Super Friends is an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
animated television series about a team of
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
es, which ran from 1973 to 1986 on
ABCThe American Broadcasting Company is an American television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. It first broadcast on television in 1948...
as part of its
Saturday morning cartoonA Saturday morning cartoon is the colloquial term for the animated television programming which was typically scheduled on Saturday mornings on the major American television networks from the 1960s to the 1990s. In the United States, the generally accepted times considered to be Saturday mornings...
lineup. It was produced by
Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. , was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
and was based on the
Justice League of AmericaThe Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
and associated
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
characters published by
DC ComicsDC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. It is the publishing division of DC Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainment...
.
The name of the program, and the JLA members featured with the Super Friends, have been variously represented (such as
Super Friends and
Challenge of the Super Friends for example) at different points in its broadcast history. There were a total of
109 episodes, along with 2 crossover episodes of
The New Scooby-Doo MoviesThe New Scooby-Doo Movies is the second incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It premiered on September 9, 1972 and ran for two seasons on CBS as the only hour-long Scooby-Doo series...
. Batman & Robin appeared in "The Dynamic Scooby Doo Affair" and "The Caped Crusader Caper".
Series titles
Over the years, the show existed under several titles:
- Super Friends
Super Friends is a 1973 animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera and National Periodical Publications. It is based on the Justice League comic books, and is the first incarnation of the Super Friends series.-Main characters:...
(1973–1974)
- The All-New Super Friends Hour
The All-New Super Friends Hour is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from September 10, 1977 to September 2, 1978 on ABC...
(1977–1978)
- Challenge of the Super Friends
Challenge of the Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from September 9, 1978, to December 23, 1978, on ABC. The complete series was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Warner Bros. Television and is based on the Justice League and...
(1978–1979)
- The World’s Greatest Super Friends
The World's Greatest Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from September 22, 1979 to September 27, 1980 on ABC...
(1979–1980)
- Super Friends (1980–1983)
- Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1984 to 1985 on ABC...
(1984–1985)
- The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1985 to 1986. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.-Summary:In the fall of 1985,...
(1985–1986)
Writing
Plotlines for the first incarnation of the
Super Friends did not involve any of the familiar
DC ComicsDC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. It is the publishing division of DC Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainment...
supervillains. Rather, they focused on the often far-fetched schemes of various mad scientists and aliens, who were revealed at some point in the program to be well-intentioned but pursuing their goals through an unlawful or disreputable means. Typically, at the end, all that is needed is a peaceful and reasonable discussion to convince the antagonists to adopt more reasonable methods.
The All-New Super Friends Hour departed somewhat away from the previous series' formula by using villains that used much more violent methods to further their goals and typically could not be reasoned with, requiring the heroes to use force to stop them. Beginning with
Challenge of the Super Friends, several of the heroes' arch-villains from the comic books, such as
Lex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Superman and first appeared in Action Comics #23 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Luthor is described as "a power-mad, evil scientist" of incredible...
and The Riddler, began to feature prominently in comic-style stories. Throughout the series, plots often wrapped themselves up neatly in the final minutes of an episode in typical
deus ex machinaA deus ex machina is a plot device in which a person or thing appears "out of the blue" to help a character to overcome a seemingly insolvable difficulty...
fashion.
Production history
When animation company
Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. , was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
licensed the animation rights to the DC Comics characters and adapted the
Justice League of AmericaThe Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
comic book for
televisionTelevision is a widely used telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images, either monochromatic or color, usually accompanied by sound. "Television" may also refer specifically to a television set, television programming or television transmission...
, it made several changes in the transition, not the least of which was the change of name to
Super Friends. Nevertheless, team members sometimes referred to themselves as the Justice League on the show. The violence common in
superheroA superhero is "a fictional character of unprecedented powers dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest"...
comics was toned down for a younger audience, as well as to fit with the restrictive broadcast standards regarding violence in 1970s children’s television.
1973-1974 series
Super Friends first aired on ABC on September 8, 1973, featuring well known DC characters
SupermanSuperman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics, Inc...
,
BatmanThe Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
and
RobinRobin is the name of fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, originally created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero Batman. The team of Batman and Robin is commonly referred to as the Dynamic Duo or the Caped...
,
Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
, and
AquamanAquaman is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
. Superman, Batman & Robin and Aquaman had each previously appeared in their own animated series produced by
FilmationFilmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
, and voice talent from these prior programs was brought over to work on the new show. Shortly before the
Super Friends series was developed, Superman and Wonder Woman also guest-starred in two episodes of
The Brady KidsThe Brady Kids was an animated television series, produced by Filmation in association with CBS Paramount Network Television and seen on ABC from 1972 to 1974...
, while Batman and Robin appeared in two episodes of
The New Scooby-Doo MoviesThe New Scooby-Doo Movies is the second incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning cartoon Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!. It premiered on September 9, 1972 and ran for two seasons on CBS as the only hour-long Scooby-Doo series...
.
In addition to the superheroes, a trio of sidekicks was introduced, each of whom were new characters not drawn from the comic books: Wendy (voiced by
Sherri AlberoniSherry Alberoni is an American actress and voice artist. Alberoni got her start as a Mouseketeer on the weekday ABC television program The Mickey Mouse Club. As an adult, she became a voice artist for Hanna-Barbera Productions...
), Marvin White (voiced by
Frank WelkerFranklin W. "Frank" Welker is a veteran American actor, who specializes in voice acting. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of character voices and other vocal effects that have appeared over the last 40 years in American television and motion pictures.Welker is listed as number one on the...
), and Wonderdog (also voiced by
Frank WelkerFranklin W. "Frank" Welker is a veteran American actor, who specializes in voice acting. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of character voices and other vocal effects that have appeared over the last 40 years in American television and motion pictures.Welker is listed as number one on the...
), none of whom had any special abilities (save the dog’s unexplained ability to reason and “talk”). Inspired by the
Scooby-DooScooby-Doo is a long-running American animated series produced for Saturday morning television in several different versions from 1969 to the present. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, CBS executive Fred...
gang, the trio — or at least its human members — were depicted as detectives and/or superheroes in training.
Each episode would begin with the heroes responding to an emergency detected by the massive TroubAlert computer that was situated within the
Hall of JusticeThe Hall of Justice is the fictional headquarters of the Super Friends, in the eponymous animated series. It has subsequently been incorporated into the DC Comics main shared universe, the DC Universe as the new headquarters of the Justice League....
which served as the headquarters of the team. Colonel Wilcox, a
U.S. ArmyThe United States Army is the branch of the United States Military responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military and is one of seven uniformed services...
official, was a recurring character who would work as a government liaison to the Super Friends during emergencies.
As such conflicts are often ultimately resolved with the antagonists persuaded to adapt more reasonable methods to achieve their aims with the assistance of the heroes. Natural disasters triggered by human (or alien) activity were often shown, and environmental themes featured strongly in the program.
Some other DC Comics superheroes were featured as guest stars during this season including the Flash,
Plastic ManPlastic Man is a fictional comic-book superhero originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Cole, he first appeared in Police Comics #1 ....
, and
Green ArrowGreen Arrow is a fictional character, published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941...
.
This first run of
Super Friends, consisting of sixteen one hour episodes that were rerun several times, concluded on August 24, 1974. At this point, the series was cancelled and did not appear on the fall lineup for 1974.
However, interest in superheroes among ABC's prime time viewers, especially with the success of
The Six Million Dollar ManThe Six Million Dollar Man is an American television series about a fictional cyborg working for the OSI...
and the live-action
Wonder Woman seriesWonder Woman is an American television series based on the DC Comics comic book character Wonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston...
caused the network to pursue reviving the
Super Friends. To begin with, the original sixteen episodes of the series were rebroadcast as a mid-season replacement, running from February 7, 1976 to September 3, 1977. These episodes were edited to half-hour versions. In the meantime, Hanna Barbera began production on a revamped version of the show.
1977-1978 season: The All-New Super Friends Hour
The All-New Super Friends Hour featured four animated shorts per program which followed a basic format each week.
The first segment of every show featured two of the heroes (for the purposes of the team-ups in the first and fourth segments, Batman and Robin were considered 'one hero') teaming up in a separate mini-story. The second segment featured a story with the
Wonder TwinsThe Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, are teenage alien superheroes who were helpers to the Super Friends in the Hanna-Barbera animated television series of the same name. In the 1990s, these characters were heavily revamped by DC Comics for modern audiences...
. The third segment was considered the "primary" adventure of the week which featured the entire Super Friends roster (including the Wonder Twins) in a longer adventure. The fourth and final segment featured a story with one of the primary lineup along with a "special guest star". The fourth segment typically featured a problem that was solved using the guest star's unique abilities.
In addition, between segments there were additional short spots with members of the Super Friends giving basic safety lessons, providing basic first aid advice, demonstrating magic tricks, creating crafts, and presenting a two-part riddle featuring the week's primary plotline.
This is also the first season to feature villains that appeared in the comic books,
Black MantaBlack Manta is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as the archenemy of Aquaman.-Background:His first origin was given in #6 of the 1993 Aquaman series. In this origin, the boy who would become Black Manta grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and loved to play by the sea...
and
Gentleman GhostGentleman Ghost is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics publications. He first appeared in Flash Comics #88 , and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.-Fictional character biography:...
. Black Manta's costume was not black, and he was only referred to as "Manta," and both he and Gentleman Ghost only appeared in one episode this season.
1978-1979 season: All-New Super Friends/Challenge of the Super Friends
The next season of the
Super Friends essentially featured two programs within an extended format. The
Super Friends show now featured a half hour segment that followed the format of the previous season, and a second segment known as
Challenge of the Super FriendsChallenge of the Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from September 9, 1978, to December 23, 1978, on ABC. The complete series was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions for Warner Bros. Television and is based on the Justice League and...
which was also one half hour in length.
First segment: All-New Super Friends episodes
The first half hour of the program featured the now established group of heroes, Superman, Batman and Robin, Aquaman and Wonder Woman plus the Wonder Twins and Gleek. These sixteen half hour segments have been less commonly reaired in syndication.
Second segment: Challenge of the Super Friends
The next segment of the show, which was also half an hour in length, was called the
Challenge of the Super Friends. These stories introduced the
Legion of DoomThe Legion of Doom is a fictional group of supervillains led by Lex Luthor that appeared in Challenge of the Super Friends, an animated series that starred superheroes from DC Comics....
, a team of thirteen recurring foes who are the Super Friends’ worst enemies. They used a swamp-based mechanical flying headquarters, the Hall of Doom (which suspiciously resembled the helmet of
Darth VaderDarth Vader is the central antagonist in George Lucas' original Star Wars trilogy and his final prequel, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. In the original Star Wars trilogy, Vader is embodied by David Prowse, though Sebastian Shaw makes a brief cameo as the unmasked Vader. In Star Wars...
), as a suitable contrast with the Super Friends’ gleaming
Hall of JusticeThe Hall of Justice is the fictional headquarters of the Super Friends, in the eponymous animated series. It has subsequently been incorporated into the DC Comics main shared universe, the DC Universe as the new headquarters of the Justice League....
.
Additional heroes that had previously appeared only as guest stars were added to the roster as well, to make a total of eleven. These included the
FlashThe Flash is a name shared by several fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics universe. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 ....
(Barry Allen),
Green LanternGreen Lantern is the name of several fictional characters, superheroes appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The first was created by writer Bill Finger and artist Martin Nodell in All-American Comics #16 ....
(
Hal JordanHarold "Hal" Jordan is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. He is DC Comics' second Green Lantern and the first earthman ever inducted into the Green Lantern Corps and founding member of the Justice League of America...
) and Thanagarian lawman
HawkmanHawkman is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Dennis Neville, the original Hawkman first appeared in Flash Comics #1, published by All-American Publications in 1940....
(
Katar HolKatar Hol is a DC Comics superhero, the Silver Age Hawkman. Created by Gardner Fox and Joe Kubert, he first appeared in The Brave and the Bold # 34 .-Silver Age version:...
) from DC Comics, as well as the three Hanna-Barbera creations
Black VulcanBlack Vulcan is a fictional African American superhero on the animated series Super Friends created by Hanna-Barbera. He was voiced by Buster Jones.-Character history:...
,
Apache ChiefApache Chief is a fictional Native American superhero from the various Super Friends cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera. He was one of the new heroes added to increase the number of non-white characters in the Super Friends ranks...
, and
SamuraiSamurai is a fictional superhero in the Super Friends cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera. His real name is Toshio Eto, and he is of Japanese descent. He was one of the later additions to the team along with other ethnically diverse heroes in an effort for the show to promote cultural diversity. His...
.
Notably, despite the Riddler showing a set of playing cards with (from left to right) Gleek, Zan, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Robin, Batman, and Superman that he then burns to ash in his introduction in "Wanted: The Super Friends" the Wonder Twins and Gleek did not appear in
Challenge.
Enthusiasts have generally expressed the view that the storylines for the
Challenge episodes were the
Super Friends era's best portrayal of the DC heroes.
In January 1979, Hanna-Barbera briefly ran a live-action series entitled
Legends of the SuperheroesLegends of the Superheroes is a NBC live-action version of Super Friends and was an umbrella title for two one-hour Hanna-Barbera TV specials based on the Super Friends cartoon show that aired on NBC in January 1979...
which was loosely based on this incarnation of the Super Friends.
1979-1980 season: The World's Greatest Super Friends
In the fall of 1979, the
Super Friends returned to their prior format and brought back the original set of five DC superheroes along with Zan, Jayna and Gleek. Back to an hour in length as well, only eight new episodes were created during this run, with the majority of the season consisting of repeats of
The All-New Super Friends Hour from 1977-78. Renamed
The World's Greatest Super Friends, this series began on September 22, 1979 and ran until September 27, 1980.
1980-1982 seasons: Super Friends
Once again renamed, this time simply reverting back to
Super Friends in 1980, the series changed formats again, abandoning the production of half hour episodes and producing seven minute shorts. Each episode of
Super Friends would feature a rerun from one of the previous six years along with three of these new shorts. These new adventures featured appearances by the core group of the five classic Super Friends along with Zan, Jayna & Gleek. There were also guest appearances from members previously depicted in
Challenge of the Super Friends as well as the original Hanna-Barbera created hero El Dorado, who was added to the show to add more cultural diversity to the Super Friends.
This would prove to be one of the more lasting incarnations of the series, with this format being used for the next three years.
1982-1983 season: The Best of the Super Friends (reruns)
For the 1982–1983 television season, ABC ran half-hour long reruns of shows from the previous seven seasons with none of the seven minute shorts rebroadcast. ABC called the rerun package
The Best of the Super Friends.
1983-1984 season: - Cancellation and the "lost episodes"
By this point, Hanna-Barbera had created a syndication package of the earlier
Super Friends series, and these were picked up by various stations across the United States and were typically broadcast on weekday afternoons. Not wishing to compete with the syndication programming, ABC dropped the series from the 1983–1984 Saturday morning television line-up, and for the second time in its run,
Super Friends was cancelled.
However, during this period of time Hanna-Barbera continued to produce new episodes of the Super Friends. In total, 24 of the so-called "Lost Episodes" were animated but not aired in the United States that season. The series did appear in Australia uninterrupted. Three of these episodes were aired when
Super Friends returned to Saturday morning ABC television the following year. The remainder of the episodes finally aired in syndication a year later as part of the
Superman/Batman AdventuresThe Superman/Batman Adventures was a television series that aired on USA Network in 1995. It was later aired on Cartoon Network and Boomerang. The series featured edited episodes of various seasons of the Super Friends, as well The New Adventures of Superman, The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure,...
show.
1984-1985 season: Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show
Super Friends returned to ABC on Saturday September 8, 1984 with a new thirty minute program that typically featured two 11-minute stories per episode. This incarnation featured Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman and the Wonder Twins and Gleek, this time teamed up with
FirestormFirestorm is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Firestorm, The Nuclear Man #1 , and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Al Milgrom....
(Ronald Raymond). In addition to this core group, episodes during this season also featured some cameos by old and new Super Friends. The program lasted one season until August 31, 1985. This series feaured various villains from the comic books such as Brainiac, Lex Luthor, Mirror Master and Mr Mxyzptlk, as well as
DarkseidDarkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby. The character was ranked number 23 on Wizard magazine's Top 100 Greatest Villains Ever list...
and his henchmen from Apokolips, all made appearances.
This season, and the one to follow, featured the “
Super Powers” tag which was part of a marketing tie-in with a
toyline of the same nameThe Super Powers Collection was a line of action figures based on DC Comics superheroes and supervillains that was created by Kenner Toys in the 1980s.-Origin of the line:...
produced by
KennerKenner Products was a toy company founded in 1947 by three brothers, Albert, Phillip, and Joseph L. Steiner, in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, and was named after the street where the original corporate offices were located....
1985-1986 season: The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
In the fall of 1985, the next version of Hanna-Barbera's depiction of the DC Comics heroes began, although it no longer carried the
'Super Friends name. This series returned to a conventional line-up for the team, with a focus on the teen members
CyborgCyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in DC Comics Presents #26...
and Firestorm. Once again headquartered at the Hall of Justice in
MetropolisMetropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16, in 1939....
, the heroes battled such familiar foes as
Lex LuthorLex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Superman and first appeared in Action Comics #23 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Luthor is described as "a power-mad, evil scientist" of incredible...
and Scarecrow, as well as the recurring villain
DarkseidDarkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby. The character was ranked number 23 on Wizard magazine's Top 100 Greatest Villains Ever list...
. It also contained the first and only appearances by
The JokerThe Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics and appearing as the archenemy of Batman. Created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character first appeared in Batman #1 ....
and The Penguin.
The tone of the
Galactic Guardians incarnation was notably more serious than
Super Friends had been in the past. Additionally, the
Galactic Guardians series featured the first televised depiction of Batman's origin in the episode “The Fear”.
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians lasted one season, and was ultimately canceled. The final new episode aired was
The Death of Superman. which originally aired on November 6, 1985. This third cancellation would prove to be the final one and
Galactic Guardians marked the end of Hanna-Barbera's 13-year run of the series when it last aired on September 30, 1986.
In syndication, this series is listed under the
Super Friends name, as most people consider it part of the
Super Friends run, anyway.
The Justice League of America
The core group of five heroes made up the "Super Friends":
- Superman
Superman is a fictional character, a comic book superhero widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective Comics, Inc...
- Batman
The Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
- Robin
Richard John "Dick" Grayson is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 on April 1940....
- Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
- Aquaman
Aquaman is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
|
Additional Justice League members included:
- The Flash (1973 and 1978-1985)
- Green Lantern
Harold "Hal" Jordan is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero. He is DC Comics' second Green Lantern and the first earthman ever inducted into the Green Lantern Corps and founding member of the Justice League of America...
(1977–1985)
- Hawkman (1977-1978 and 1980-1985)
- Hawkgirl (1977, 1980 and 1983)
- The Atom (1977, 1980–1983)
- Firestorm
Firestorm is the name of three fictional comic book superheroes published by DC Comics. Ronnie Raymond the first Firestorm debuted in Firestorm, the Nuclear Man vol. 1 #1 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Al Milgrom. Martin Stein the second Firestorm debuted in Firestorm the Nuclear Man vol...
(1984–1985)
DC Comics characters who were not Justice League members in comics (at the time), only on the series:
- Cyborg
Cyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in DC Comics Presents #26...
(1985)
- Rima the Jungle Girl
Rima, also known as Rima the Jungle Girl, is a fictional character, a heroine of Edwardian literature who was adapted as the star of short-lived comic book series Rima the Jungle Girl, published by DC Comics in 1974 and 1975.-Publication history:...
(1977 and 1980)
Justice League members created for the series:
- Black Vulcan
Black Vulcan is a fictional African American superhero on the animated series Super Friends created by Hanna-Barbera. He was voiced by Buster Jones.-Character history:...
(1977-1978 and 1980-1984)
- Apache Chief
Apache Chief is a fictional Native American superhero from the various Super Friends cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera. He was one of the new heroes added to increase the number of non-white characters in the Super Friends ranks...
(1977-1978 and 1980-1984)
- Samurai
Samurai is a fictional superhero in the Super Friends cartoons created by Hanna-Barbera. His real name is Toshio Eto, and he is of Japanese descent. He was one of the later additions to the team along with other ethnically diverse heroes in an effort for the show to promote cultural diversity. His...
(1977-1978 and 1980-1984)
- El Dorado
El Dorado is a fictional Hispanic superhero featured in various incarnations of the Super Friends animated series created by Hanna-Barbera. He was voiced by Fernando Escandon.-Fictional character biography:...
(1982–1985)
One-shot Justice League appearances were made by:
- Green Arrow
Green Arrow is a fictional character, published by DC Comics. Created by Mort Weisinger and George Papp, he first appeared in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941...
(1973–1974)
- Plastic Man
Plastic Man is a fictional comic-book superhero originally published by Quality Comics and later acquired by DC Comics. Created by writer-artist Jack Cole, he first appeared in Police Comics #1 ....
(1973–1974)
- Superboy
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. A younger version of Superman, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
(1978, 1983)
The teen sidekicks and their pets:
- Wendy Harris (1973–1975)
- Marvin White (1973–1975)
- Wonder Dog
Wonder Dog is a fictional canine superhero from the original Super Friends television series. The character appeared in both the animated series, as well as the comic book of the same name, but wasn't incorporated into the DC Universe until 2008....
(1973–1975)
- Zan
The Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, are teenage alien superheroes who were helpers to the Super Friends in the Hanna-Barbera animated television series of the same name. In the 1990s, these characters were heavily revamped by DC Comics for modern audiences...
(1977–1984)
- Jayna
The Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, are teenage alien superheroes who were helpers to the Super Friends in the Hanna-Barbera animated television series of the same name. In the 1990s, these characters were heavily revamped by DC Comics for modern audiences...
(1977–1984)
- Gleek
Gleek is a fictional character appearing in the animated series Super Friends and its related spinoffs. He debuted in The All New Superfriends Hour, which first aired September 10, 1977. Gleek's vocalizations were provided by Michael Bell....
(1977–1984)
In the
Super Friends comic and merchandising related to the series:
- Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel is a fictional comic book superhero, originally published by Fawcett Comics and later by DC Comics. Created in 1939 by artist C. C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, the character first appeared in Whiz Comics #2...
- Batgirl
Barbara "Babs" Gordon is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and in related media, created by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino. From 1967 to 1988, she was the superheroine Batgirl; since 1989 she has been known as Oracle...
- Supergirl
Kara Zor-El is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by DC Comics and related media, created by writer Otto Binder and designed by artist Al Plastino. As Supergirl, Kara Zor-El serves as the biological cousin and female counterpart to DC Comic's iconic superhero Superman, created...
- Golden Pharaoh
Golden Pharaoh is a fictional character, a DC Comics superhero created exclusively for the Super Powers Collection line of action figures. He appeared in the third Super Powers series .-Origin:...
Legion of Doom
Thirteen villains comprised the
Legion of DoomThe Legion of Doom is a fictional group of supervillains led by Lex Luthor that appeared in Challenge of the Super Friends, an animated series that starred superheroes from DC Comics....
during the
Challenge of the Super Friends season. They were:
- Lex Luthor
Lex Luthor is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. He is the archenemy of Superman and first appeared in Action Comics #23 , and was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Luthor is described as "a power-mad, evil scientist" of incredible...
- Solomon Grundy
Solomon Grundy is a fictional character, a zombie supervillain in DC Comics' main shared universe. Named after the 19th century children's nursery rhyme, he is an enemy of Green Lantern . He has also been an enemy of Batman and Superman...
- Sinestro
Sinestro is a fictional character, an alien supervillain in the DC Comics Universe. Created by John Broome and Gil Kane, Sinestro is the former mentor of Hal Jordan and the arch-nemesis of the entire Green Lantern Corps. Sinestro first appears in Green Lantern #7...
- Black Manta
Black Manta is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as the archenemy of Aquaman.-Background:His first origin was given in #6 of the 1993 Aquaman series. In this origin, the boy who would become Black Manta grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and loved to play by the sea...
- Cheetah
The Cheetah is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess in DC Comics publications and related media. Commonly regarded as the archenemy of Wonder Woman, the Cheetah first appeared in 1943 in Wonder Woman #6 , written by Wonder Woman creator William Moulton Marston...
- Giganta
Giganta is a fictional character, a red-haired super-villainess appearing in DC Comics publications and related media. A longtime enemy of Wonder Woman and an occasional foil for The Atom, Giganta possesses the superhuman ability to increase her physical size and mass, effectively transforming into...
- The Scarecrow
The Scarecrow is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in World's Finest Comics #3 and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane....
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ToymanThe Toyman is the name of three comic book supervillains and one adolescent superhero in the DC Comics universe. They mostly appear in Superman stories. The first Toyman appeared in Action Comics #64 . His traditional identity is Winslow Schott.The Toyman uses toy-based or toy-themed devices and...
The Riddler
BizarroBizarro is a fictional supervillain who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Superboy #68 , and was created by writer Otto Binder and artist George Papp....
BrainiacBrainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino...
Captain ColdCaptain Cold, also known as Leonard Snart, is a comic book villain created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino as one of the archenemies of The Flash. He is a leader of the Rogues...
Gorilla GroddGorilla Grodd is a supervillain appearing in DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of The Flash. He debuted in Flash v.1 #106 , and was created by writer John Broome and artist Carmine Infantino....
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Doctor Natas (Satan spelled backward) — a one-time member briefly mentioned in “Superfriends, Rest in Peace” is the inventor of the Noxium crystal, which had the power to kill any Super Friend. He never actually appeared on screen, not even in a flashback or a photograph.
Other DC Comics villains
Villains appearing independently from the Legion of Doom:
- From Apokolips:
- Darkseid
Darkseid is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #134 and was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby. The character was ranked number 23 on Wizard magazine's Top 100 Greatest Villains Ever list...
- Desaad
In DC Comics' comic books, Desaad is one of the followers of Darkseid from the planet of Apokolips in Jack Kirby's Fourth World meta-series.Darkseid's master torturer, his name is a play on the Marquis de Sade...
- Kalibak
Kalibak is a fictional character, a deity and supervillain published by DC Comics. Created by Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in New Gods #1 .- Fictional character biography :...
- The Paradrones
In the DC Universe, Parademons are monstrous shock troops of Apokolips used by Darkseid to maintain the order of Apokolips.-History:Loyal to their master but none too bright, the armored Parademons fly through the air, carrying powerful weapons used to quell the rabble. Their true strength is in...
- Bizarro's Clones:
- Wondezarro (Wonder Woman Bizarro)
- Firezarro (Firestorm Bizarro)
- Cyzarro (Cyborg Bizarro)
- Mr. Kltpzyxm (Mr. Mxyzptlk Bizarro)
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Shark-Shark :The first Shark is a non-superpowered commando. Along with his other companions named Sardine and Whale, he is part of the World War II-era fighting unit called the Frogmen. His sole appearance is in Showcase #3...
Gentleman GhostGentleman Ghost is a fictional character, a supervillain published by DC Comics publications. He first appeared in Flash Comics #88 , and was created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert.-Fictional character biography:...
Mr. Mxyzptlk
Mirror MasterMirror Master is a fictional character and a supervillain in the DC Universe. He is a recurring foe of the Flash with considerable technical expertise and skills involving the use of mirrors. Four individuals have donned the guise of Mirror Master. In 2009, Mirror Master was ranked as IGN's 79th...
The JokerThe Joker is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain published by DC Comics and appearing as the archenemy of Batman. Created by Jerry Robinson, Bill Finger and Bob Kane, the character first appeared in Batman #1 ....
The Royal Flush GangThe Royal Flush Gang or RFG are fictional characters in DC Comics. They first appeared in Justice League of America #43 in March 1966 under the leadership of Professor Amos Fortune.-History:...
The PenguinThe Penguin is a DC Comics supervillain and one of Batman's oldest, most persistent archenemies. The Penguin was introduced by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, making his debut in Detective Comics #58 .The Penguin is a short, rotund man known for his love of birds and his specialized...
Felix FaustFelix Faust is a fictional sorcerer and supervillain that appears in stories published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in 1962 as an adversary of the Justice League of America...
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Villains appearing not adapted from the comic books:
- Dr. Gulliver
- Rock and Roll Space Bandits
- Medula and her Mind Maidens
- Rokan
- Darkon
- Yuna the Terrible
- Vampirus
- Dracula
Count Dracula is a fictional character, the titular antagonist of Bram Stoker's 1897 Gothic horror novel Dracula. Some aspects of his character may have been inspired by the 15th century Romanian voivode, Vlad III the Impaler...
- The Phantom Zone
The Phantom Zone is a fictional prison dimension featured in the Superman comic books and related media published by DC Comics. It first appeared in Adventure Comics #283 , and was created by Robert Bernstein and George Papp...
Villains (Hul, Logar, Rom-Lok)
- Orville Gump
- Nartan
- Zycree
- The Robber Baron and Sleeves
- The Dollmaker
In the animated series
Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
, Gorilla Grodd reforms his Secret Society this time an even larger group of villains. While not called "The Legion of Doom", their
headquartersHeadquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. The corporate headquarters is the entity at the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
is a craft similar to the Hall of Doom, located in a swamp.
Other DC Comic Characters
These are other characters that appeared on the series:
- Lois Lane
Lois Joanne Lane-Kent is a fictional character, the primary love interest of Superman in the comic books of DC Comics. Created by writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, she first appeared in Action Comics #1 ....
- Jimmy Olsen
James Bartholomew "Jimmy" Olsen is a fictional character who appears mainly in DC Comics’ Superman stories. Olsen is a young photojournalist working for the Daily Planet. He is close friends with Lois Lane, Clark Kent/Superman and Perry White...
- Alfred Pennyworth
Alfred Thaddeus Crane Pennyworth is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics The character first appears in Batman #16 , and was created by writer Bob Kane and artist Jerry Robinson...
- Commissioner James Gordon
James Worthington "Jim" Gordon is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
- Hippolyta
- Steve Trevor
Steve Trevor is a fictional character appearing in DC Comics, as a member of Wonder Woman's supporting cast.-Golden Age:In the original version of Wonder Woman's origin story, Steve Trevor was an intelligence officer in the United States Army during World War II whose plane crashed in the isolated...
- Solovar
Solovar is a fictional character, a sentient gorilla in the . The character is the progressive leader of a race of gorillas that first appeared as supporting characters of the Flash.- Character history:...
(ruler of Gorilla CityGorilla City is a fictional city in the DC Comics Universe. The city, hidden in the jungles of Africa, is home to a race of super-intelligent gorillas. The supervillain Gorilla Grodd is also from the city. Gorilla City first appears in The Flash vol...
)
- Abin Sur
Abin Sur is a fictional character and a superhero from the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Showcase #22 : "SOS Green Lantern"...
(Hal Jordan's predecessor as Green Lantern)
Notable voice actors
The commanding voice of the Narrator was provided by actor
Ted KnightTed Knight was an American actor best known for playing the comedic role of Ted Baxter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Henry Rush on Too Close for Comfort, and Judge Smails in Caddyshack...
during the early hour-long episodes. His signature line was, “Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice!” William Woodson took over once they dropped the original format.
Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog were inspired by the
Scooby DooScooby-Doo is a long-running American animated series produced for Saturday morning television in several different versions from 1969 to the present. The original series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, was created for Hanna-Barbera Productions by writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, CBS executive Fred...
gang. The voice of both Marvin and Wonder Dog were both performed by
Frank WelkerFranklin W. "Frank" Welker is a veteran American actor, who specializes in voice acting. He is responsible for a broad spectrum of character voices and other vocal effects that have appeared over the last 40 years in American television and motion pictures.Welker is listed as number one on the...
, who also did the voice of Fred on the
Scooby-Doo series.
Adam WestAdam West is an American actor best known for his lead role in the 1960s TV series Batman and the film of the same name...
provided the voice for Batman in
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers ShowSuper Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1984 to 1985 on ABC...
and
The Super Powers Team: Galactic GuardiansThe Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1985 to 1986. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.-Summary:In the fall of 1985,...
. Casey Kasem provided the voice for Robin, along with many many others in the show.
Reception
In January 2009, IGN listed
Super Friends as the 50th best animated television series.
Region 1 DVD Releases
Challenge of the Super Friends - The First Season (DC Comics Classic Collection) (Release Date: July 6, 2004)
Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 347 minutes
This 2 disc set contains all 16 episodes from the season.
Episodes (by aired & production order):
01. 09-Sep-1978 Wanted: The Superfriends
02. 16-Sep-1978 Invasion of The Fearians
03. 23-Sep-1978 The World's Deadliest Game
04. 30-Sep-1978 The Time Trap
05. 07-Oct-1978 Trial of the Superfriends
06. 14-Oct-1978 Monolith of Evil
07. 21-Oct-1978 The Giants of Doom
08. 28-Oct-1978 Secret Origins of the Superfriends
09. 04-Nov-1978 Revenge on Gorilla City
10. 11-Nov-1978 Swamp of the Living Dead
11. 18-Nov-1978 Conquerors of the Future
12. 25-Nov-1978 The Final Challenge
13. 02-Dec-1978 Fairy Tale of Doom
14. 09-Dec-1978 Doomsday
15. 16-Dec-1978 Superfriends, Rest in Peace
16. 23-Dec-1978 The History of Doom
Super Friends, Volume Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) (Release Date: May 24, 2005)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Run Time: 365 minutes
Disc 1:
1: Rokan: Enemy from Space
2: The Demons of Exxor
3. Battle at the Earth's Core
4: Sinbad and the Space Pirates
5: The Pied Piper from Space
6: Attack of the Vampire
7: The Beasts are Coming
8: Terror from the Phantom Zone
Bonus: The Ballad of Zan and Jayna
Disc 2:
9: The Anti-Matter Monster
10: World Beneath the Ice
11: Invasion of the Brain Creatures
12: The Incredible Space Circus
13: Batman: Dead or Alive
14: Battle of the Gods
15: Journey Through Inner Space
16: The Rise and Fall of the Super Friends
Bonus: Pajama-Rama Super Friends Retrospective
Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show - The Complete Series (DC Comics Classic Collection) (Release Date: August 7, 2007)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 179 minutes
Episodes:
1. The Bride of Darkseid (Part 1)
2. The Bride of Darkseid (Part 2)
3. The Wrath of Brainiac
4. Reflections in Crime
5. No Honor Among Super Thieves
6. Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Magic Lamp
7. Case of the Shrinking Super Friends
8. The Mask of Mystery
9. Darkseid's Golden Trap (Part 1)
10. Darkseid's Golden Trap (Part 2)
11. Island of the Dinosoids
12. Uncle Mxyzptlk (Super Brat)
13. The Case of the Dreadful Dolls
14. The Royal Ruse
15. The Village of Lost Souls
16. The Curator
Challenge of the Super Friends - Attack of the Legion of Doom (Release Date: June 1, 2004)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English, Spanish
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 109 minutes
The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (DC Comics Classic Collection) (Release Date: October 23, 2007)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Hanna-Barbera Studios
Run Time: 170 minutes
Disc 1:
The Seeds of Doom
Ghost ship
The Bizarro Super Powers Team
Darkseid Deception
The Fear
Disc 2:
The Wild Cards
Brainchild
Escape From Space City
The Death of Superman
Challenge of the Super Friends - United They Stand (Release Date: June 1, 2004)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 1
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 88 minutes
The All-New Super Friends Hour: Season One, Vol. 1 (Release Date: January 8, 2008)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Turner Home Ent
Run Time: 323 minutes
Included on this set are the following episodes:
Disc 1
1) Brain Machine/ Joyride/ Invasion of the Earth/ The Whirlpool
2) Invasion of the Hydronoids/ Hitchhike/ City in a Bottle/ Space Emergency
3) The Marsh Monster/ Runaways/ Will the World Collide?/ Time Rescue
4) Doctor Fright/ Drag Race/ Day of the Planet Creatures/ Fire
Disc 2
5) The Monster of Dr. Droid/ Vandals/ Superfriends Vs Superfriends/ Energy Mass
6) The Secret Four/ Tiger on the Loose/ The Mysterious Time Creatures/ The Antidote
7) The Enforcer/ Shark/ Planet of the Neandertals/ Flood of Diamonds
The All-New Super Friends Hour: Season One, Vol. 2 (Release Date: January 27, 2009)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Turner Home Ent
Run Time: 366 minutes
Included on this set are the following episodes:
Disc 1
1) The Invisible Menace/ Initiation/ Coming of the Arthropods/ River of Doom
2) Attack of the Giant Squid/ Game of Chicken/ The Water Beast/ Volcano
3) The Collector/ Handicap/ The Mind Maidens/ Alaska Peril
4) The Fifty Foot Woman/ Cheating/ Exploration Earth/ Attack of the Killer Bees
Disc 2
5) Forbidden Power/ Pressure Point/ The Lion Men/ The Day of the Rats
6) The Man Beasts of Xra/ Prejudice/ The Tiny World of Terror/ Tibetan Raiders
7) Frozen Peril/ Dangerous Prank/ The Mummy of Nazca/ Cable Car Rescue
8) The Protector/ Stowaways/ The Ghost/ Rampage
Super Friends: The Lost Episodes (Release Date: August 11, 2009)
Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
Language: English
Subtitles: English, French
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only.)
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number of discs: 2
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Warner Home Video
Run Time: 168 minutes
Included on this set are the following episodes:
Disc 1
1) Mxyzptlk's Revenge/ Roller Coaster/ Once Upon a Poltergeist
2) Warpland/ Two Gleeks Are Deadlier Than One/ Bulgor the Behemoth
3) The Krypton Syndrome/ Invasion of the Space Dolls/ The Terror on the Titanic
4) The Revenge of Doom/ A Pint of Life/ The Day of the Dinosaurs
Disc 2
5) The Return of the Phantoms/ Bully for You/ Superclones
6) The Prisoners of Sleep/ An Unexpected Treasure/ The Malusian Blob
7) The Attack of the Cats/ One Small Step for Superman/ The Video Victims
8) The Playground of Doom/ The Space Racers/ The Recruiter
The Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show
Plastic Man first appeared in the first season of
Super Friends, in one episode. Later,
Ruby-Spears ProductionsRuby-Spears Productions was a Burbank, California-based entertainment production company that specializes in animation...
released a series starring the character in his own solo adventures. The Plastic Man episode "Superstein" is actually directly linked to the
World's Greatest Super Friends episode "The Super Friends Meet Frankenstein." Dr. Frankenstein's sidekick; Gorg, (who was obviously inspired by
IgorIgor is the traditional stock character or cliché hunch-backed assistant or butler to many types of villain, such as Count Dracula or a mad scientist, familiar from many horror movies and horror movie parodies, the Frankenstein series and Van Helsing films in particular.-Origins:An early...
) appears in both episodes, with the same voice actor and a similar character design.
Batman
A Batman animated series was also considered in the mid-'80s, presumably with Adam West reprising his role as the voice of Batman. "The Fear" was written as a pilot episode for the series, but it was instead adapted in to an episode of
The Super Powers Team: Galactic GuardiansThe Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1985 to 1986. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.-Summary:In the fall of 1985,...
.
The New Teen Titans
In 1983, a cartoon based upon
The New Teen Titans comics began development. It was created as a companion for the
Super Friends, to be set in the same continuity. Robin wasn't going to be featured in the cartoon though, at least not as a regular, since in the
Super Friends universe, he was a member of the Justice League. Like
Super Friends, the show was to be developed by Hanna-Barbera for ABC, but since shows like
The Smurfs (airing on
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices in Burbank,California...
) were so popular at the time, this show was never picked up by the network. The show would have featured
Wonder GirlDonna Troy is a comic book superheroine published by DC Comics. She first appeared in The Brave and the Bold vol. 1 #60 , and was created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani.-Introduction:...
as the leader, along with
CyborgCyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in DC Comics Presents #26...
,
Kid FlashThe Flash is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the DC Comics Universe. He is the first Kid Flash and the third Flash.-Kid Flash:...
,
ChangelingGarfield Mark "Gar" Logan, known as Beast Boy or Changeling, is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics...
,
RavenRaven is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in DC Comics Presents #26 , and was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez. Raven is an empath who can teleport and control her "Soul Self", which can fight physically as...
and
StarfireStarfire is the name of several fictional comic book characters published by DC Comics. The most prominent Starfire is Koriand'r, the third character to use that name...
. Although the show failed to get picked up, a television commercial with an anti-drug theme did feature the Titans, as they would have appeared in the animated series, along with a new superhero named "The Protector." A Teen Titans animated TV program was eventually
producedTeen Titans is an American animated television series based on the popular DC Comics characters. The show was created by Glen Murakami, developed by David Slack, and produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It premiered on Cartoon Network on July 19, 2003...
.
Superman (1988 TV series)
In 1988, just two years after the
final seasonThe Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1985 to 1986. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.-Summary:In the fall of 1985,...
of
Super Friends, a new series created by
Ruby-Spears ProductionsRuby-Spears Productions was a Burbank, California-based entertainment production company that specializes in animation...
that featured a solo Superman aired on
CBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is an American television network, one of television's original "big three", which also include NBC and ABC. Like NBC, CBS started out as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System...
. In the episode called "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time," Wonder Woman guest stars, and B.J. Ward reprises her role as Wonder Woman.
Super Friends
DC ComicsDC Comics is one of the largest and most popular American comic book and related media companies, along with Marvel Comics. It is the publishing division of DC Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary company of Warner Bros. Entertainment...
published a
comic bookA comic book is a magazine made up of narrative artwork, often accompanied by dialog and often including brief descriptive prose...
version of the
Super Friends in the 1970s and early 1980s. The
Super Friends comic was written to a higher standard than the television show, and Zan and Jayna were given backstories and secret identities as a pair of blond-haired high school kids; they were more competent heroes in general than their cartoon counterparts.
While the cartoons were not
canonA canon, in terms of a fictional universe, is a body of material that is considered to be "genuine" or "official", that can be directly referenced as, or as if it were, material produced by the original author or creator of a series...
with DC Comics, writer
E. Nelson BridwellEdward Nelson Bridwell was a writer for Mad magazine and various comic books published by DC Comics. One of the writers for the Batman comic strip and Super Friends, he also wrote The Inferior Five, among comics...
would make the comic book into canon by
footnoteA footnote is a note of text placed at the bottom of a page in a book or document. The note can provide an author's comments on the main text or citations of a reference work in support of the text, or both...
s. Though, many fans would address the matter in letter columns by addressing the SF stories on "
Earth-1AThe DC Multiverse is a fictional continuity construct that exists in stories published by comic book company DC Comics. The DC Multiverse consists of numerous worlds, most of them outside DC's main continuity allowing writers the creative freedom to explore alternate versions of characters and...
". An example of trying to fit
Super Friends into the DC Universe:
- Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog are the only ones active at the Hall of Justice because the Justice League are in the 30th Century with the Justice Society as shown in Justice League of America #147-148. Robin is busy helping the Titans in Teen Titans #50-52. Bridwell also gave them last names and ties to the other characters' histories; Wendy Harris was the niece of detective Harvey Harris who helped trained Batman
The Batman, originally referred to as the Bat-Man, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero co-created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger , appearing in publications by DC Comics...
and Marvin White was the son of Diana Prince, the woman who helped provide Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
with a secret identity upon her arrival in America.
While the show never explained the departure of Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, the story is found in
Super Friends #6-9.
However, the argument for the comic being canon with Earth-One continuity includes the fact that certain elements of the series impacted other books in the DC line, such as TNT's appearance in Kandor in an issue of "
Superman FamilySuperman Family was a DC Comics comic book series which ran from 1974 to 1982 featuring stories starring supporting characters in the Superman comics...
" that references events exclusively from Super Friends, Sinestro's lack of a power ring in an issue of "
The Brave and The BoldThe Brave and the Bold is the title shared by many comic book series published by DC Comics. The first of these was published as an ongoing series from 1955 to 1983...
" after the ring was destroyed in a Super Friends issue, and Superman already being familiar with Dr. Mist and the international heroes in "
DC Comics PresentsDC Comics Presents was a comic book published by DC Comics from 1978 to 1986 featuring team-ups between Superman and a wide variety of other characters of the DC Universe...
" after meeting them in Super Friends. Further to that, there is circumstantial evidence, such as the comic's use of the "correct"
ToymanThe Toyman is the name of three comic book supervillains and one adolescent superhero in the DC Comics universe. They mostly appear in Superman stories. The first Toyman appeared in Action Comics #64 . His traditional identity is Winslow Schott.The Toyman uses toy-based or toy-themed devices and...
, Winslow P. Schott; Jack Nimball, the jester-like Toyman seen in the TV show, having been murdered by Schott in an issue of Superman's own book some months before.
In 2008, DC began publishing a new
Super Friends comic book starring Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, and Green Lantern (
John StewartJohn Stewart is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Green Lantern vol. 2 #87 , and was created by Dennis O'Neil and Neal Adams.-Publication history:...
). Aimed at children, and replacing
Justice League Adventures (the tie-in to
Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
), the series takes a light-hearted humorous tone.
Extreme Justice
In the comics, the Wonder Twins were members of the short-lived
JLIJustice League International is a DC Comics superhero team written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, with art by Kevin Maguire, created in 1987.-Publication history:...
offshoot,
Extreme JusticeExtreme Justice was a monthly Justice League spin off title in the DC Comics universe. It replaced the cancelled Justice League International and ran for eighteen issues from 1994 to 1996.-Overview:...
.
Super Buddies
The lighthearted nature of the show was partially spoofed in the 2000s with two DC
miniseriesA miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a production which tells a story in a pre-planned limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
,
Formerly Known as the Justice League and
I Can’t Believe It’s Not the Justice League! (although these series were more direct take-offs on the 1980s
Blue BeetleBlue Beetle is the name of three fictional American comic book superheroes published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
/
Booster GoldBooster Gold is a fictional character, a superhero in publications from DC Comics. Created by Dan Jurgens, he first appeared in Booster Gold #1 and has been a member of the Justice League, DC Comics' all-star team of heroes...
-era
Justice LeagueThe Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
). In these miniseries, the group is known as the “Super Buddies,” and consists of a team of various ex-
Justice LeagueThe Justice League, also called the Justice League of America or JLA, is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by DC Comics....
members. Writer
Keith GiffenKeith Ian Giffen is an American comic book illustrator and writer.-Biography:Giffen was born in Queens, New York City....
has stated that his original proposal was titled
1-800-SUPERFRIENDS.
Teen Titans
In #34 (2006), Wendy and Marvin are now part of DC continuity. They are now fraternal twins (a possible nod to their
Super Friends successors, the Wonder Twins), engineering geniuses (apparently having graduated from the
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological research...
at sixteen), and are employed at
Titans TowerTitans Tower is a fictional building in the DC Comics universe. Its various incarnations have been home to the superhero team called the Titans. Although the location and actual look of the tower has changed throughout the various series, there are a few defining characteristics, such as always...
as maintenance crew and all-around mechanical troubleshooters. They were responsible for restoring Titans member
CyborgCyborg is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist George Pérez, and first appears in DC Comics Presents #26...
to full functions after he sustained damage to his artificial body parts during the events of the
Infinite CrisisInfinite Crisis is a seven-issue limited series of comic books written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway. The series was published by DC Comics, beginning in October of 2005...
mini-series and publishing event.
Wizard Magazine
An issue parodied the Super Friends, in which the JLA is sent through a dimensional rift and meets some members of the Super Friends. After
Martian ManhunterJ'onn J'onzz, also referred to as the Martian Manhunter, is a fictional character that appears in publications published by DC Comics. Created by writer Joseph Samachson and artist Joe Certa, the character first appeared in Detective Comics #225 J'onn J'onzz, also referred to as the Martian...
simply uses his Martian vision to melt the villain and his machine, much to Green Lantern’s dismay (
“You have to trick him into leaving, or shutting off his machine, NOT direct physical violence!”) the Super Friends decided to send the Justice Leaguers back to their own dimension. The Wonder Twins turned into water and a bug and paddling, Green Lantern shone his ring on them, Flash ran around them a lot, and Aquaman stood around until water could be introduced in a convienent manner. Despite the fact that their plan made no sense scientifically, it worked and restored the Justice League to their proper world.
Wizard magazine, as a jest, also ran an April Fool's promotion for a Wonder Twins special by painter
Alex RossNelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter, acclaimed for the photorealism of his work. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson...
. The book, titled "Wonder Twins: Form of Water", was to be one of Alex Ross' oversized books chronicling the Justice League. The plot would see Zan and Jayna using their powers to help the Earth's famine and drought-stricken nations after their monkey Gleek contracted super-rabies after severe dehydration.
Alex Ross
Noted painter
Alex RossNelson Alexander "Alex" Ross is an American comic book painter, illustrator, and plotter, acclaimed for the photorealism of his work. He is praised for his realistic, human depictions of classic comic book characters. Since the 1990s he has done work for Marvel Comics and DC Comics Nelson...
is an avowed fan of the show and has worked it into his various projects. In
Kingdom ComeKingdom Come is a four-issue comic book mini-series published in 1996 by DC Comics. It was written by Mark Waid and painted in gouache by Alex Ross, who also developed the concept from an original idea...
, the
United NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace...
building resembles the
Hall of JusticeA Hall of Justice is an occasional term for a city's police headquarters, and exists in cities across the United States. In some cases, the facility may also house courts as well as jails...
while the
GulagThe Gulag or GULAG was the government agency that administered the penal labor camps of the Soviet Union. The term is infamous for its association with remote places where prisoners were kept and sometimes disappeared...
is obviously designed on the Hall of Doom. Marvin can also be spotted in a brief cameo in that book.
Justice is a 12-issue miniseries series in which a new and improved
Legion of DoomThe Legion of Doom is a fictional group of supervillains led by Lex Luthor that appeared in Challenge of the Super Friends, an animated series that starred superheroes from DC Comics....
clashes with the JLA.
Bumpers
Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network is a cable television network created by Turner Broadcasting which primarily shows animated programming. The original American channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 with the Bugs Bunny short Rhapsody Rabbit being its first-ever aired program...
produced three commercials lampooning the Super Friends.
- One dealt with the idiosyncratic nature of the Legion of Doom and Brainiac
Brainiac is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Action Comics #242 , and was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino...
’s odd manner of dress (Brainiac: “Look, I just want some pants...a decent pair of pants!” Solomon GrundySolomon Grundy is a fictional character, a zombie supervillain in DC Comics' main shared universe. Named after the 19th century children's nursery rhyme, he is an enemy of Green Lantern . He has also been an enemy of Batman and Superman...
: “Solomon Grundy want pants, too!”).
- The second dealt with the Wonder Twins
The Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, are teenage alien superheroes who were helpers to the Super Friends in the Hanna-Barbera animated television series of the same name. In the 1990s, these characters were heavily revamped by DC Comics for modern audiences...
’ uselessness in battle (Zan: “I could get beaten by a sponge! It doesn’t even have to be an evil sponge!”).
- The third, co-starring The Powerpuff Girls
The Powerpuff Girls is an American animated television series about three kindergarten-aged girls who have superpowers. Created by animator Craig McCracken, the program was produced by Hanna-Barbera until 2001 when Cartoon Network Studios took over production for Cartoon Network...
, dealt with AquamanAquaman is a fictional comic book superhero who appears in DC Comics. Created by Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger, the character debuted in More Fun Comics #73 . Initially a backup feature in DC's anthology titles, Aquaman later starred in several volumes of a solo title...
’s useless powers (Aquaman: “My ability to talk to fish is of no use to us, Wonder WomanWonder Woman is a DC Comics superhero created by William Moulton Marston. First appearing in All Star Comics #8 , she is one of three characters to have been continuously published by DC Comics since the company's 1944 inception .Wonder Woman is a member of an all-female tribe of Amazons...
!”) as well as the level of violence compared to today’s cartoons, as Wonder Woman and Aquaman look away while the Powerpuff Girls beat up the Legion of Doom, going so far as to set the Scarecrow on fire. Most notabably was Bubbles' double-entendre reply to Wonder Woman's compliment on how they were developing as superheroes. "One day we'll be as developed as you are." Lex Luthor, as a villain with a dirty mind, began laughing. His underlings understood the joke and laughed as well. When a piece of the Hall of Doom's ceiling fell on Luthor's head, everyone laughed. Also, when the Powerpuff Girls came crashing in, Luthor mispronounced their collective name as "The Powderpuff Girls", annoying the Powerpuff Girls and causing them to angrily correct him: "It's PowERpuff!" "No D!!"
- A fourth bumper was produced for Adult Swim
Adult Swim, often stylized as [adult swim] and abbreviated as [as], is an adult-oriented cable television network that shares channel space with Cartoon Network from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM ET/PT in the United States and broadcasting in countries such as Australia and Japan...
. This bumper was a clip from the episode “The Time Trap,” and edited some bleeping in to give the appearance of profanity. Many other Hanna Barbera toons had the same thing done.
- There was a 5th bumper produced that lampooned the manner in which the Super Friends described every action before completing it (e.g., "I need to reach my utility belt so that I may free myself!"). In this commercial, the heroes go to a movie and struggle to find money for popcorn
Popcorn or popping corn is a type of corn which explodes from the kernel and puffs up when heated. Corn popping was originally discovered by Native Americans, but became popular as a snack food during the United States Great Depression, especially in movie theaters.Corn is able to pop because,...
.
Superfriends Wassup!
An internet viral spoof of the
BudweiserBudweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States. Budweiser is made with a large proportion of rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the United States and the rest of the world. It is a...
"Whassup" commercial featuring re-edited footage of
Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. , was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
's,
Super Friends.
Earthworm JimEarthworm Jim is a run and gun platform video game starring an earthworm named Jim in a robotic suit who battles evil. The game was developed by Shiny Entertainment, released for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis in 1994, and subsequently ported to the SNES, Game Boy, Game Gear, Sega Master System, and...
Special Edition
At the end of the game’s Easy Mode ending,
Doug TenNapelDouglas TenNapel is an American musician, animator, and Eisner Award-winning artist. He is best known for creating Earthworm Jim, a character that spawned a famous video game, cartoon series, and toy line.-Biography:...
proclaims,
“Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice, Superman, Batman and Jan and Zayna, uh—the Wonder Twins. They’ve...pronounced that it’s the end. We’re not kidding. Uhh...really!”
That 70s Show
Super Friends was spoofed in an episode with a dream sequence where the “Super Pals” made fun of
Eric’sEric Albert Forman is a fictional character and the male lead on Fox Network's That '70s Show, played by Topher Grace. The character is based on the adolescence of show creator Mark Brazill. Most of the show takes place at the Formans' home, particularly in the basement, where he and his five...
Superman because
Donna’sDonna Marie Pinciotti is a fictional character and the female lead in the FOX sitcom, That '70s Show. Played by Laura Prepon, Donna is the longtime girlfriend of her next-door neighbor, Eric Forman.- Family, friends, and ideals :...
Wonder Woman had given him a ring as a gift.
“I got it at the mall!” she exclaims. The episode features Eric Forman as Superman, Donna as Wonder Woman, Kelso as Batman, Fez as Aquaman and Hyde & Jackie as the Wonder Twins. Red is also featured as their nemesis, “Dr. Bald.", wearing Lex Luthor's green and purple costume.
Maritess vs. the Super Friends
FilipinoThe Philippines officially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a country in Southeast Asia with Manila as its capital city. It comprises 7,107 islands in the western Pacific Ocean....
comedian
Rex NavarreteRex Lasat Navarrete is a Filipino American comedian whose material is geared toward Filipino audiences.-Early life:...
gave a satirized depiction of the Super Friends in his comedy routine about Maritess, a Filipina immigrant who worked as the Super Friends’
maidA maidservant or in current usage maid is a female employed in domestic service. Once part of an elaborate hierarchy in great houses, today a single maid may be the only domestic worker that upper and even middle-income households can afford, as was always the case for many households...
at the Hall of Justice. This was made into a short Macromedia Flash animation by
Dino IgnacioDino Ignacio, a Filipino artist and designer, is known for his defunct Bert is Evil website.Dino Ignacio is currently working at Electronic Arts...
.
Justice LeagueJustice League is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 2001 to 2004 on Cartoon Network. The show was produced by Warner Bros. Animation. It is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics...
In "Secret Origins, Part 3", when Superman proposes the idea of a team, Flash responds “What, you mean like a bunch of...super friends?”
In "Injustice For All", during a battle in a museum, a statue of the Wonder Twins can be seen in the background.
Justice League UnlimitedJustice League Unlimited is an American animated television series that was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on Cartoon Network. Featuring a wide array of superheroes from the DC Comics universe, and specifically based on the Justice League superhero team, it is a direct sequel to the...
"Ultimatum", a first season episode of the
Cartoon NetworkCartoon Network is a cable television network created by Turner Broadcasting which primarily shows animated programming. The original American channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 with the Bugs Bunny short Rhapsody Rabbit being its first-ever aired program...
television series, featured the
Ultimen, a group of superheroes that are a
pasticheA pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre that is a "hodge-podge" or an imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
of heroes unique to the Super Friends. The members were Long Shadow (based on Apache Chief), Wind Dragon (Samurai), Juice (Black Vulcan), Downpour (Zan of the Wonder Twins), and Shifter (Jayna of the Wonder Twins). The headquarters of the Ultimen, although on top of a
skyscraperA skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building. There is no official definition or height above which a building may clearly be classified as a skyscraper...
, resembled the Super Friends’ Hall of Justice. Of note also is that the JLU heroes featured in this episode was the line up of the original
Super Friends, save for Robin (due to the concurrent
Teen Titans and
The Batman The Batman is an Emmy Award-winning American animated television series produced by Warner Bros. Animation based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. It ran from 2004 to 2008, on the Saturday morning television block Kids WB...
cartoon series, DC and Warner Bros. mandated that no Bat-characters other than Batman himself could be used in JLU) The Ultimen also used the wholesome (or corny) language of the Super Friends and the
1960s Batman seriesBatman is a 1960s American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name, which starred Adam West and Burt Ward as Batman and Robin, two crime-fighting heroes who defended "Gotham City". It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for two and a half seasons...
, referring to the Justice League as "old chum" and giving heavy-handed monologues on civic responsibility.
The Fairly OddparentsThe Fairly OddParents is an American animated television series created by Butch Hartman about the adventures of Timmy Turner, who is granted fairy parents named Cosmo and Wanda. The series started out as cartoon segments that ran from September 4, 1998 to March 23, 2001...
In the episode “Power Pals,” Timmy wishes for better super friends. As a result, he gets a team of superheroes—the Power Pals—as “friends.” The four characters parody famous characters including Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Aquaman, and come with their own narrator. Various aspects of
Super Friends were parodied, such as randomly pressing beeping buttons (that flash in an equally random pattern) on any computer module, invisible vehicles (somehow, the Power Pals are able to recognize a dent in the invisible rocket, and can be seen from the outside as only the rocket is invisible), the uselessness of Aquaman’s (Wet Willy’s) ability to talk to fish and powerlessness outside of water, and near-instantaneous travel to distant galaxies.
MTVMTV is a cable television network based in New York City and launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs...
's The StateThe State was a half-hour sketch-comedy television show, originally broadcast on MTV between December 17, 1993 and July 1, 1995. The show combined bizarre characters and scenarios to present sketches that won the favor of its target teenaged audience...
During a transition between two other
skits there is a brief scene with members of the State dressed as the various Super Friends. The Flash runs in an informs them all of an impending disaster. Superman then begins assigning serious tasks to all of the members but finishes by saying "and Aquaman... go talk to some fish". The members of the Super Friends then begin laughing hysterically while a visibly embarrassed Aquaman just stands there.
South Park
The episode, "
Super Best Friends"Super Best Friends" is episode 68 of the Comedy Central series South Park, aired on July 4, 2001.-Plot synopsis:A street magician named David Blaine comes to South Park and impresses the town's residents, including Kyle, Stan, Cartman, and Kenny. The boys are tricked into joining "Blaintology," a...
", is a spoof on this series and depicts religious figures as a team of superheroes. The only member of “The Super Best Friends” who is not a religious figure is “Seaman” (who people continuiously mispronounced as "
semenSemen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that usually contains spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
"), a spoof on Aquaman whose power is to talk to fish.
Additionally, the episode, "
Krazy Kripples"Krazy Kripples" is the 98th episode of the Comedy Central series South Park. It originally aired on March 26, 2003. This episode focuses on Jimmy Vulmer and Timmy.-Plot:...
", features a Legion of Doom featuring
Christopher ReeveChristopher D'Olier Reeve was an American actor, film director, producer and screenwriter. He achieved stardom for his acting achievements, including his notable motion picture portrayal of the fictional character Superman.On May 27, 1995 Reeve became a quadriplegic after being thrown from his...
as the leader. The episode "
Spookyfish"Spookyfish" is the 28th episode of Comedy Central's animated series South Park. It was originally broadcast on October 28, 1998. It was the season's Halloween special, with a "spooky" theme by having pictures of Barbra Streisand in the screen corners, accompanied with the words "spooky...
" also features a Super Friends-style scene transition with images of
Barbra Streisand Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, film and theatre actress. She has also achieved note as a composer, liberal political activist, film producer, and film director. She has won two Academy Awards, ten Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, and a Peabody all by the age of...
's head superimposed over the trademark lensflares.
Family Guy
In the
Family GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television sitcom, created by Seth MacFarlane, for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family which consists of Peter, Lois, Meg, Chris, Stewie, and their pet dog Brian...
episode "
A Hero Sits Next Door"A Hero Sits Next Door" is the fifth episode of Family Guy from season one. It guest-stars Michelle Kwan as herself and marks the first appearance of Joe Swanson and his family. This episode is rated TV-PG LD.- Plot summary :...
", there's a cutaway joke involving
PeterPeter Löwenbräu Griffin is a fictional character, and the protagonist of the FOX animated comedy series Family Guy. Peter is the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is married to Lois, and is the father of Meg, Chris, and Stewie...
playing a game of strip poker with Wonder Woman. Also, the Super Friends-style scene transitions appear twice in the episode.
In " Fast Times at Buddy Cianci Jr. High", Peter flashes back to the time he was a Wonder Twin, with him taking the form of Jayna's tampon.
In " Perfect Castaway", when Lois tells Peter how great the family has been doing ever since she married Brain, she mentions that Meg got on a date with the Super Friends announcer. Then, a scene shows Meg and the announcer in a car on a hill where the announcer says, "Meanwhile, underneath Meg Griffin's bra".
In "
No Meals on Wheels"No Meals on Wheels" is a season five episode of the FOX animated series Family Guy. Its title is a reference to the Meals on Wheels program.-Plot summary:...
", Peter makes a reference to the Mexican Super Friends, and a non-sequitur shows many Mexican versions of superheroes, including "Mexican Superman" and "Mexican Batman."
In "It Takes a Village Idiot, and I Married One" when
LoisLois Griffin is a fictional character from the animated series Family Guy. She is the wife of Peter Griffin and the mother of Meg, Chris, and Stewie...
runs for mayor, she attempts to gain the "stupid vote" by claiming
Adolf HitlerAdolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , popularly known as the Nazi Party...
was working with the Legion of Doom to plot the assassination of
JesusJesus of Nazareth —also known as Jesus Christ or occasionally Jesus the Christ—is the central figure of Christianity. Within most Christian denominations...
. Shortly after this the Legion of Doom's base rises from the lake and Lex Luthor asks the other Legion members how she knew their plans. Solomon Grundy admits he "kinda dropped the ball on that one".
The opening of "
Family Goy"Family Goy" is the second episode of the eighth season of Family Guy. The episode aired on October 4, 2009 on Fox. The episode was watched by 9.67 million viewers.- Plot :...
" parodied the opening sequence of Super Friends with Peter as Superman, Brian and Stewie as Batman and Robin respectively, Lois as Wonder Woman, Chris as Aquaman, and Meg as....Meg.
An ongoing animated series featuring controversial celebrities
Paris HiltonParis Whitney Hilton is an American socialite, heiress, media personality, model, singer, author, fashion designer and actress....
,
Nicole RichieNicole Camille Richie is an American actress, author, socialite, celebutante, singer, and television personality. The adopted daughter of soul singer Lionel Richie, she is perhaps best known for her role in the Fox reality television series The Simple Life, alongside fellow socialite and former...
,
Lindsay LohanLindsay Dee Lohan is an American actress, model, and pop singer. Lohan started in show business as a child fashion model for magazine advertisements and television commercials...
, and the Olsen Twins in the roles of tasteless superheroes, created in 2006 by
Heavy.comHeavy.com is a broadband entertainment website founded in 1999 in New York City. The site was founded by David Carson and Simon Assaad in the wake of the popularity of their first series of video shorts, Behind the Music that Sucks...
. Both the setting and the some of the girls’ superpowers are plays on elements from the
Super Friends.
Aqua Teen Hunger Force
The
Aqua Teen Hunger ForceAqua Teen Hunger Force is an American animated television series shown on Cartoon Network as part of its Adult Swim late-night programming block, as well as Teletoon in Canada...
episode “MC Pee Pants” uses animation backgrounds taken from the
Challenge of the Super Friends episode “Monolith of Evil” for the location of Hell. It is reused in MC Pee Pants' other appearances ("Super Sirloin", "The Last One", "Little Brittle")
Justice Friends
One of the backup segments in
Dexter's LaboratoryDexter's Laboratory is an Annie Award-winning American animated series created by Genndy Tartakovsky and produced by Cartoon Network Studios , about a boy genius named Dexter, who has a secret laboratory hidden behind a bookshelf in his bedroom...
was called
Justice Friends. The title is derived from the Justice League and
Super Friends, and the series makes many references (in a sitcom style) to the superficial plot lines of the Super Friends shows. However, the characters are parodies of
Marvel ComicsMarvel Publishing, Inc., a company doing business as Marvel Comics, produces American comic books and related media. It forms a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc....
'
AvengersThe Avengers are a team of superheroes that appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The team first appear in The Avengers #1 The Avengers are a team of superheroes that appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The team first appear in The Avengers #1 The Avengers are a team...
team (the Marvel equivalent of the Justice League/Super Friends).
Life On Mental Block
In the episode "Speak Softly But Carry A Big Stick" George and Freddie plan to destroy Billy's stick. A clip from the Super Best Friends appears
then the scene cuts to James and his dad at the nightclub.
External links