, has recently been released in September 2006. Versions included are English and French DVDs.

External links

• Martin Mystery on YTV
• Martin Mystery on Nickelodeon
• Martin Mystery at epguides.com
• The Official Martin Mystery Site
• Template:Tv.com show
• Martin Mystery at IMDb

• Anime-influenced animation
• YTV shows
• Nicktoons
• Science fiction television series