Super Friends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which ran from 1973 to 1985[1] on ABC as part of its Saturday-morning cartoon lineup. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera and was based on the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.[2] The title of the series varied from season to season, as did the superheroes on the team. Nine seasons, comprising a total of 93 episodes, were produced.
Series titles
Over the years, the show existed under several titles:[3]
- Super Friends (1973)
- The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977)
- Challenge of the Superfriends (1978)
- The World's Greatest SuperFriends (1979)
- Super Friends (1980–1983)
- Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984)
- The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985)
Writing
Plotlines for the later series involved many of the familiar DC Comics super-villains, like the Joker and the Riddler, that the first incarnation of the Super Friends did not. Instead, like the comic books, they focused on the far-fetched schemes of mad scientists and aliens, who were invariably revealed as being well-intentioned, and simply pursuing their goals through unlawful or disreputable means.[4] Typically, at the end of each story, a peaceful and reasonable discussion would be performed by the heroes to convince the antagonists to adopt more reasonable methods.[5]
The All-New Super Friends Hour departed somewhat from the previous series' formula by featuring villains using more elaborate methods to further their goals; as a rule they could not be reasoned with, requiring the heroes to use direct force to stop them. Beginning with Challenge of the Superfriends, several of the heroes' arch-villains from the comic books (such as Lex Luthor 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 the fashion of the typical comic books and deus ex machina.[4]
Production history
In 1973, animation company Hanna-Barbera acquired rights to the DC Comics characters and partnered with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) to adapt the Justice League of America comic book for television.[6] The network made several changes in the transition including the change of name to Super Friends to "cut off any accusations of extreme patriotism".[6] Nevertheless, team members sometimes referred to themselves as the Justice League on the show. The violence common in superhero comics was toned down for a younger audience and to adhere to broadcast standards governing violence in 1970s children's television.
As a DC Comics-based show, the Super Friends franchise was owned by DC's parent company Warner Bros., who later put the series into syndication. Cartoon Network, which had the rights to air most of the rest of the Hanna-Barbera library from its inception in 1992, was not able to air Super Friends until after the merger of Warner Bros.' parent company, Time Warner and Cartoon Network's parent company, Turner Broadcasting System
Characters
The Justice League of America
The core group of heroes made up the "Super Friends":
Other members and guest stars:
Junior Super Friends:
Supporting characters originally from DC comic books:
- Aquaman (1973–1985)
- Batman (1973–1985)
- Robin (1973–1985)
- Superman (1973–1985)
- Wonder Woman (1973–1985)
- Firestorm (1984–1985)
- Cyborg (1985)
References to the Justice League of America name
Beginning with the original Super Friends season, the opening narration describes the team's headquarters as "the great hall of the Justice League". The opening credits of Challenge of the Superfriends names the Super Friends as the Justice League of America. In addition to the appearance of a JLA emblem on a communicator and a reference to a mission to repair the Justice League satellite, the Super Friends are often linked with the JLA. The Justice League satellite is the same design as the Justice League Satellite that appeared in the comics at the time, but is smaller than its comic book counterpart.
Reception
In January 2009, IGN listed Super Friends as the 50th best animated television series.[11]
Home video releases
Spin-offs
Legends of the Superheroes
On January 18 and 25, 1979, Hanna-Barbera ran two one-hour live-action specials under the umbrella title Legends of the Superheroes. The first special, "The Challenge", was loosely based on the Super Friends and the 1960s Batman series and included several other DC characters who replaced Samurai, Black Vulcan, and Apache Chief: Black Canary, Huntress, and Captain Marvel. The second special, "The Roast", featured Ed McMahon as emcee of the roast, along the lines of The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast specials. Due to Warner Bros.' contracts on Wonder Woman and Superman, the characters were unable to be featured on the specials.
The Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show
Plastic Man appeared in the first season of Super Friends, in one episode. Later, Ruby-Spears Productions released a series starring the character in his own solo adventures.
Batman
Comic books
Super Friends
The first use of the Super Friends name on a DC Comics publication was in Limited Collectors' Edition #C-41 (December 1975-January 1976) which reprinted stories from Justice League of America #36 and 61 and featured a new framing sequence by writer E. Nelson Bridwell and artist Alex Toth.[12][13] DC published a comic book version of the Super Friends from November 1976 to August 1981. The comic book series was launched by Bridwell and artist Ric Estrada.[14] Zan and Jayna were given back stories and secret identities as a pair of blond-haired high school kids; they were more competent heroes than their animated counterparts.
In other media
Justice League Unlimited
The Ultimen, loosely based on characters created for the Super Friends, appear in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Ultimatum", as allies and later antagonists to the League. The Ultimen consisted of Long Shadow (based on Apache Chief), Juice (based on Black Vulcan), Wind Dragon (based on Samurai), and Downpour and Shifter (based on the Wonder Twins). They are a group of superheroes created by Project Cadmus to be loyal to the government, with Maxwell Lord as their manager. Additionally, they are genetically unstable and have short lifespans, being continuously cloned and implanted with false memories.
Smallville
The Wonder Twins appear in the Smallville episode "Idol", with Zan portrayed by David Gallagher and Jayna by Allison Scagliotti.
Young Justice
The Hall of Justice appears in Young Justice as a decoy base that hides the existence of the
Merchandise
Super Powers Collection
The Super Powers toy line (and associated tie-in merchandise) was based on the final two seasons of Super Friends. Samurai, an original character from the show, and the Hall of Justice were both released. Plans for future waves from Super Powers would have also included Apache Chief, El Dorado, Black Vulcan and the Wonder Twins.
Justice League Unlimited
The toy line based on Justice League Unlimited released a three pack of figures from characters created for Super Friends, namely Black Vulcan, Apache Chief and Samurai. They were chosen over the Ultimen characters that actually appeared in the JLU animated series: Juice, Long Shadow, and Wind Dragon.
DC Super Friends
Fisher-Price began to produce DC Comics characters in a kid-friendly toyline named after the Super Friends.
DC Universe Classics
Paying homage to Super Powers, DC Universe Classics produced original Super Friends characters such as Apache Chief, Black Vulcan, El Dorado, Samurai and the Wonder Twins.
External links
References
- Superfriends and Justice league every season intro retrieved 2021-07-21^
- Hal Erickson. Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, 1949 Through 2003 McFarland & Co, 2005^
- Batman: Yesterday, Today, And Beyond ~ The Batman Homepage ~ The Largest Batman Site on the Net! Batmanytb.com, retrieved January 2, 2011^