Which SuperFriends show you liked best?

[JabarR]

Which show was the best in your opinion?

[The Penguin]

Welcome to TZ, JabarR. Because World's Finest does not cover Superfriends, the official board of World's Finest does not cover Superfriends either.

The folks at Boomerang will no doubt enjoy this topic. Moved.

[Hockey Mask]

Finally, someone wanting to talk SuperFriends. I really do like each of the incarnations for different reasons. I suspect that Challenge will win out and I can't really argue with it. My vote went with the original 'SuperFriends' with Marvin and Wendy. It was as campy as any of them which is a good thing. But the reason I chose it was becuase of episode length. The 42 minutes (after commercials) dedicated to each episode was unparalleled in the SuperFriends franchise. Seeing the Justice League play charity golf, Batman shooting pool in Hall of Justice and the Justice League Hall of Fame are classic moments. Moments that just don't pop up on the 22 min. or 7 min. episodes. Give me the slow moving plot lines any day even if the villain is just a concerned scientist trying to solve an ecological problem.


Bring on more SuperFriends conversation!

[Chris Wood]

Welcome to TZ, JabarR. Because World's Finest does not cover Superfriends, the official board of World's Finest does not cover Superfriends either.

The folks at Boomerang will no doubt enjoy this topic. Moved.

Don't worry, some of us are still Superfriends friendly. Challenge is probably my favorite season becasue the villains are so cool, but I like most of the late 70s - early 80s stuff. I can't stand the first season with those stupid kids, but it is good for a laugh.

[Quagmire]

I actually preferred the last 2 seasons when they brought in Firestorm and added Darkseid as the main villain.

I got bored with anything that featured the Wonder Twins and Wendy and Marvin.

[AarHan3]

Oh, the 1977 version, definitely. The All-New SuperFriends Hour. Hands down. :cool:

Loved that spinning rainbow transition with the "SF" shield zooming into the screen. It was also used for the Magic, Safety and Health segments, too.


http://www.myfilehut.com/userfiles/AarHan3/TheAllNewSuperFriendsHour.jpg

[mammy2shoesfan]

I would have to go with The Superpowers Show. Everything seemed to click well by that season the action and the show overall matured. Animation was tighter. Next I would have to go with Challege the LOD were some scary dudes back in the day.

[Natey]

super friends, nothing can beat the original. seriously.

~Nate~

[DarkKnight]

i'd say Challenge of the Superfriends was my favorite. I loved the Legion of Doom. then again, that's not really fair because i haven't seen much of the Superfriends from the 80's.

btw, i really like my Superfriends dvd's. can't wait til more are out.

[The Frog]

Challenge because I liked the Legion of Doom. It's also the only one I can really seperate from the others. Hey, I was eight when I watched it. :p

[RAINMAN]

COSF was good but SPTGG was handel a bit better and took a few things out of the comics.

[STARTOUNZ]

My overall favorite was the Challenge series, followed by World's Greatest, and then (the rest in order) ANSFH, the bonus SF eps from 1978 (which isn't in the poll here), Legenday Super Powers, Galactic Guardians, the 80's shorts, and lastly the original from '73, which was a little too campy and focused too much on environmental issues (definitely a precursor to Captain Planet).

[Doyng]

The All New Superfriends Hour (1st pick)
and Challenge of The Superfriends (2nd pick)

I'm still waiting to see the '77 version on DVD. I'm not fortunate to have Boomerang to see it occasionally. Lets see them all released (yes, even the inferior '73 version). It's not fair to see only the "Challenge" eps released, although they're excellent. The '77 version was responsible for helping the SF be successful before "Challenge" came out next season.

[Hockey Mask]

There is a lot of SF '73 bashing going on around here!:mad:

[mammy2shoesfan]

I wish they would collect the each SuperFriends show by season and play them in the orignal format they were meant to be seen in not this cut up version and out of order format that Boom/Cn plays.

[Kolbar]

Although I really like all the series, "Galactic Guardians" is my favorite. The original show with Wendy, Marvin, and Wonderdog and "Challenge" are also my favorites.

[Gary L Thompson]

I guess it's a pretty clear verdict--the first season. Sure, it was heavily flawed, but it had by far the best theme, and the hour-long format allowed for some real storytelling (I believe it was the very first encounter I had with Superman's origin).

The subsequent seasons basically restored the gladitorial contests that were the hallmark of 1960s HB superheroes, same boring one-dimensionality (with the exception of "Jonny Quest" and the "Fantastic Four"), but without the '60s action! And despite their powers, the Wonder Twins weren't really an improvement over Wendy and Marvin, because when they weren't soloing, all they would do is get into trouble (while Wendy and Marvin did their fair share of that, I seem to recall a few times they actually accomplished something as well). The series just went downhill after that, though in the final seasons it was evident the creative team was really trying with things like bringing in Firestorm and Cyborg, and doing the story of Batman's origin (with Adam West, no less).

However, if you want really great "Super Friends" stories, I suggest you search out the back issue bins at your local comic book stores for the "Super Friends" comic. DC Comics should do this series in their archives book, it might have been E. Nelson Bridwell's masterpiece, and was far superior to the TV show (and the JLA comic of that day, for that matter).

Incidently, anybody notice that "Justice League Unlimited" did an episode that was very recognizably a tip of the hat to the old "Super Friends" show? Very nice, I thought.

[JCorey3rd]

I really enjoyed the Adult Swim Wonder Twins short spoofs - especially the one where they encounter Marvin in an adult video store. They really need to rerun these more often.

[Movie-Brat]

I like Challenge of the Superfriends the best.

[Gmfox8@cox.net]

I Like All of The SuperFriends

[Spider-Friends]

Incidently, anybody notice that "Justice League Unlimited" did an episode that was very recognizably a tip of the hat to the old "Super Friends" show? Very nice, I thought.Just wait until JLU season three. There's going to be an even BIGGER tip of the hat.

Galactic Guardians gets my vote. As a kid I thought the Super Friends were cheesy. I liked Challenge but only because of the number of heroes and villains. When GG came on though...WOW...it WASN'T cheesy (at least I didn't think so at the time.)

[hobbyfan]

I really enjoyed the Adult Swim Wonder Twins short spoofs - especially the one where they encounter Marvin in an adult video store. They really need to rerun these more often.
Okay, I haven't seen these, nor do I think I really want to. Since it is part of Adult Swim, it's probably airing after 12, so it doesn't run during Futurama and/or Family Guy. The lunatics in charge of Williams St. have proven again and again that they don't really have enough respect for what came before.

In 1999, CN had a Wonder Twins cybercomic on their website where Jayna was running her own aerobics studio, and Zan was into herbal vitamins or somesuch thing. Wendy was now a tabloid TV reporter, and a jealous Marvin went after the Twins with some robot. It was almost an entirely happy ending, with Marv & Wonder Dog leaving with the Twins (no Gleek, who'd gone to Hollywood), and leaving Wendy without a salacious story for her TV show. I wish I'd printed that out, but the next best thing would've been for CN to adapt it for TV (great script by Larry Hama). Of course, now, it'd get ruined in the hands of the dweebs at Williams St., the way they handle older characters.

I'm digressing. I voted for All-New Super Friends Hour, and watched each ep at least twice. I'm still waiting for CN/Boomerang to restore it to its original 1 hr. format. I'm also waiting for Van Partible to send Johnny Bravo on a date with Jayna, but that's another story.:D :D

Overall:

1. All-New Super Friends Hour
2. Challenge of the Super Friends
3. World's Greatest Super Friends
4. Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
5. Super Friends: Legendary Super Powers Show
6. Super Friends ('73)

Raise yer hands if you wanted to trade places with Jason Kidd and hang with Jayna for a day (NBA All-Star Jam 2003).:D

[Jerry Mouse]

My vote went with the original 'SuperFriends' with Marvin and Wendy. It was as campy as any of them which is a good thing. But the reason I chose it was becuase of episode length. The 42 minutes (after commercials) dedicated to each episode was unparalleled in the SuperFriends franchise. Seeing the Justice League play charity golf, Batman shooting pool in Hall of Justice and the Justice League Hall of Fame are classic moments. Moments that just don't pop up on the 22 min. or 7 min. episodes. Give me the slow moving plot lines any day even if the villain is just a concerned scientist trying to solve an ecological problem.
I have to agree with you. For some reason, I've always been partial to the original Superfriends. I think my being into Hanna Barbera animation, especially the older stuff has a lot to do with it. The 1973 SF animation style was more HBish in my opinion. I really loved it back in 1996 CN aired it at noon on Saturdays.......could anything have been cooler than having lunch with the Superfriends?

[M.A.S.]

Okay, I haven't seen these, nor do I think I really want to. Since it is part of Adult Swim, it's probably airing after 12, so it doesn't run during Futurama and/or Family Guy. The lunatics in charge of Williams St. have proven again and again that they don't really have enough respect for what came before.

In 1999, CN had a Wonder Twins cybercomic on their website where Jayna was running her own aerobics studio, and Zan was into herbal vitamins or somesuch thing. Wendy was now a tabloid TV reporter, and a jealous Marvin went after the Twins with some robot. It was almost an entirely happy ending, with Marv & Wonder Dog leaving with the Twins (no Gleek, who'd gone to Hollywood), and leaving Wendy without a salacious story for her TV show. I wish I'd printed that out, but the next best thing would've been for CN to adapt it for TV (great script by Larry Hama). Of course, now, it'd get ruined in the hands of the dweebs at Williams St., the way they handle older characters.

I'm digressing. I voted for All-New Super Friends Hour, and watched each ep at least twice. I'm still waiting for CN/Boomerang to restore it to its original 1 hr. format. I'm also waiting for Van Partible to send Johnny Bravo on a date with Jayna, but that's another story.:D :D

Overall:

1. All-New Super Friends Hour
2. Challenge of the Super Friends
3. World's Greatest Super Friends
4. Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians
5. Super Friends: Legendary Super Powers Show
6. Super Friends ('73)

Raise yer hands if you wanted to trade places with Jason Kidd and hang with Jayna for a day (NBA All-Star Jam 2003).:D You stole my idea!

[hobbyfan]

You stole my idea!
Oh, really? Which one?

[M.A.S.]

Oh, really? Which one?
Hanging out with Janya!:anime:

[Eric B]

In 1999, CN had a Wonder Twins cybercomic on their website where Jayna was running her own aerobics studio, and Zan was into herbal vitamins or somesuch thing. Wendy was now a tabloid TV reporter, and a jealous Marvin went after the Twins with some robot. Was this the comic I had heard about where Marvin was made into a bad guy? (I was under the impression that it was something much longer ago than that, but I may have only assumed). I remember when I heard it, it was like the live action Scrappy all over again. Somebody good natured, but not well liked made totally out of character into a bad guy.

As i always say, the Wonder Twins were a more logical "Jr Justice League", since they had actual super powers; and later Superfriends episodes more logical as superhero shows. (Remember the time they had to call in the Flash to wrap the earth with coil to repel the force moving the earth toward the sun? Couldn't Superman have done that? In later episodes he would.)

The first season was obviously more Scooby-influenced; HB continuing the formula that worked so well for them. This did make for some great mystery style plots (King Plasto was the best, IMO, though like the similar Scooby movies, they sometimes were a bit slow-paced), and the kids and dog could be seen more as Batman and Robin protegés; since they do not have any real superpowers, but only use their brains and gadgets. (And in the episodes, we see they did ride around with Batman more than the others).

I did miss them, as the Wonder Twins, and especially Gleek; while being more "super", were highly annoying, with all that bantering and stuff. Wendy and Marvin had some of that, but they seemed more "innocent". I guess Jayna was this hot chick who knew it and flaunted it, and Zan was the typical male jerk, who acted like all of that, but clearly the female had the upper hand in wit (in some respects, they were more like a flirting couple than siblings, and of course, Fred and Daphne have been made this way in recent years to my utter dismay*). To me, all that got in the way of the story more than Marvin or Wonder Dog's antics ever did. If I wanted that; I could watch Bo, Luke & Daisy, or something like that.

*If you paired the two groups of SF kids/pets together, it would directly parallel the Scooby gang with Scrappy! I often wish they had some something like that with most of those "Scooby Doo Show" episides (many of which have more of the sound and feel of a SF cartoon anyway, esp. the 1978 ones), and they could have put the Scooby gang in more Dynomutt episodes. Only problem, Marvin and Wonder Dog were not as cowardly as Shaggy and Scooby. In fact, Marvin was more like Scrappy in ambition, making all the more a coincidence that both would be seen as becoming evil in the future.

[hobbyfan]

Was this the comic I had heard about where Marvin was made into a bad guy? (I was under the impression that it was something much longer ago than that, but I may have only assumed). I remember when I heard it, it was like the live action Scrappy all over again. Somebody good natured, but not well liked made totally out of character into a bad guy.

Yes, that's the comic I was talking about. Written by Larry Hama, drawn by Pablo Raismondi (sp?), who's been doing a lot of regular comics lately. This predated the first Scooby live-action movie by 3 years. Too bad DC never saw fit to put it in print.


The first season was obviously more Scooby-influenced; HB continuing the formula that worked so well for them. This did make for some great mystery style plots (King Plasto was the best, IMO, though like the similar Scooby movies, they sometimes were a bit slow-paced), and the kids and dog could be seen more as Batman and Robin protegés; since they do not have any real superpowers, but only use their brains and gadgets. (And in the episodes, we see they did ride around with Batman more than the others).

My favorite was the ep with Dr. Gulliver (Casey Kasem did a killer Peter Lorre-style voice for Gulliver), which brought Green Arrow into the mix.

I did miss them, as the Wonder Twins, and especially Gleek; while being more "super", were highly annoying, with all that bantering and stuff. Wendy and Marvin had some of that, but they seemed more "innocent". I guess Jayna was this hot chick who knew it and flaunted it, and Zan was the typical male jerk, who acted like all of that, but clearly the female had the upper hand in wit (in some respects, they were more like a flirting couple than siblings, and of course, Fred and Daphne have been made this way in recent years to my utter dismay*). To me, all that got in the way of the story more than Marvin or Wonder Dog's antics ever did. If I wanted that; I could watch Bo, Luke & Daisy, or something like that.

Jayna was, well, 7 different shades of hot. Zan wasn't so much a jerk, but rather a bit of a dimbulb. The characterization, especially in the later years, helped give rise to the belief from this desk that the Twins were partially modeled after Donny & Marie Osmond (take the pointed ears away, and that's pretty much what you'd get). As for Wendy & Marvin, they were typical teenagers, although SF never really subscribed to the Scooby Formula. And what's wrong with Fred & Daphne "flirting"? Have to admit I did have a crush on Jayna (and how many of you did?).

*If you paired the two groups of SF kids/pets together, it would directly parallel the Scooby gang with Scrappy! I often wish they had some something like that with most of those "Scooby Doo Show" episides (many of which have more of the sound and feel of a SF cartoon anyway, esp. the 1978 ones), and they could have put the Scooby gang in more Dynomutt episodes. Only problem, Marvin and Wonder Dog were not as cowardly as Shaggy and Scooby. In fact, Marvin was more like Scrappy in ambition, making all the more a coincidence that both would be seen as becoming evil in the future.
It was a pity they never brought back Wendy & Marvin on TV like they did in the comics (a 1-shot in 1979). Would've been fun.

[hobbyfan]

Hanging out with Janya!:anime:
HEY!! It wasn't my idea in the first place. Blame Cartoon Network. Now, if those huckleberries could finally hook Jayna up with Johnny Bravo, we'd get somewhere (after all, he has dated an antelope).:D :D :D :D

[Eric B]

The characterization, especially in the later years, helped give rise to the belief from this desk that the Twins were partially modeled after Donny & Marie Osmond (take the pointed ears away, and that's pretty much what you'd get). Yeah, they do look like them. Perhaps they probably were taken from them. They came right after the Osmonds craze.

It was a pity they never brought back Wendy & Marvin on TV like they did in the comics (a 1-shot in 1979). Would've been fun. A perfect chance to do that would have been the 1984 episode with that kid Sidney Wanamaker (a roomate of Firestorm who tried to be a superhero, -"Captain Mystery" and was captured by Luthor or something like that). I wished they had been brought back that season instead of the Wonder Twins, in the few episodes they did appear. But once again, it was by now totally action oriented, Marvin, Wendy and Wonder dog would not have fit (except as that passing Sidney Wanamaker type role). Batman and Robin don't even have as prominent a presence here as they did before.

HEY!! It wasn't my idea in the first place. Blame Cartoon Network. Now, if those huckleberries could finally hook Jayna up with Johnny Bravo, we'd get somewhere (after all, he has dated an antelope). Well, at least he got to date the Black Widow.:D

[Mister Intensity]

Yeah, they do look like them. Perhaps they probably were taken from them. They came right after the Osmonds craze.
A perfect chance to do that would have been the 1984 episode with that kid Sidney Wanamaker (a roomate of Firestorm who tried to be a superhero, -"Captain Mystery" and was captured by Luthor or something like that). I wished they had been brought back that season instead of the Wonder Twins, in the few episodes they did appear. But once again, it was by now totally action oriented, Marvin, Wendy and Wonder dog would not have fit (except as that passing Sidney Wanamaker type role). Batman and Robin don't even have as prominent a presence here as they did before.
Well, at least he got to date the Black Widow.:D
Interesting comments about Superfriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show. For some reason, I always felt that season seemed like a more action-oriented version of the first season of Super Friends. Maybe it was the musical cues, the comradery among the heroes (they felt more like pals than co-workers), or the more accurate depicton of their superpowers without the violence but I always felt those two seasons were similiar. It would have been nice to see Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog again at least once before the series ended and that season would have been the perfect one to do it in. I did enjoy The Mask of Mystery episode that was referred to. It's funny, how a high school did, what Lex Luthor couldn't do in years of trying.

An interesting tidbit about the Wonder Twins, they were originally named Dick and Jane and looked younger than their final look. Superfriends Volume Two, had a missed opportunity to explore the evolution of Zan and Jayna. Maybe they will correct that oversight in a future DVD release, assuming that there are any further releases.

Mister Intensity

[Eric B]

The music is apart of it. Even on the opening/closing segment, it basically starts as the All New Superfriends, but then in the middle changes into the original Superfriends (then changes back into the All New Superfriends ending with the eight brass chords. Super Powers Team uses the same sequence). The original closing always reminded me of those dinners Wendy used to cook up at the end of some episodes. Such as nice way to celebrate the accomplishment of the such big missions. They should have done that again in the Legendary Super Powers show. (They did have a dinner in the middle of one episode, when Darkseid tricked that alien girl into turning the Superfriends into stone). The interaction between the characters did seem to be similar, too. It was like an improvement of the original show.

They also could have replaced the Wonder twins in the one where Superman gets turned into a brat. (UNCLE MXYZPTLK) It was they who found the red Kryptonite, and that was very much like Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, who always went out on their own and discovered things that pertained to the story. The only thing is; I love what Myxpltk did to the Wonder Twins and especially Gleek: changed them into wind up toys, with Gleek doing back flips with the cymbal. That was hilarious! The Wonder twins were also in an episode with Brainiac, (VILLAGE OF THE LOST SOULS) but it would be hard to replace them with the others in that, as they use their Wonder twin Powers (they were hypnotized and used them to trap the other heroes in ice).
CASE OF THE SHRINKING SUPER FRIENDS, is about "the junior Superfriends" (including Robin and Firestorm) protecting the Hall of Justice, and this would have been a good adventure for the other kids. But here too, the Wonder Twins use their powers, so it would have required extensive rewriting to get them in. I had wished that they would have had these last two episodes the year before (in the lost episodes), and maybe the Revenge of Doom and another episode air that season instead. But then those two episodes have Firestorm who was introduced this season. Perhaps he could have been replaced by Black Vulcan, who has similar powers (that hand ray thing). Or maybe even Green Lantern.

[Eric B]

Just thought. another way they could have written at least Marvin into those 3 episodes was to play upon the theme of Mask of Mystery (with Marvin replacing the other kid, and that episode would have to have been earlier int he series), and he would use his super gadgets. Still, I do not see why they would have ever re-replaced the Wonder Twins like that anyway, though it's nce to wish.

Say, where can you find this cyber comic? I guess it's not still on the CN site. Is it anywhere else? I even looked up Larry Hama, and I see he was a big comic writer, but I cannot find reference to this one.

[hobbyfan]

Say, where can you find this cyber comic? I guess it's not still on the CN site. Is it anywhere else? I even looked up Larry Hama, and I see he was a big comic writer, but I cannot find reference to this one.
Sad to say, considering it IS CN we're dealing with here, those fools didn't bother archiving the cyber-comic.:mad: With all of Hama's accomplishments in comics & TV (GI Joe), you'd think this would be on his resume, because it's a great story.:sad: :(

It's been 6 years since the cyber-comic came out. You'd think DC'd have adapted it, but they never bothered with it.:mad: Meanwhile, those twisted dorks at Williams St. have the Twins in an adult video store for an Adult Swim skit that has been referenced in group. I've never seen it, don't wanna see it.

[sag_2002]

Challenge, World's Greatest, and the original 1-hour Superfriends are my top 3.

[Golgo13]

I gotta go with Challenge.