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| FirstAired=September 8, 1973
 
| FirstAired=September 8, 1973
 
| LastAired=November 6, 1985
 
| LastAired=November 6, 1985
| Creators=[[Gardner Fox]]<br> [[Alex Toth]]<br> [[William Hanna]] <br> [[Joseph Barbera]]
+
| Creators=[[Gardner Fox]]<br> [[Alex Toth]]<br> [[William Hanna]] <br> [[Joseph Barbera]]
 
| Producers=[[Hanna-Barbera]]
 
| Producers=[[Hanna-Barbera]]
 
| ExecProd=William Hanna <br>Joseph Barbera
 
| ExecProd=William Hanna <br>Joseph Barbera
  +
|Title = Super Friends}}
}}
 
   
   
'''Title:''' The Super Friends<br>
+
'''Title:''' [[Super Friends!|The Super Friends]]<br />
'''Production Company:''' [[Hanna-Barbera]]<br>
+
'''Production Company:''' [[Hanna-Barbera]]<br />
'''Created by:''' [[Gardner Fox]], [[Alex Toth]], [[William Hanna]] and [[Joseph Barbera]]<br>
+
'''Created by:''' [[Gardner Fox]], [[Alex Toth]], [[William Hanna]] and [[Joseph Barbera]]<br />
'''Creative Consultants:''' [[E. Nelson Bridwell]], [[Carmine Infantino]] and [[Julius Schwartz]]<br>
+
'''Creative Consultants:''' [[E. Nelson Bridwell]], [[Carmine Infantino]] and [[Julius Schwartz]]<br />
'''Seasons:''' 6 Official Seasons<ref>Although there are six seasons there was an an additional '''''3 sets of shorts''''' that ran from 1980 - 1983.</ref><br>
+
'''Seasons:''' 6 Official Seasons<ref>Although there are six seasons there was an an additional '''''3 sets of shorts''''' that ran from 1980 - 1983.</ref><br />
'''Number of Episode:''' 109<br>
+
'''Number of Episode:''' 109<br />
'''On Air From:''' 1973-1985<br>
+
'''On Air From:''' 1973-1985<br />
'''Status:''' Canceled <br>
+
'''Status:''' Canceled<br />
   
   
   
 
==General Information==
 
==General Information==
Super Friends ran from 1973 to 1985 on [[Wikipedia:American Broadcasting Company |ABC]] as part of its [[Wikipedia:Saturday morning cartoon|Saturday morning cartoon]] lineup. It was produced by ''Hanna-Barbera'' as a child-friendly version of the [[Justice League of America]] and associated comic book characters published by [[Wikipedia:DC Comics | DC Comics]]. There were a total of ''109 episodes'' along with what some are calling, 'back door pilot' episodes of [[The New Scooby-Doo Movies]], with [[Batman]] and [[Robin]] appearing in "[[The Dynamic Scooby Doo Affair]]" and "[[The Caped Crusader Caper]]."
+
Super Friends ran from 1973 to 1985 on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] as part of its [[Wikipedia:Saturday morning cartoon|Saturday morning cartoon]] lineup. It was produced by ''Hanna-Barbera'' as a child-friendly version of the [[Justice League of America]] and associated comic book characters published by [[Wikipedia:DC Comics | DC Comics]]. There were a total of ''109 episodes'' along with what some are calling, 'back door pilot' episodes of [[The New Scooby-Doo Movies]], with [[Batman]] and [[Robin]] appearing in "[[The Dynamic Scooby Doo Affair]]" and "[[The Caped Crusader Caper]]." [[Superman]] and [[Wonder Woman]] also guest-starred in two episodes of [[The Brady Kids]].
   
They headquartered themselves inside of the [[Hall of Justice]], a centrally located fortress set within the confines of [[Metropolis]]. The heroes routinely monitored global catastrophes with the aid of an automated warning system called the [[Trouble Alert]] (or [[TroubAlert]]).
+
They headquartered themselves inside of the [[Hall of Justice]], a centrally located fortress set within the confines of [[Metropolis]]. The heroes routinely monitored global catastrophes with the aid of an automated warning system called the [[Trouble Alert]] (or [[TroubAlert]]).
   
The [[Justice League of America | Super Friends]] roster consisted of a core group of characters central to the spirit of comic book heroism: [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Robin]], [[Aquaman]] and [[Wonder Woman]]. Throughout the different seasons, they began to include other [[Wikipedia:DC Comics | DC Comics]] characters such as the [[Flash]], [[Green Lantern]] and [[Hawkman]]. The program also introduced several unique characters in the hopes of adding ethnic diversity to its lineup. Such as:
+
The [[Justice League of America | Super Friends]] roster consisted of a core group of characters central to the spirit of comic book heroism: [[Superman]], [[Batman]], [[Robin]], [[Aquaman]] and [[Wonder Woman]]. Throughout the different seasons, they began to include other [[Wikipedia:DC Comics | DC Comics]] characters such as the [[Flash]], [[Green Lantern]] and [[Hawkman]]. The program also introduced several unique characters in the hopes of adding ethnic diversity to its lineup. Such as:
# [[Apache Chief]], a Native American gifted with enhanced size and strength.
+
# [[Apache Chief]], a Native American gifted with enhanced size and strength.
# [[Samurai]] was an Asian crime fighter who could rotate the lower half of his body for locomotion (among other powers) similar to the [http://dcanimated.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League Justice League] character [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Tornado Red Tornado].
+
# [[Samurai]] was an Asian crime fighter who could rotate the lower half of his body for locomotion (among other powers) similar to the [http://dcanimated.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League Justice League] character [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Tornado Red Tornado].
# There was also [[Black Vulcan]], an African American with powers similar to that of the comic character [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Lightning Black Lightning].
+
# There was also [[Black Vulcan]], an African American with powers similar to that of the comic character [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Lightning Black Lightning].
 
# The final original character added was [[El Dorado]], a Hispanic hero with a number of abilities including teleportation.
 
# The final original character added was [[El Dorado]], a Hispanic hero with a number of abilities including teleportation.
   
 
In 1984, the show introduced [[Firestorm]] to the line-up. [[Firestorm]] joined the [[Justice League of America | Justice League]] in the comic book shortly before his appearance on the series. The primary villain for this series was the alien demagogue [[Darkseid]] and his crew of minions from the other-dimensional world of [[Apokolips]]. Each week, [[Darkseid]] would engage upon a new and daring plan to conquer the Earth, forcing the Super Friends into action.
 
In 1984, the show introduced [[Firestorm]] to the line-up. [[Firestorm]] joined the [[Justice League of America | Justice League]] in the comic book shortly before his appearance on the series. The primary villain for this series was the alien demagogue [[Darkseid]] and his crew of minions from the other-dimensional world of [[Apokolips]]. Each week, [[Darkseid]] would engage upon a new and daring plan to conquer the Earth, forcing the Super Friends into action.
   
In 1985, the [[Justice League of America | Super Friends]] changed its title to the [[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians | ''Super Powers Team'': Galactic Guardians]] and added [[Cyborg]] to the team roster. This incarnation was the only version of the franchise that did not have [[Justice League of America | Super Friends]] in the title. This series lasted only ten episodes. The final episode, [[The Death of Superman]], was aired on November 6th, 1985.
+
In 1985, the [[Justice League of America | Super Friends]] changed its title to the [[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians | ''Super Powers Team'': Galactic Guardians]] and added [[Cyborg]] to the team roster. This incarnation was the only version of the franchise that did not have [[Justice League of America | Super Friends]] in the title. This series lasted only ten episodes. The final episode, [[The Death of Superman]], was aired on November 6th, 1985.
 
   
 
==Continuity With [http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/ DC Comics]==
 
==Continuity With [http://www.dccomics.com/dccomics/ DC Comics]==
The ''[[SuperFriends Universe]]'' did not take place in the universe that existed at the time, [[Earth-One]]. Rather, it existed in what fans have dubbed the [[Earth-1A]] universe. This was because it [[Continuity with Earth-One| shared similarities]], but was distinctly different.
+
The ''[[SuperFriends Universe]]'' did not take place in the universe that existed at the time, [[Earth-One]]. Rather, it existed in what fans have dubbed the [[Earth-1A]] universe. This was because it [[Continuity with Earth-One| shared similarities]], but was distinctly different.
 
Many of the characters are based on the ''[[Silver Age]]<ref>''The Silver Age'' is the informal term applied to a specific period of comic book publishing history. Following the ''[[Golden Age]] era'', DC's Silver Age is largely recognized as beginning with the introduction of the Flash in Showcase #4. However, there are several other characters commonly associated with the Silver Age that actually predate the Flash. Science-fiction adventurer ''Captain Comet'' debuted in 1951 in the pages of Strange Adventures, and the Martian Manhunter made his first appearance in 1955 (a full year before the Flash) in Detective Comics #225. Although the Martian Manhunter is technically the first super-hero exclusive to Silver Age era publishing, comic historians generally give that honor to the Flash. Most DC comic fans typically site that the Silver Age era ended in the early 70's. Many characters and events that are germain to the continuity of Earth-One are said to be part of the Silver Age.</ref> version'' of the characters. However, [[Hanna-Barbera]]'s series is set not during the ''Silver Age'', but the ''[[Bronze Age]]''.<ref> The ''Bronze Age'' is the informal term applied to a specific period of comic book publishing history. Following the ''Silver Age'' era, DC's Bronze Age is largely recognized as beginning with the 1970's and ended with the 1985-86 crossover maxi-series, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Crisis yielded not only the end of an era, but also the an omni-versal reboot of the internal history of most of their major projects. The Bronze Age retained many of the conventions of the Silver Age, including Earth-One, with brightly colored superhero titles remaining the mainstay of the industry. However darker plot elements and more mature storylines featuring real-world issues, such as drug use, began to appear during the period, prefiguring the later [[Modern Age]] of Comic Books.</ref> The ''Bronze Age'' is generally noted as starting in the early 70's and ending with the 1985-86 crossover maxi-series, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.
 
   
 
Many of the characters are based on the ''[[Silver Age]]<ref>''The Silver Age'' is the informal term applied to a specific period of comic book publishing history. Following the ''[[Golden Age]] era'', DC's Silver Age is largely recognized as beginning with the introduction of the Flash in Showcase #4. However, there are several other characters commonly associated with the Silver Age that actually predate the Flash. Science-fiction adventurer ''Captain Comet'' debuted in 1951 in the pages of Strange Adventures, and the Martian Manhunter made his first appearance in 1955 (a full year before the Flash) in Detective Comics #225. Although the Martian Manhunter is technically the first super-hero exclusive to Silver Age era publishing, comic historians generally give that honor to the Flash. Most DC comic fans typically site that the Silver Age era ended in the early 70's. Many characters and events that are germain to the continuity of Earth-One are said to be part of the Silver Age.</ref> version'' of the characters. However, [[Hanna-Barbera]]'s series is set not during the ''Silver Age'', but the ''[[Bronze Age]]''.<ref> The ''Bronze Age'' is the informal term applied to a specific period of comic book publishing history. Following the ''Silver Age'' era, DC's Bronze Age is largely recognized as beginning with the 1970's and ended with the 1985-86 crossover maxi-series, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''. Crisis yielded not only the end of an era, but also the an omni-versal reboot of the internal history of most of their major projects. The Bronze Age retained many of the conventions of the Silver Age, including Earth-One, with brightly colored superhero titles remaining the mainstay of the industry. However darker plot elements and more mature storylines featuring real-world issues, such as drug use, began to appear during the period, prefiguring the later [[Modern Age]] of Comic Books.</ref> The ''Bronze Age'' is generally noted as starting in the early 70's and ending with the 1985-86 crossover maxi-series, ''Crisis on Infinite Earths''.
   
 
==Production History==
 
==Production History==
When animation company ''Hanna-Barbera'' licensed the animation rights to the [[Wikipedia:DC Comics | DC Comics]] characters and adapted the [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_of_America_Vol_1| Justice League of America comic book] for television, it made several changes in the transition, not the least of which was the change of name to [[Justice League of America | ''SuperFriends'']]. In part, it was feared that the name Justice League of America would have seemed too jingoistic during the Vietnam War and post-Vietnam War era. 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, as well as to fit with the restrictive broadcast standards regarding violence in 1970s [[Wikipedia:Saturday morning cartoon| children’s television]].
+
When animation company ''Hanna-Barbera'' licensed the animation rights to the [[Wikipedia:DC Comics | DC Comics]] characters and adapted the [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_of_America_Vol_1%7C Justice League of America comic book] for television, it made several changes in the transition, not the least of which was the change of name to [[Justice League of America | ''SuperFriends'']]. In part, it was feared that the name Justice League of America would have seemed too jingoistic during the Vietnam War and post-Vietnam War era. 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, as well as to fit with the restrictive broadcast standards regarding violence in 1970s [[Wikipedia:Saturday morning cartoon| children’s television]].
 
Although like most Hanna Barbera shows, the rights to the Super Friends franchise are owned by Warner Bros., due to the fact that WB owned DC Comics, the shows have always been under WB control. As a result, Cartoon Network was not able to air the shows until after the merger of Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System was complete.
 
   
 
Although like most Hanna Barbera shows, the rights to the Super Friends franchise are owned by Warner Bros., due to the fact that WB owned DC Comics, the shows have always been under WB control. As a result, [[Cartoon Network]] was not able to air the shows until after the merger of Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System was complete.
   
 
==Series Overview==
 
==Series Overview==
 
Plotlines for the [[Season 1|first incarnation]] of the Super Friends did not involve any of the familiar [[DC Comics]] 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.<ref>"[http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/891/891807p4.html A History of Batman on TV]". IGN. Retrieved 2010-08-15.</ref>
 
Plotlines for the [[Season 1|first incarnation]] of the Super Friends did not involve any of the familiar [[DC Comics]] 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.<ref>"[http://uk.tv.ign.com/articles/891/891807p4.html A History of Batman on TV]". IGN. Retrieved 2010-08-15.</ref>
   
The [[Season 2|All-New Super Friends Hour]] departed somewhat 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.
+
The [[Season 2|All-New Super Friends Hour]] departed somewhat 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 [[Season 3|Challenge of the Super Friends]], 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 typical ''deus ex machina'' fashion.
 
Beginning with [[Season 3|Challenge of the Super Friends]], 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 typical ''deus ex machina'' fashion.
 
   
 
==Reception==
 
==Reception==
 
In January 2009, IGN listed ''Super Friends'' as the 50th best animated television series.<ref>[http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/50.html "IGN - 50. SuperFriends"]. ''Tv.ign.com''. Retrieved 2011-01-02.</ref>
 
In January 2009, IGN listed ''Super Friends'' as the 50th best animated television series.<ref>[http://tv.ign.com/top-100-animated-tv-series/50.html "IGN - 50. SuperFriends"]. ''Tv.ign.com''. Retrieved 2011-01-02.</ref>
 
   
 
==Series Guide:==
 
==Series Guide:==
  +
{{Scroll box
*'''Season 1:'''
 
  +
|content=
 
*'''[[Season 1]]:'''
 
:* 1973-1974 series: [[Season 1|Super Friends]]
 
:* 1973-1974 series: [[Season 1|Super Friends]]
   
 
*'''[[Season 2]]:'''
 
:* 1977-1978 series: [[The All-New Super Friends Hour]]
   
*'''Season 2:'''
+
*'''[[Season 3]]:'''
:* 1977-1978 series: [[The All-New Super Friends Hour]]
 
 
 
*'''Season 3:'''
 
 
:* 1978-1979 series: [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Challenge_of_the_SuperFriends#1st_Incarnation_.2F_Segment ''new'' Super Friends] & [[Challenge of the SuperFriends]]
 
:* 1978-1979 series: [http://superfriends.wikia.com/wiki/Challenge_of_the_SuperFriends#1st_Incarnation_.2F_Segment ''new'' Super Friends] & [[Challenge of the SuperFriends]]
   
 
*'''[[Season 4]]:'''
  +
:* 1979-1980 series: [[The World’s Greatest Super Friends]]
   
*'''Season 4:'''
+
*'''[[Season 5]]:'''
:* 1979-1980 series: [[The World’s Greatest Super Friends]]
+
:* 1980 series: [[1980 Shorts | The Shorts, Part One]]
   
  +
*'''[[Season 6]]:'''
   
* 1980 series: [[1980 Shorts | The Shorts, Part One]]
+
:*1981 series: [[1981 Shorts | The Shorts, Part Two]]
   
  +
*'''[[The Best of the Super Friends|1982]]:'''
* 1981 series: [[1981 Shorts | The Shorts, Part Two]]
 
   
* 1982 series: [[The Best of the Super Friends]] – re-runs only
+
:* 1982 series: [[The Best of the Super Friends]] – re-runs only
   
  +
*'''[[Season 7]]:'''
* 1983 series: [[Super Friends: The Shorts, Part Three, The Lost Episodes | The Shorts, Part Three]] – Did not air in the USA
 
   
 
:* 1983 series: [[Super Friends: The Shorts, Part Three, The Lost Episodes | The Shorts, Part Three]] – Did not air in the USA
   
*'''Season 5:'''
+
*'''[[Season 8]]:'''
 
:* 1984 series: [[SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show]]
 
:* 1984 series: [[SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show]]
   
  +
*'''[[Season 9]]:'''
 
*'''Season 6:'''
 
 
:* 1985 series: [[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]
 
:* 1985 series: [[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]
   
  +
*'''[[Season 10]]:'''
  +
:* 2003 series: [[The Aquaman & Friends Action Hour]]
  +
  +
*'''[[Season 11]]:'''
  +
:* 2007 series: [[The New Adventures of the Wonder Twins]]
  +
  +
*'''[[Season 12]]:'''
  +
:* 2010 series: [[DC Super Friends (2010)]]
  +
  +
*'''[[Season 13]]:'''
  +
:* 2015 series: [[DC Super Friends (2015)]]
 
}}
   
 
==Cast==
 
==Cast==
  +
{{Scroll box
  +
|content=
 
===Narrator===
 
===Narrator===
 
* [[Ted Knight]] (1973, seasons 1)
 
* [[Ted Knight]] (1973, seasons 1)
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===Principal Cast===
 
===Principal Cast===
[[Image:Superfriends.png|thumb|left|850px|The SuperFriends]]
+
[[Image:Superfriends.png|thumb|left|650px|The SuperFriends]]
  +
{{clear}}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
* [[Superman]] – voiced by [[Danny Dark]] (seasons 1-6)
 
* [[Superman]] – voiced by [[Danny Dark]] (seasons 1-6)
 
* [[Robin]] – voiced by [[Casey Kasem]] (seasons 1-6)
 
* [[Robin]] – voiced by [[Casey Kasem]] (seasons 1-6)
   
 
* [[Firestorm]] (aka Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein)
 
* [[Firestorm]] (aka Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein)
 
 
:* [[Mark L. Taylor]] as the voice of [[Firestorm|Ronnie Raymond]] (seasons 5-6)
 
:* [[Mark L. Taylor]] as the voice of [[Firestorm|Ronnie Raymond]] (seasons 5-6)
:* [[Olan Soule]] as the voice of [[Firestorm|Professor Martin Stein]] (seasons 5)
+
:* [[Olan Soule]] as the voice of [[Firestorm|Professor Martin Stein]] (seasons 5)
:* -------------{{Fact|}} as the voice of [[Firestorm|Professor Martin Stein]] (seasons 6)
+
:* -------------{{Fact|}} as the voice of [[Firestorm|Professor Martin Stein]] (seasons 6)
 
   
 
* [[Batman]]
 
* [[Batman]]
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:* [[Adam West]] (seasons 5-6)
 
:* [[Adam West]] (seasons 5-6)
   
 
* [[Aquaman]]
 
* [[Aquaman]]
 
 
:* [[Norman Alden]] (seasons 1-2)
 
:* [[Norman Alden]] (seasons 1-2)
 
:* [[Bill Calloway]] (seasons 3-6)
 
:* [[Bill Calloway]] (seasons 3-6)
   
 
* [[Wonder Woman]]
 
* [[Wonder Woman]]
 
 
:* [[Shannon Farnon]] (seasons 1-4)
 
:* [[Shannon Farnon]] (seasons 1-4)
 
:* [[Connie Cawlfield]] (seasons 5)
 
:* [[Connie Cawlfield]] (seasons 5)
Line 158: Line 152:
   
 
===Original Characters ''Created'' By [[Hanna-Barbera]]===
 
===Original Characters ''Created'' By [[Hanna-Barbera]]===
* [[Black Vulcan]] - voiced by [[Buster Jones]]
+
* [[Black Vulcan]] - voiced by [[Buster Jones]]
* [[Samurai]] - voiced by [[Jack Angel]]
+
* [[Samurai]] - voiced by [[Jack Angel]]
* [[Apache Chief]] - voiced by [[Michael Rye]]
+
* [[Apache Chief]] - voiced by [[Michael Rye]]
 
* [[El Dorado]] – voiced by [[Fernando Escandon]]
 
* [[El Dorado]] – voiced by [[Fernando Escandon]]
   
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===Guest Appearances===
 
===Guest Appearances===
 
* The [[Atom]] – voiced by [[Wally Burr]]
 
* The [[Atom]] – voiced by [[Wally Burr]]
* The [[Flash]]
+
* The [[Flash]]
 
:* [[Ted Knight]] (season 1)
 
:* [[Ted Knight]] (season 1)
 
:* [[Jack Angel]] (season 3-6)
 
:* [[Jack Angel]] (season 3-6)
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===One-shot [[Justice League]] appearances===
 
===One-shot [[Justice League]] appearances===
* [[Plastic Man]] – voiced by [[Norman Alden]]
+
* [[Plastic Man]] – voiced by [[Norman Alden]]
 
* [[Green Arrow]] – voiced by [[Norman Alden]]
 
* [[Green Arrow]] – voiced by [[Norman Alden]]
   
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* [[Undine]] (Crystal Marr) - water elemental
 
* [[Undine]] (Crystal Marr) - water elemental
   
The [[Global Guardians]]:
+
The [[Global Guardians]]:
 
* [[Doctor Mist]] (''Nommo'' of Kor, Africa) - Leader and Visionary
 
* [[Doctor Mist]] (''Nommo'' of Kor, Africa) - Leader and Visionary
 
* The [[Little Mermaid]] (''Ulla Paske'' of Denmark)
 
* The [[Little Mermaid]] (''Ulla Paske'' of Denmark)
Line 218: Line 212:
 
* [[Bushmaster]] (''Bernal Rojas'' of Venezuela)
 
* [[Bushmaster]] (''Bernal Rojas'' of Venezuela)
 
* [[Fire (superhero)| Fire]], formerly ''[[Green Fury]]'' and ''Green Flame'' (''Beatriz da Costa'' of Brazil)
 
* [[Fire (superhero)| Fire]], formerly ''[[Green Fury]]'' and ''Green Flame'' (''Beatriz da Costa'' of Brazil)
* [[Icemaiden]] (''Sigrid Nansen'' of Norway)
+
* [[Icemaiden]] (''Sigrid Nansen'' of Norway)
   
   
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* [[Legion of Doom]]
 
* [[Legion of Doom]]
:* [[Lex Luthor]]
+
:* [[Lex Luthor]]
 
::* [[Stan Jones]] (season 3-6)
 
::* [[Stan Jones]] (season 3-6)
  +
:* [[Brainiac]]
+
:* [[Brainiac]]
::*[[Ted Cassidy]] (seasons 3)
+
::*[[Ted Cassidy]] (seasons 3)
 
::*[[Stanley Ralph Ross]] (seasons 4-6)
 
::*[[Stanley Ralph Ross]] (seasons 4-6)
  +
 
:* [[Black Manta]]
 
:* [[Black Manta]]
 
::*[[Ted Knight]] (season 2)
 
::*[[Ted Knight]] (season 2)
 
::*[[Ted Cassidy]] (season 3)
 
::*[[Ted Cassidy]] (season 3)
  +
 
:* [[Cheetah]]
 
:* [[Cheetah]]
 
::*[[Marlene Aragon]] (season 3)
 
::*[[Marlene Aragon]] (season 3)
  +
:*[[Sinestro]]
+
:*[[Sinestro]]
 
::* [[Vic Perrin]] (season 3, first 4 episodes)<ref>Source: [http://user1291318.sites.myregisteredsite.com/willsultimatesuperfriendsepisodeguide/index.html Will's Ultimate Super Friends Episode Guide!], [http://user1291318.sites.myregisteredsite.com/willsultimatesuperfriendsepisodeguide/id11.html "Don Messick started off only voicing the Scarecrow, but also took over the voice of ''Sinestro'' after [[Vic Perrin]] only did the first 4 episodes."]</ref>
 
::* [[Vic Perrin]] (season 3, first 4 episodes)<ref>Source: [http://user1291318.sites.myregisteredsite.com/willsultimatesuperfriendsepisodeguide/index.html Will's Ultimate Super Friends Episode Guide!], [http://user1291318.sites.myregisteredsite.com/willsultimatesuperfriendsepisodeguide/id11.html "Don Messick started off only voicing the Scarecrow, but also took over the voice of ''Sinestro'' after [[Vic Perrin]] only did the first 4 episodes."]</ref>
 
::* [[Don Messick]] (season 3, remaining 12 episodes)
 
::* [[Don Messick]] (season 3, remaining 12 episodes)
  +
:*[[Gorilla Grodd]]
+
:*[[Gorilla Grodd]]
 
::* [[Stanley Ralph Ross]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Stanley Ralph Ross]] (season 3)
  +
 
:*[[Captain Cold]]
 
:*[[Captain Cold]]
 
::* [[Dick Ryal]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Dick Ryal]] (season 3)
  +
:*[[Scarecrow]]
+
:*[[Scarecrow]]
 
::* [[Don Messick]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Don Messick]] (season 3)
 
::* [[André Stojka]] (season 6)
 
::* [[André Stojka]] (season 6)
  +
:*[[Toyman]]
+
:*[[Toyman]]
 
::* [[Frank Welker]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Frank Welker]] (season 3)
  +
 
:*[[Solomon Grundy]]
 
:*[[Solomon Grundy]]
 
::*[[Jimmy Weldon]] (season 3)
 
::*[[Jimmy Weldon]] (season 3)
  +
 
:* The [[Riddler]]
 
:* The [[Riddler]]
 
::* [[Michael Bell]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Michael Bell]] (season 3)
  +
 
:* [[Giganta]]
 
:* [[Giganta]]
 
::* [[Ruth Forman]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Ruth Forman]] (season 3)
  +
 
:* [[Bizarro]]
 
:* [[Bizarro]]
 
::* [[Bill Calloway]] (season 3)
 
::* [[Bill Calloway]] (season 3)
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* [[Darkon]]
 
* [[Darkon]]
 
* [[Yuna]] the Terrible
 
* [[Yuna]] the Terrible
  +
}}
 
   
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
 
* This title franchise has been known by several alternate spellings, including: ''Super Friends'', ''SuperFriends'' and also as ''Super-Friends''.
 
* This title franchise has been known by several alternate spellings, including: ''Super Friends'', ''SuperFriends'' and also as ''Super-Friends''.
   
* Although they were commonly known as the ''SuperFriends'', the team also referred to themselves as the [[Justice League of America]].
+
* Although they were commonly known as the ''SuperFriends'', the team also referred to themselves as the [[Justice League of America]].
   
* 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 Super Friends'' names the Super Friends as the [[Justice League|Justice League of America]].
+
* 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 Super Friends'' names the Super Friends as the [[Justice League|Justice League of America]].
   
 
* Each member of the team had a [[JLA Communicator]] device with the '''JLA''' banner emblazoned upon it.
 
* Each member of the team had a [[JLA Communicator]] device with the '''JLA''' banner emblazoned upon it.
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* The [[Justice League Satellite]] under repair is clearly the same design as the [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_Satellite_I Justice League Satellite (Earth One)] that appeared in the comics at the time, but was shown to be substantially smaller than its comic book counterpart.
 
* The [[Justice League Satellite]] under repair is clearly the same design as the [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Justice_League_Satellite_I Justice League Satellite (Earth One)] that appeared in the comics at the time, but was shown to be substantially smaller than its comic book counterpart.
   
* Many episodes of the series included public service announcements tacked onto the conclusion of each episode. These epilogues traditionally featured only one or two Super Friends and warned younger viewers against societal ills such as talking to strangers and smoking.
+
* Many episodes of the series included public service announcements tacked onto the conclusion of each episode. These epilogues traditionally featured only one or two Super Friends and warned younger viewers against societal ills such as talking to strangers and smoking.
   
* The Super Friends franchise spawned a [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page ''DC] Comics'' comic series aptly titled ''[http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Friends_Vol_1 ''Super Friends'' (comic book series)]''. The series ran for forty-seven issues and was collected into a [[The Super Friends (July 1, 2001)| trade paperback in 2001]], with a cover illustration by [[Wikipedia:Alex Ross|Alex Ross]] (based upon original concept art by [[Alex Toth]]). Although the Super Friends comic series took place outside the accepted ''DC Comics'' continuity of the time period (aka [[Earth-One]]),<ref>It actually existed in its own universe called [[Earth-1A]]</ref> it is noted for introducing several canon ''DC Characters''.''
+
* The Super Friends franchise spawned a [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page ''DC'']'' Comics'' comic series aptly titled [http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Super_Friends_Vol_1 Super Friends'' (comic book series)'']. The series ran for forty-seven issues and was collected into a [[The Super Friends (July 1, 2001)| trade paperback in 2001]], with a cover illustration by [[Alex Ross]] (based upon original concept art by [[Alex Toth]]). Although the Super Friends comic series took place outside the accepted ''DC Comics'' continuity of the time period (aka [[Earth-One]]),<ref>It actually existed in its own universe called [[Earth-1A]]</ref> it is noted for introducing several canon ''DC Characters''.
   
  +
*The Super Friends also appeared in a wide variety of [[commercials]], including the famous [[Underoos]] commercials of the '70s. The character designs were once again done by [[Alex Toth]], and the [[DC Comics]] [[superheroes]] appeared alongside several characters from [[Marvel Comics]] and other companies.
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
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* The SuperFriends have also been lampooned on popular programs such as South Park, the Family Guy, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law and Robot Chicken.
 
* The SuperFriends have also been lampooned on popular programs such as South Park, the Family Guy, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law and Robot Chicken.
   
* Wendy and Marvin, originally characters created specifically for the Super Friends, recently made their canon comic book debut in the pages of ''Teen Titans, Vol. 3 #34'' (2006). They were inspired by the ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' gang. The voices of Marvin and Wonder Dog were both performed by [[Frank Welker]], who also did the voice of [[Fred Jones]] on the ''Scooby-Doo'' series.
+
* Wendy and Marvin, originally characters created specifically for the Super Friends, recently made their canon comic book debut in the pages of ''Teen Titans, Vol. 3 #34'' (2006). They were inspired by the ''[[Scooby Doo]]'' gang. The voices of Marvin and Wonder Dog were both performed by [[Frank Welker]], who also did the voice of [[Fred Jones]] on the ''Scooby-Doo'' series.
   
* Late actor [[Ted Knight]], more popularly known for his roles in the movie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddyshack ''Caddyshack''] and the television sitcom [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Close_for_Comfort_(TV_series) ''Too Close for Comfort''] provided the voice of the Narrator on the 1973 version of the SuperFriends. His signature line was, "Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice!" [[William Woodson]] took over once they dropped the original format.
+
* Late actor [[Ted Knight]], more popularly known for his roles in the movie [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caddyshack ''Caddyshack''] and the television sitcom [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Too_Close_for_Comfort_(TV_series) ''Too Close for Comfort''] provided the voice of the Narrator on the 1973 version of the SuperFriends. His signature line was, "Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice!" [[William Woodson]] took over once they dropped the original format.
   
* [[Adam West]] provided the voice for Batman in ''[[SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show]]'' and ''[[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]''. [[Casey Kasem]] provided the voice for Robin, along with many others in the show.
+
* [[Adam West]] provided the voice for Batman in ''[[SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show]]'' and ''[[The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians]]''. [[Casey Kasem]] provided the voice for Robin, along with many others in the show.
   
 
* Up until 2003, [[Robin]] was the only original Super Friend who was never a member of any incarnation of the [[Justice League of America]] (excluding characters created expressly for the show). During the ''Obsidian Age'' storyline running through “select issues of JLA”, Dick Grayson became a deputy leader of the Justice League under his modern identity, Nightwing. Taking into account the entire Super Friends roster, [[Cyborg]] (Victor Stone) is the only comic-based character featured on the Super Friends who was never a member of the Justice League.
 
* Up until 2003, [[Robin]] was the only original Super Friend who was never a member of any incarnation of the [[Justice League of America]] (excluding characters created expressly for the show). During the ''Obsidian Age'' storyline running through “select issues of JLA”, Dick Grayson became a deputy leader of the Justice League under his modern identity, Nightwing. Taking into account the entire Super Friends roster, [[Cyborg]] (Victor Stone) is the only comic-based character featured on the Super Friends who was never a member of the Justice League.
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==Spin-offs==
 
==Spin-offs==
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===[[The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show]]===
 
===[[The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show]]===
''[[Plastic Man]]'' first appeared in the [[Season 1|first season]] of ''Super Friends'', in one episode. Later, ''[[Ruby-Spears]] Productions'' released a series starring the character in his own solo adventures. [[Plastic Man (TV Show)|The Plastic Man]] episode "[[Superstein]]" is actually directly linked to the [[The World’s Greatest Super Friends]] episode "[[The Super Friends Meet Frankenstein]]." [[Doctor Frankenstein]]'s sidekick,[[Gork]], (not to be confused with Igor) appears in both episodes, with the same voice actor and at least a similar character design.
+
''[[Plastic Man]]'' first appeared in the [[Season 1|first season]] of ''Super Friends'', in one episode. Later, ''[[Ruby-Spears]] Productions'' released a series starring the character in his own solo adventures. [[Plastic Man (TV Show)|The Plastic Man]] episode "[[Superstein]]" is actually directly linked to the [[The World’s Greatest Super Friends]] episode "[[The Super Friends Meet Frankenstein]]." [[Doctor Frankenstein]]'s sidekick,[[Gork]], (not to be confused with Igor) appears in both episodes, with the same voice actor and at least a similar character design.
   
 
===An ''unnamed'' Batman Series===
 
===An ''unnamed'' Batman Series===
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===[[Teen_Titans#The_New_Teen_Titans|The New Teen Titans]]===
 
===[[Teen_Titans#The_New_Teen_Titans|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 [[Earth-1A|same continuity]]. [[Robin]] wasn't going to be featured in the cartoon though, at least not as a regular, since he was already seen prominently featured as a [[Junior SuperFriends Member]] on the ''Super Friends TV show''. Like Super Friends, the show was to be developed by [[Hanna-Barbera]] for ABC, but since shows like ''The Smurfs'' (airing on NBC) were so popular at the time, this show was never picked up by the network. The show would have featured [[Wonder Girl]] as the leader, along with [[Cyborg]], [[Kid Flash]], [[Changeling]], [[Raven]] and [[Starfire]]. Although the show failed to get picked up, a [[Anti-drug commercial (1983-1984)|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]]." He was expected to be the replacement for [[Robin]].
+
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 [[Earth-1A|same continuity]]. [[Robin]] wasn't going to be featured in the cartoon though, at least not as a regular, since he was already seen prominently featured as a [[Junior SuperFriends Member]] on the ''Super Friends TV show''. Like Super Friends, the show was to be developed by [[Hanna-Barbera]] for ABC, but since shows like ''The Smurfs'' (airing on NBC) were so popular at the time, this show was never picked up by the network. The show would have featured [[Wonder Girl]] as the leader, along with [[Cyborg]], [[Kid Flash]], [[Changeling]], [[Raven]] and [[Starfire]]. Although the show failed to get picked up, a [[Anti-drug commercial (1983-1984)|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]]." He was expected to be the replacement for [[Robin]].
   
 
===[[Superman (TV series)|Superman (1988 TV series)]]===
 
===[[Superman (TV series)|Superman (1988 TV series)]]===
In 1988, just two years after the [[Season 6|final season]] of the ''Super Friends'', a new series created by ''Ruby-Spears Productions'' that featured a solo [[Superman]] aired on CBS. On the episode called "[[Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time]]," [[Wonder Woman]] guest stars, and [[BJ Ward]] reprises her role as Wonder Woman.
+
In 1988, just two years after the [[Season 6|final season]] of the ''Super Friends'', a new series created by ''Ruby-Spears Productions'' that featured a solo [[Superman]] aired on CBS. On the episode called "[[Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time]]," [[Wonder Woman]] guest stars, and [[BJ Ward]] reprises her role as Wonder Woman.
  +
}}
 
   
 
==Comics==
 
==Comics==
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===[[Super Friends (comic book)|''Super Friends'' (comic book)]]===
 
===[[Super Friends (comic book)|''Super Friends'' (comic book)]]===
 
[[DC Comics]] published a comic book version of the ''Super Friends'' in the 1970s. The ''Super Friends'' comic was written to a higher standard than the television show. [[Zan]] and [[Jayna]] were given ''back-stories'' and ''[[secret identities]]'' as a pair of blond-haired high school kids; they were more competent heroes in general than their cartoon counterparts.
 
[[DC Comics]] published a comic book version of the ''Super Friends'' in the 1970s. The ''Super Friends'' comic was written to a higher standard than the television show. [[Zan]] and [[Jayna]] were given ''back-stories'' 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 [[Earth-One|not considered canon with DC Comics]], writer [[E. Nelson Bridwell]] would try to [[Continuity with Earth-One|make it into canon by footnotes]]. Many fans would address the matter in letter columns by addressing the ''SF stories'' on a [[Multi-Universes|parallel universe]] called, [[Earth-1A]]. An example of trying to fit Super Friends into the DC Universe:
 
While the cartoons were [[Earth-One|not considered canon with DC Comics]], writer [[E. Nelson Bridwell]] would try to [[Continuity with Earth-One|make it into canon by footnotes]]. Many fans would address the matter in letter columns by addressing the ''SF stories'' on a [[Multi-Universes|parallel universe]] called, [[Earth-1A]]. An example of trying to fit Super Friends into the DC Universe:
*In [[Super Friends 7|''issue #7'']], [[Wendy]], [[Marvin]] and [[Wonder Dog]] are the only ones active at the [[Hall of Justice]] because the [[Justice League]] are in the [[Earth-1A_Timeline#30th_century|30th Century]] with the [[Justice Society of America]] as shown in [[Justice League of America, Vol. 1 147|''Justice League of America, Vol. 1 #147'']] and [[Justice League of America, Vol. 1 148|''#148'']]. Bridwell also gave the kids last names and ties to the other characters' histories. [[Wendy Harris]] was the niece of ''detective [[Harvey Harris]]'' who helped train a young [[Bruce Wayne]]. [[Marvin White]] was the son of the [[Diana Prince White|woman]] who helped provide [[Wonder Woman]] with a secret identity upon her arrival in [[America]].
+
*In [[Super Friends 7|''issue #7'']], [[Wendy]], [[Marvin]] and [[Wonder Dog]] are the only ones active at the [[Hall of Justice]] because the [[Justice League]] are in the [[Earth-1A_Timeline#30th_century|30th Century]] with the [[Justice Society of America]] as shown in [[Justice League of America, Vol. 1 147|''Justice League of America, Vol. 1 #147'']] and [[Justice League of America, Vol. 1 148|''#148'']]. Bridwell also gave the kids last names and ties to the other characters' histories. [[Wendy Harris]] was the niece of ''detective [[Harvey Harris]]'' who helped train a young [[Bruce Wayne]]. [[Marvin White]] was the son of the [[Diana Prince White|woman]] who helped provide [[Wonder Woman]] with a secret identity upon her arrival in [[America]].
*In this [[Super Friends 7|''same issue'']], [[Robin]] is busy helping the [[Teen Titans|Titans]] in [[Teen Titans, Vol. 1 50|''Teen Titans, Vol. 1 #50'']], [[Teen Titans, Vol. 1 50|''#51'']] and [[Teen Titans, Vol. 1 50|''#52'']].
+
*In this [[Super Friends 7|''same issue'']], [[Robin]] is busy helping the [[Teen Titans|Titans]] in [[Teen Titans, Vol. 1 50|''Teen Titans, Vol. 1 #50'']], [[Teen Titans, Vol. 1 50|''#51'']] and [[Teen Titans, Vol. 1 50|''#52'']].
   
 
While the ''TV show'' never explained the departure of Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, the story is found in [[Super Friends 6|''issue #6'']], [[Super Friends 7|''issue #7'']], [[Super Friends 8|''issue #8'']] and [[Super Friends 9|''issue #9'']].
 
While the ''TV show'' never explained the departure of Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, the story is found in [[Super Friends 6|''issue #6'']], [[Super Friends 7|''issue #7'']], [[Super Friends 8|''issue #8'']] and [[Super Friends 9|''issue #9'']].
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===''Young Justice''===
 
===''Young Justice''===
''Young Justice'' was a comic series that followed the adventures of a group composed of the latest teen super-heroes of the late 90's and early 2000s, including ''Tim Drake'', who was Batman's new Robin, [[Superboy]], Bart Allen, aka, Impulse & [[Wonder Girl]]. Towards the end of the run, Young Justice was involved in a mission which required them to invade an island who's population was made up of super-villains. In order to achieve a successful attack, the core team assembled all the, then, known teen heroes, including the [[Wonder Twins]]. Like in Extreme Justice, neither of them could speak English and seemed to enjoy eating CD's. Unlike their cartoon counterparts, the Wonder Twins were far more rude and sarcastic towards other people.
+
''Young Justice'' was a comic series that followed the adventures of a group composed of the latest teen super-heroes of the late 90's and early 2000s, including ''Tim Drake'', who was Batman's new Robin, [[Superboy]], Bart Allen, aka, Impulse & [[Wonder Girl]]. Towards the end of the run, Young Justice was involved in a mission which required them to invade an island who's population was made up of super-villains. In order to achieve a successful attack, the core team assembled all the, then, known teen heroes, including the [[Wonder Twins]]. Like in Extreme Justice, neither of them could speak English and seemed to enjoy eating CD's. Unlike their cartoon counterparts, the Wonder Twins were far more rude and sarcastic towards other people.
   
 
===''Super Buddies''===
 
===''Super Buddies''===
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===''Teen Titans''===
 
===''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 Technology at sixteen), and are employed at Titans Tower as maintenance crew and all-around mechanical troubleshooters. They were responsible for restoring Titans member [[Cyborg]] to full functions after he sustained damage to his artificial body parts during the events of the Infinite Crisis mini-series and publishing event. [[Wonder Dog]] was also introduced into the series, however unlike the cartoon, he was not a lovable sidekick, but was instead a murderous shapeshifting demon dog who was sent to Titans Tower to kill the team. Wonder Dog killed [[Marvin White]] brutally, and then attacked [[Wendy]], leaving her crippled from the waist down. Wendy is currently a supporting character in the new ''Batgirl'' series, where she receives help accepting her new disabilities from the former Batgirl [[Barbara Gordon]].
+
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 Technology at sixteen), and are employed at Titans Tower as maintenance crew and all-around mechanical troubleshooters. They were responsible for restoring Titans member [[Cyborg]] to full functions after he sustained damage to his artificial body parts during the events of the Infinite Crisis mini-series and publishing event. [[Wonder Dog]] was also introduced into the series, however unlike the cartoon, he was not a lovable sidekick, but was instead a murderous shapeshifting demon dog who was sent to Titans Tower to kill the team. Wonder Dog killed [[Marvin White]] brutally, and then attacked [[Wendy]], leaving her crippled from the waist down. Wendy is currently a supporting character in the new ''Batgirl'' series, where she receives help accepting her new disabilities from the former Batgirl [[Barbara Gordon]].
   
 
===''Justice League of America''===
 
===''Justice League of America''===
 
During the events of the 2005 company-wide ''Infinite Crisis'' crossover, the ''Justice League Watchtower'' was destroyed by Superboy-Prime, leaving the JLA without a base of operations. To that end, the team established the [[Hall of Justice]] in Washington D.C. to act as an embassy for the team, as well as an emergency base of operations if needed. In the continuity of the comics, the Hall was designed by Green Lantern (John Stewart) and [[Wonder Woman]].
 
During the events of the 2005 company-wide ''Infinite Crisis'' crossover, the ''Justice League Watchtower'' was destroyed by Superboy-Prime, leaving the JLA without a base of operations. To that end, the team established the [[Hall of Justice]] in Washington D.C. to act as an embassy for the team, as well as an emergency base of operations if needed. In the continuity of the comics, the Hall was designed by Green Lantern (John Stewart) and [[Wonder Woman]].
 
 
In ''Justice League of America'' #46 (2010), [[Samurai]] makes his first official appearance in the [[DC Universe]], where he is shown as one of the heroes driven temporarily insane by [[Green Lantern (JSA)|Alan Scott]].
 
In ''Justice League of America'' #46 (2010), [[Samurai]] makes his first official appearance in the [[DC Universe]], where he is shown as one of the heroes driven temporarily insane by [[Green Lantern (JSA)|Alan Scott]].
   
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Noted painter Alex Ross is an avowed fan of the show and has worked it into his various projects.
 
Noted painter Alex Ross is an avowed fan of the show and has worked it into his various projects.
 
* ''Kingdom Come'' — The United Nations building resembles the Hall of Justice while the Gulag is obviously designed on the Hall of Doom. Marvin can also be spotted in a brief cameo in that book.
 
* ''Kingdom Come'' — The United Nations building resembles the Hall of Justice while the Gulag is obviously designed on the Hall of Doom. Marvin can also be spotted in a brief cameo in that book.
* ''Justice'' — A 12-issue miniseries series in which a new and improved [[Legion of Doom]] clashes with the JLA.
+
* ''Justice'' — A 12-issue miniseries series in which a new and improved [[Legion of Doom]] clashes with the JLA.
  +
}}
 
   
 
==Parodies==
 
==Parodies==
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===''Earthworm Jim Special Edition''===
 
===''Earthworm Jim Special Edition''===
 
At the end of the game’s Easy Mode ending, Doug TenNapel 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!”
 
At the end of the game’s Easy Mode ending, Doug TenNapel 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!”
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===''Justice Friends''===
 
===''Justice Friends''===
One of the backup segments in ''Dexter's Laboratory'' was called ''Justice Friends''. The title is derived from the Justice League of America 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 Comics]]' Avengers team (the Marvel equivalent of the Justice League/Super Friends).
+
One of the backup segments in ''Dexter's Laboratory'' was called ''Justice Friends''. The title is derived from the Justice League of America 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 Comics]]' Avengers team (the Marvel equivalent of the Justice League/Super Friends).
  +
}}
 
   
 
==Bumpers==
 
==Bumpers==
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The ''Cartoon Network'' produced three commercials lampooning the Super Friends.
 
The ''Cartoon Network'' produced three commercials lampooning the Super Friends.
* One dealt with the ''idiosyncratic nature'' of the [[Legion of Doom]] and [[Brainiac]]’s odd manner of dress (Brainiac: “Look, I just want some pants...a decent pair of pants!” [[Solomon Grundy]]: “Solomon Grundy want pants, too!”).
+
* One dealt with the ''idiosyncratic nature'' of the [[Legion of Doom]] and [[Brainiac]]’s odd manner of dress (Brainiac: “Look, I just want some pants...a decent pair of pants!” [[Solomon Grundy]]: “Solomon Grundy want pants, too!”).
* The second dealt with the [[Wonder Twins]]’ uselessness in battle ([[Zan]]: “I could get beaten by a sponge! It doesn’t even have to be an evil sponge!”).
+
* The second dealt with the [[Wonder Twins]]’ 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 ''Powerpuff Girls'', dealt with [[Aquaman]]’s useless powers (Aquaman: “My ability to talk to fish is of no use to us, [[Wonder Woman]]!”) 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 notably 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.
+
* The third, co-starring ''Powerpuff Girls'', dealt with [[Aquaman]]’s useless powers (Aquaman: “My ability to talk to fish is of no use to us, [[Wonder Woman]]!”) 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 notably 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.
   
*A fourth bumper was produced for ''Adult Swim.'' This bumper was a clip from the episode “The Time Trap,” and edited some beeping in to give the appearance of profanity. Many other Hanna-Barbera toons had the same thing done.
+
*A fourth bumper was produced for ''Adult Swim.'' This bumper was a clip from the episode “The Time Trap,” and edited some beeping 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 Superfriends 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.
  +
}}
   
*There was a 5th bumper produced that lampooned the manner in which the Superfriends 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.
 
 
   
 
==See Also==
 
==See Also==
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*[http://www.rob63.pages.qpg.com//index.html Rob's SuperFriends Fan Page]
 
*[http://www.rob63.pages.qpg.com//index.html Rob's SuperFriends Fan Page]
 
* [http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm Seanbaby's SuperFriends Page] - A Parody Site!!
 
* [http://www.seanbaby.com/super.htm Seanbaby's SuperFriends Page] - A Parody Site!!
 
 
 
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069641/ Super Friends entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
 
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075473/ The All-New Super Friends Hour entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
 
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076994/ Challenge of the Super Friends entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
 
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078712/ The World's Greatest Super Friends entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
 
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088620/ Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
 
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088619/ Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians entry at the Internet Movie Database (IMDB)]
 
* [http://www.tv.com/superfriends/show/13644/summary.html?q=SuperFriends&tag=search_results;title;0 Super Friends entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
 
* [http://www.tv.com/the-all-new-superfriends-hour/show/14606/summary.html?q=The%20AllNew%20SuperFriends%20Hour%20&tag=search_results;title;0 The All-New Super Friends Hour entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
 
* [http://www.tv.com/challenge-of-the-superfriends/show/4929/summary.html?q=Challenge%20of%20the%20SuperFriends&tag=search_results;title;0 Challenge of the Super Friends entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
 
* [http://www.tv.com/the-worlds-greatest-superfriends/show/14612/summary.html?q=The%20Worlds%20Greatest%20SuperFriends&tag=search_results;title;0 The World's Greatest Super Friends entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
 
* [http://www.tv.com/superfriends-the-legendary-super-powers-show/show/11620/summary.html?q=Legendary%20Super%20Powers&tag=search_results;title;0 Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
 
* [http://www.tv.com/the-super-powers-team-galactic-guardians/show/11621/summary.html?tag=tabs;summary Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians entry at TV.com] ''(episode titles)''
 
 
   
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
  +
  +
  +
{{Superfriends series}}
 
[[Category:SuperFriends series]]
 
[[Category:SuperFriends series]]
 
[[Category:Hanna-Barbera]]
 
[[Category:Hanna-Barbera]]

Revision as of 06:46, 13 December 2018

SuperFriends TV series
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Super Friends
First Aired
Last Aired

September 8, 1973
November 6, 1985
Creators
Producers
Executive Producers
William Hanna
Joseph Barbera



Title: The Super Friends
Production Company: Hanna-Barbera
Created by: Gardner Fox, Alex Toth, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera
Creative Consultants: E. Nelson Bridwell, Carmine Infantino and Julius Schwartz
Seasons: 6 Official Seasons[1]
Number of Episode: 109
On Air From: 1973-1985
Status: Canceled


General Information

Super Friends ran from 1973 to 1985 on ABC as part of its Saturday morning cartoon lineup. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera as a child-friendly version of the Justice League of America and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics. There were a total of 109 episodes along with what some are calling, 'back door pilot' episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies, with Batman and Robin appearing in "The Dynamic Scooby Doo Affair" and "The Caped Crusader Caper." Superman and Wonder Woman also guest-starred in two episodes of The Brady Kids.

They headquartered themselves inside of the Hall of Justice, a centrally located fortress set within the confines of Metropolis. The heroes routinely monitored global catastrophes with the aid of an automated warning system called the Trouble Alert (or TroubAlert).

The Super Friends roster consisted of a core group of characters central to the spirit of comic book heroism: Superman, Batman, Robin, Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Throughout the different seasons, they began to include other DC Comics characters such as the Flash, Green Lantern and Hawkman. The program also introduced several unique characters in the hopes of adding ethnic diversity to its lineup. Such as:

  1. Apache Chief, a Native American gifted with enhanced size and strength.
  2. Samurai was an Asian crime fighter who could rotate the lower half of his body for locomotion (among other powers) similar to the Justice League character Red Tornado.
  3. There was also Black Vulcan, an African American with powers similar to that of the comic character Black Lightning.
  4. The final original character added was El Dorado, a Hispanic hero with a number of abilities including teleportation.

In 1984, the show introduced Firestorm to the line-up. Firestorm joined the Justice League in the comic book shortly before his appearance on the series. The primary villain for this series was the alien demagogue Darkseid and his crew of minions from the other-dimensional world of Apokolips. Each week, Darkseid would engage upon a new and daring plan to conquer the Earth, forcing the Super Friends into action.

In 1985, the Super Friends changed its title to the Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians and added Cyborg to the team roster. This incarnation was the only version of the franchise that did not have Super Friends in the title. This series lasted only ten episodes. The final episode, The Death of Superman, was aired on November 6th, 1985.

Continuity With DC Comics

The SuperFriends Universe did not take place in the universe that existed at the time, Earth-One. Rather, it existed in what fans have dubbed the Earth-1A universe. This was because it shared similarities, but was distinctly different.

Many of the characters are based on the Silver Age[2] version of the characters. However, Hanna-Barbera's series is set not during the Silver Age, but the Bronze Age.[3] The Bronze Age is generally noted as starting in the early 70's and ending with the 1985-86 crossover maxi-series, Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Production History

When animation company Hanna-Barbera licensed the animation rights to the DC Comics characters and adapted the Justice League of America comic book for television, it made several changes in the transition, not the least of which was the change of name to SuperFriends. In part, it was feared that the name Justice League of America would have seemed too jingoistic during the Vietnam War and post-Vietnam War era. 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, as well as to fit with the restrictive broadcast standards regarding violence in 1970s children’s television.

Although like most Hanna Barbera shows, the rights to the Super Friends franchise are owned by Warner Bros., due to the fact that WB owned DC Comics, the shows have always been under WB control. As a result, Cartoon Network was not able to air the shows until after the merger of Time Warner and Turner Broadcasting System was complete.

Series Overview

Plotlines for the first incarnation of the Super Friends did not involve any of the familiar DC Comics 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.[4]

The All-New Super Friends Hour departed somewhat 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 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 typical deus ex machina fashion.

Reception

In January 2009, IGN listed Super Friends as the 50th best animated television series.[5]

Series Guide:

Cast

Narrator


Principal Cast

Superfriends

The SuperFriends


  • Firestorm (aka Ronnie Raymond and Professor Martin Stein)


Junior SuperFriends:



Original Characters Created By Hanna-Barbera


DC Comics characters who were not Justice League members in comics (at the time), only on the series


Guest Appearances


One-shot Justice League appearances


In the SuperFriends Comic Book related to the series

Original Characters Created By Hanna-Barbera for the Comic Book

The Elementals:

  • Gnome (Grant Arden) - earth elemental
  • Salamander (Ginger O'Shea) - fire elemental
  • Sylph (Jeannine Gale) - air elemental
  • Undine (Crystal Marr) - water elemental

The Global Guardians:


Recurring DC Comics Villains





Other Characters

  • -------------[?] (season 1)
  • -------------[?] (season 3)


Villains appearing not adapted from the comic books

Notes

  • This title franchise has been known by several alternate spellings, including: Super Friends, SuperFriends and also as Super-Friends.
  • Although they were commonly known as the SuperFriends, the team also referred to themselves as the Justice League of America.
  • 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 Super Friends names the Super Friends as the Justice League of America.
  • Each member of the team had a JLA Communicator device with the JLA banner emblazoned upon it.
  • Many episodes of the series included public service announcements tacked onto the conclusion of each episode. These epilogues traditionally featured only one or two Super Friends and warned younger viewers against societal ills such as talking to strangers and smoking.
  • The Super Friends franchise spawned a DC Comics comic series aptly titled Super Friends (comic book series). The series ran for forty-seven issues and was collected into a trade paperback in 2001, with a cover illustration by Alex Ross (based upon original concept art by Alex Toth). Although the Super Friends comic series took place outside the accepted DC Comics continuity of the time period (aka Earth-One),[7] it is noted for introducing several canon DC Characters.

Trivia

  • Cartoon Network produced a series of Super Friends lampoon shorts as a means of marketing their action/adventure line-up. In one animated short, Aquaman and Wonder Woman meet the Powerpuff Girls.
  • The SuperFriends have also been lampooned on popular programs such as South Park, the Family Guy, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law and Robot Chicken.
  • Wendy and Marvin, originally characters created specifically for the Super Friends, recently made their canon comic book debut in the pages of Teen Titans, Vol. 3 #34 (2006). They were inspired by the Scooby Doo gang. The voices of Marvin and Wonder Dog were both performed by Frank Welker, who also did the voice of Fred Jones on the Scooby-Doo series.
  • Late actor Ted Knight, more popularly known for his roles in the movie Caddyshack and the television sitcom Too Close for Comfort provided the voice of the Narrator on the 1973 version of the SuperFriends. His signature line was, "Meanwhile, at the Hall of Justice!" William Woodson took over once they dropped the original format.
  • Up until 2003, Robin was the only original Super Friend who was never a member of any incarnation of the Justice League of America (excluding characters created expressly for the show). During the Obsidian Age storyline running through “select issues of JLA”, Dick Grayson became a deputy leader of the Justice League under his modern identity, Nightwing. Taking into account the entire Super Friends roster, Cyborg (Victor Stone) is the only comic-based character featured on the Super Friends who was never a member of the Justice League.
  • In the third chapter of the Secret Origins pilot movie of the Justice League animated series, the Flash issues a nod to older fans by referring to the newly formed Justice League as a "bunch of Super Friends".
  • Despite the fact that the series focused on high-flying heroes and evil, diabolical menaces, there has never been an overt scene of direct physical violence.
  • The character of Samurai made one canonical appearance in DC Comics. He appeared in the 1985 six-issue limited series “Super Powers (Volume 3)”. It can be argued that the Super Powers series of comic titles do not take place within mainstream DC continuity. Samurai is also the only character unique to the Super Friends cartoon to receive his own Super Powers action figure.
  • The character Apache Chief had the ability to enhance his physical stature to cosmic proportions by speaking the Native American words "Inuk-chuk".


Spin-offs

The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show

Plastic Man first 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. The Plastic Man episode "Superstein" is actually directly linked to the The World’s Greatest Super Friends episode "The Super Friends Meet Frankenstein." Doctor Frankenstein's sidekick,Gork, (not to be confused with Igor) appears in both episodes, with the same voice actor and at least a similar character design.

An unnamed Batman Series

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 Guardians.

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 he was already seen prominently featured as a Junior SuperFriends Member on the Super Friends TV show. Like Super Friends, the show was to be developed by Hanna-Barbera for ABC, but since shows like The Smurfs (airing on NBC) were so popular at the time, this show was never picked up by the network. The show would have featured Wonder Girl as the leader, along with Cyborg, Kid Flash, Changeling, Raven and Starfire. 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." He was expected to be the replacement for Robin.

Superman (1988 TV series)

In 1988, just two years after the final season of the Super Friends, a new series created by Ruby-Spears Productions that featured a solo Superman aired on CBS. On the episode called "Superman and Wonder Woman vs. The Sorceress of Time," Wonder Woman guest stars, and BJ Ward reprises her role as Wonder Woman.

Comics

Super Friends (comic book)

DC Comics published a comic book version of the Super Friends in the 1970s. The Super Friends comic was written to a higher standard than the television show. Zan and Jayna were given back-stories 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 considered canon with DC Comics, writer E. Nelson Bridwell would try to make it into canon by footnotes. Many fans would address the matter in letter columns by addressing the SF stories on a parallel universe called, Earth-1A. An example of trying to fit Super Friends into the DC Universe:

While the TV show never explained the departure of Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, the story is found in issue #6, issue #7, issue #8 and issue #9.

In 2008, DC began publishing a new Super Friends series starring Superman,Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Flash, and Green Lantern (John Stewart). Aimed at children, and replacing Justice League Adventures (the tie-in to Justice League Unlimited), the series takes a light-hearted humorous tone.

Extreme Justice

The Wonder Twins were members of the short-lived Justice League International offshoot, Extreme Justice.

Young Justice

Young Justice was a comic series that followed the adventures of a group composed of the latest teen super-heroes of the late 90's and early 2000s, including Tim Drake, who was Batman's new Robin, Superboy, Bart Allen, aka, Impulse & Wonder Girl. Towards the end of the run, Young Justice was involved in a mission which required them to invade an island who's population was made up of super-villains. In order to achieve a successful attack, the core team assembled all the, then, known teen heroes, including the Wonder Twins. Like in Extreme Justice, neither of them could speak English and seemed to enjoy eating CD's. Unlike their cartoon counterparts, the Wonder Twins were far more rude and sarcastic towards other people.

Super Buddies

The lighthearted nature of the show was partially spoofed in the 2000s with two DC miniseries, 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 Beetle/Booster Gold-era Justice League). In these miniseries, the group is known as the “Super Buddies,” and consists of a team of various ex-Justice League members. Writer Keith Giffen 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 Technology at sixteen), and are employed at Titans Tower as maintenance crew and all-around mechanical troubleshooters. They were responsible for restoring Titans member Cyborg to full functions after he sustained damage to his artificial body parts during the events of the Infinite Crisis mini-series and publishing event. Wonder Dog was also introduced into the series, however unlike the cartoon, he was not a lovable sidekick, but was instead a murderous shapeshifting demon dog who was sent to Titans Tower to kill the team. Wonder Dog killed Marvin White brutally, and then attacked Wendy, leaving her crippled from the waist down. Wendy is currently a supporting character in the new Batgirl series, where she receives help accepting her new disabilities from the former Batgirl Barbara Gordon.

Justice League of America

During the events of the 2005 company-wide Infinite Crisis crossover, the Justice League Watchtower was destroyed by Superboy-Prime, leaving the JLA without a base of operations. To that end, the team established the Hall of Justice in Washington D.C. to act as an embassy for the team, as well as an emergency base of operations if needed. In the continuity of the comics, the Hall was designed by Green Lantern (John Stewart) and Wonder Woman. In Justice League of America #46 (2010), Samurai makes his first official appearance in the DC Universe, where he is shown as one of the heroes driven temporarily insane by Alan Scott.

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 Manhunter 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 JLAers 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 convenient manner. Despite the fact that their plan made no sense scientifically, it worked and restored the JLAers to their proper world.

Wizard magazine also ran an April Fool's promotion for a Wonder Twins special by painter Alex Ross. The promo was in jest, though, as it appeared in the April Fool's edition of that year. 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 Ross is an avowed fan of the show and has worked it into his various projects.

  • Kingdom Come — The United Nations building resembles the Hall of Justice while the Gulag is obviously designed on the Hall of Doom. Marvin can also be spotted in a brief cameo in that book.
  • Justice — A 12-issue miniseries series in which a new and improved Legion of Doom clashes with the JLA.

Parodies

Earthworm Jim Special Edition

At the end of the game’s Easy Mode ending, Doug TenNapel 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’s Superman because Donna’s 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.

Justice League

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 Unlimited

"Ultimatum", a first season episode of the Cartoon Network television series, featured the Ultimen, a group of superheroes that are a pastiche 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 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 cartoon series, DC and Warner Bros. mandated that no Bat-characters other than Batman himself could be used in JLU).

The Fairly Oddparents

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.

MTV's The State

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" is a spoof of 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" (pronounced "semen"), a spoof of Aquaman whose power is to talk to fish.

In "200", the parody was revisited complete with an opening sequence for the Super Best Friends that takes its cues from the Super Friends cartoon with each of the religious figures (except for Muhammad who is portrayed as a Censor Bar walking down a street) and Seaman's introductions being played out like the Super Friends opening with Jesus as Superman, Buddha as Wonder Woman, Krishna as Batman and Seaman as Aquaman with Joseph Smith and Lao Tzu acting as Wendy and Marvin White.

In "201", Tom Cruse's house is described as the Legion of Doom headquarters (initially it is described as "The Legion of Doom Headquarters [awkward pause] which is Tom Cruse's house).

Additionally, the episode, "Krazy Kripples", features a Legion of Doom featuring Christopher Reeve as the leader. The episode "Spookyfish" also features a Super Friends-style scene transition with images of Barbra Streisand's head superimposed over the trademark lensflares.

Family Guy

In the Family Guy episode "A Hero Sits Next Door", there's a cutaway joke involving Peter Griffin 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 Brian, she mentions that Meg got on a date with Ted Knight (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", 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 Lois Griffin runs for mayor, she attempts to gain the "stupid vote" by claiming Adolf Hitler was working with the Legion of Doom to plot the assassination of Jesus. 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" 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 Hilton, Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan, and the Olsen Twins in the roles of tasteless superheroes, created in 2006 by Heavy.com. Both the setting and the some of the girls’ superpowers are plays on elements from the Super Friends.

In Something, Something, Something Dark Side shortly after Chris/Luke and Cleveland/R2-D2 land on Dagobah, the Legion of Doom fortress rises from out of the swamp with the same narration and music. But Chris/Luke then yells "Not now!" and the fortress quickly retreats underwater.

Aqua Teen Hunger Force

The Aqua Teen Hunger Force 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 Laboratory was called Justice Friends. The title is derived from the Justice League of America 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 Comics' Avengers team (the Marvel equivalent of the Justice League/Super Friends).

Bumpers

The Cartoon Network produced three commercials lampooning the Super Friends.

  • One dealt with the idiosyncratic nature of the Legion of Doom and Brainiac’s odd manner of dress (Brainiac: “Look, I just want some pants...a decent pair of pants!” Solomon Grundy: “Solomon Grundy want pants, too!”).
  • The second dealt with the Wonder Twins’ 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 Powerpuff Girls, dealt with Aquaman’s useless powers (Aquaman: “My ability to talk to fish is of no use to us, Wonder Woman!”) 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 notably 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.
  • A fourth bumper was produced for Adult Swim. This bumper was a clip from the episode “The Time Trap,” and edited some beeping 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 Superfriends 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.


See Also


External Links


References

  1. Although there are six seasons there was an an additional 3 sets of shorts that ran from 1980 - 1983.
  2. The Silver Age is the informal term applied to a specific period of comic book publishing history. Following the Golden Age era, DC's Silver Age is largely recognized as beginning with the introduction of the Flash in Showcase #4. However, there are several other characters commonly associated with the Silver Age that actually predate the Flash. Science-fiction adventurer Captain Comet debuted in 1951 in the pages of Strange Adventures, and the Martian Manhunter made his first appearance in 1955 (a full year before the Flash) in Detective Comics #225. Although the Martian Manhunter is technically the first super-hero exclusive to Silver Age era publishing, comic historians generally give that honor to the Flash. Most DC comic fans typically site that the Silver Age era ended in the early 70's. Many characters and events that are germain to the continuity of Earth-One are said to be part of the Silver Age.
  3. The Bronze Age is the informal term applied to a specific period of comic book publishing history. Following the Silver Age era, DC's Bronze Age is largely recognized as beginning with the 1970's and ended with the 1985-86 crossover maxi-series, Crisis on Infinite Earths. Crisis yielded not only the end of an era, but also the an omni-versal reboot of the internal history of most of their major projects. The Bronze Age retained many of the conventions of the Silver Age, including Earth-One, with brightly colored superhero titles remaining the mainstay of the industry. However darker plot elements and more mature storylines featuring real-world issues, such as drug use, began to appear during the period, prefiguring the later Modern Age of Comic Books.
  4. "A History of Batman on TV". IGN. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  5. "IGN - 50. SuperFriends". Tv.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  6. Source: Will's Ultimate Super Friends Episode Guide!, "Don Messick started off only voicing the Scarecrow, but also took over the voice of Sinestro after Vic Perrin only did the first 4 episodes."
  7. It actually existed in its own universe called Earth-1A


SuperFriends
Television Series

SEASON 1: Super Friends (1973)  • SEASON 2: The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977)  • SEASON 3: Challenge of the Super Friends (1978)
SEASON 4: The World’s Greatest Super Friends (1979)  • SEASON 5 / SHORTS: SuperFriends (1980)
SEASON 6 / SHORTS: SuperFriends (1981)  • SEASON 7 / SHORTS: SuperFriends (1983)
SEASON 8: SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984)
SEASON 9: The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985)

Production & Distribution

Hanna-Barbera  • LBS Communications  • Warner Bros. Television

Characters

Super Friends Members  • Supporting Characters  • Villains  • Super Friends comic book characters  • Aquaman enemies  • Batman enemies
Flash enemies  • Green Lantern enemies  • Hawkman enemies  • Superman enemies  • Wonder Woman enemies

Merchandise

Super Powers toyline and products  • Super Friends, comic book (1976-1981)
Super Powers Minicomics (1984-1985)  • Super Powers comic book collection (1984-1986)

Miscellania

SuperFriends in Other Media  • Planets  • Cities  • Real World Articles  • Known Universes  • Earth-1A Timeline