It started when an alien device did what it did,
And stuck itself upon his wrist with secrets that it hid.
Now he's got super powers he's no ordinary kid!
He's Ben 10!

So if you see him you might be in for a big surprise!
He'll turn into an alien before your very eyes!
He's tiny, creepy, fast, and strong, he's every shape and size!
He's Ben 10!

With all new powers, he's on the case!
Fighting off evil from Earth or space!
He'll never stop till he makes them pay!
'Cause he's the baddest kid to ever save the day!
He's Ben 10!

(Written by Andy Sturmer and Performed by Moxy)

While spending his summer holiday on a camping trip with his grandpa, Max, and his cousin Gwen, ten-year-old Ben Tennyson wanders off into the woods to investigate a meteorite strike and discovers a mysterious pod nestling in a crater. The object opens and a strange watch-like alien device immediately attaches itself to his wrist – Ben has come into the possession of the Omnitrix, which gives him the ability to transform into a variety of alien creatures, each with their own unique powers. Ben soon realises that he has a responsibility to use his new abilities to help others, fighting evil whenever it appears, from Earth or from space – but he also finds himself the target of an evil alien warlord, Vilgax, who wants to retrieve the Omnitrix and use it in his scheme to conquer the galaxy…

Permanently bonded to Ben’s wrist, the Omnitrix works by binding alien DNA to his, transforming him into the creature of his choice for ten minutes before reverting him back to normal; however, the device often seems to have a mind of its own, choosing what it deems as the most appropriate alien required to deal with the situation instead of the one Ben actually wants. In the TV movie ‘Secret of the Omnitrix’ we meet the device’s creator, Azmuth, who explains that he built the watch to provide the many species of the universe a means of better understanding each other, the proverbial 'walk-a-mile-in-another's-shoes'.

Initially, Ben can only transform into ten aliens: Heat Blast (fire manipulator); Diamond Head (crystalline-based powers); Wildmutt (giant, orange-furred beast); XLR8 (super-speed); Grey Matter (tiny, but super-smart); Four Arms (a scarlet powerhouse); Stinkfly (goop-spitting, winged insect); Ripjaws (powerful fish-creature); Upgrade (machine-manipulating biomechanoid); Ghostfreak (a bizarre phasing phantom). However, season two then introduces more creatures: the armadillo-like Cannon Bolt, the plant-based Wildvine and the super-eater Upchuck; it also sees Ghostfreak turn evil, as the creature attempts to take over Ben and claim the Omnitrix for itself. Season three has the Omnitrix absorb the DNA of creatures based on old horror films: a werewolf, a mummy and the Doctor Frankenstein-like Doctor Victor. Season four introduces the self-replicating Ditto, and the many-orbed Eye-Guy and giant Way Big debut in the TV movie, ‘The Secret of the Omnitrix’.

But the show isn’t just about Ben. Gwen proves to be equally capable in a fight, and becomes ‘Lucky Girl’ after gaining magic powers from one of the baddies, Charmcaster. Grandpa Max holds many secrets, as we discover that his former profession of ‘Plumber’ doesn’t mean he dealt with dripping taps – Max was in fact a Man in Black, one of the government’s elite squad of top secret soldiers whose job was to defend the Earth against alien threats – including Vilgax…

The baddies are also highly entertaining: as well as the evil Vilgax and the many hideous monsters that appear, there’s the mad scientist Doctor Animo, who transforms animals into bizarre, twisted creatures; bounty hunters Kraab, SixSix and Tetrax; the energy-chomping Megawatts; malevolent magician Hex and his niece, Charmcaster; Zombozo the happiness-leeching clown and his trio of mutant henchmen; Sublimino, the diminutive hypnotist; the Forever Knights organisation, led by the Forever King, who eventually bands together many of Ben’s enemies to form the ‘Negative 10’; and Kevin, a sociopathic, super-powered teen who absorbs some of the Omnitrix's powers and transforms into an unstable, hideous monster that serves as the antithesis to Ben.

‘Ben 10’ was created by "Man of Action", otherwise known as Duncan Rouleau, Joe Casey, Joe Kelly, and Steven T. Seagle. Anyone expecting the show is just for kids is in for a surprise: the episodes are extremely well written, and the characters particularly well-defined. Ben starts out as an unlikeable, obnoxious brat, always arguing with Gwen and using the Omnitrix for mischief as well as saving the day; however, he soon begins to grow up, accepting his responsibilities and placing Gwen and Grandpa’s safety above that of his own. Each season has a story arc, which together combine to form a single storyline that runs throughout the series, as we uncover the secrets of the Omnitrix and Ben’s destiny. Other innovations are the use of ‘What-If’-type episodes, as well as a glimpse or two into the future, where Ben has grown up, become a father, and gained full control of the Omnitrix and its ten-thousand creatures.

As well as four seasons of ‘Ben 10’ episodes, there were also two television movies: a regular animated feature entitled ‘Secret of the Omnitrix’, which was intended to be the finale of ‘Ben 10’, even though it was broadcast long before the last episode (it also has three different versions, the first featuring Heat Blast, the second a new creature named ‘Eye Guy’, and a third with XLR8!); and the live action film, ‘Ben 10: Race Against Time’, directed by ‘Bill and Ted’ star Alex Winter.

‘Ben 10’ was so successful that it was followed by three sequel series (and also a computer-animated movie, 'Ben 10: Destroy All Aliens', which was made by Cartoon Network Asia and transmitted in March 2012 - but that is viewed as non-canonical): the first was ‘Ben 10: Alien Force’: set five years after the original show, this saw Ben and Gwen teaming up with a reformed Kevin to fight extraterrestrial threats such as the DNAliens and their Highbreed masters, the Forever Knights, and Ben’s arch-nemesis, Vilgax; the series ran for three highly-entertaining seasons and a live action movie, ‘Ben 10: Alien Swarm’. The second spin-off was ‘Ben 10: Ultimate Alien’, which was set a few weeks after the events of ‘Alien Force’: following the destruction of the Omnitrix, Ben has to unlock the secrets of the new Ultimatrix, fight more alien menaces, and deal with the fact that his secret identity has now been made public; this show ran for three seasons. The latest series, 'Ben 10: Omniverse', began transmission in September 2012; it sees a seventeen-year-old Ben teaming up with an alien Plumber named Rook, and soon learning that not only are his old enemies out for a rematch, but he is also the target of a mysterious hunter known as Khyber; not only that, but the show also promises new adventures with eleven-year old Ben...

Ben 10 - Seasons 1-4
Ben 10 - TV Movies and Specials
Ben 10 - Shorts

Ben 10: Alien Force - Episode Guide
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien - Episode Guide
Ben 10: Omniverse - Episode Guide

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Legal Bit: 'Ben 10' is a registered trademark of Cartoon Network. The 'Ben 10' logo and all images from the television series are copyright Cartoon Network unless otherwise stated; no copyright infringement is intended. All specially created images and text are copyright © Clive Banks; please do not use these without my permission. All rights reserved. No profit is made from this website, and any revenue made from using the banner-links featured goes straight back into the costs of maintaining it, which comes out of my own pocket in the first place. No profit advertising is accepted. This website was created purely to entertain and amuse, and any references to persons living, dead, comatose, in suspended animation, not born yet, transformed into a strange creature, or a figment of someone's imagination is purely coincidental. All opinions expressed are my own, so there...

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