SUPER FRIENDS: The Legendary Super Powers Show
© Warner Bros.
Mania Grade: B
Rated: Unrated
Cast: Adam West, Casey Kasem
Writer: Glen Leopold, John Semper, Rich Fogel
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Original Year of Release: 2007
Extras: Commentary by original series writers and historian, Mark Waid. Two features on the Cultural Diversity of the Super Friends TV show and the Super Powers toy line.
Buy it now!
Rated: Unrated
Cast: Adam West, Casey Kasem
Writer: Glen Leopold, John Semper, Rich Fogel
Distributor: Warner Bros.
Original Year of Release: 2007
Extras: Commentary by original series writers and historian, Mark Waid. Two features on the Cultural Diversity of the Super Friends TV show and the Super Powers toy line.
Buy it now!
SUPER FRIENDS: The Legendary Super Powers Show
By: Tim JansonDate: Sunday, September 02, 2007
Long before The Justice League animated series on the Cartoon Network there was the Super Friends on Saturday Morning TV. Premiering in 1973, the Super Friends went through various incarnations over the years until the final season during 1985 – 1986. The show featured a number of DC Comics’ superheroes but the mainstays were Batman & Robin, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The show was geared toward Saturday Morning TV viewers and not comic book fans. Thus the stories were more simplistic and the violence was toned down quite a bit. One thing that the Super Friends did was to introduce ethnically diverse heroes to Saturday Morning TV with an African American (Black Vulcan), a Native American (Apache Chief), an Asian (Samurai) and a Hispanic (El Dorado)
This particular series, The Legendary Super Powers, was a rather ingenious media tie-in with Kenner Toys’ line of action figures called the Super Powers Collection. This is truly one of the great action figure lines of all time. First, the line featured many characters who would not be seen in action figure form until the DC Direct series. This included Red Tornado, Dr. Fate, Martian Manhunter, and Captain Marvel. In addition, many of the figures were short-packed, creating instant collectibles for figures such as Cyborg, Plastic Man, and Mr. Miracle. It was a great line of toys.
Onto the DVD…The Two Disc set includes the complete, 16 episode series to go along with some nice special features. No one will ever accuse Hanna-Barbera of producing great animation, at least not in the 70’s and 80’s. Animation was still on the downslide prior to being revived by Disney in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Hanna-Barbera did what they do very well…and that was produce animated shows quickly and cheaply and it’s a far cry from today’s animated TV shows.
Each episode runs about 9 – 11 minutes in length and there are a couple of two-parters on here as well. The First episode, “The Bride of Darkseid” (a two-parter) introduces Firestorm. This is the first version of the character who is made up of teenager Ronnie Raymond and Professor Stein. The mysterious new hero aids the Super Friends and is soon welcomed into their ranks to help battle Darkseid who has kidnapped Wonder Woman and intends to make her his bride. The hilarious thing about Firestorm is that the flames atop his head never move, making him look like he’s wearing some kind of a goofy hat. That’s just one of the many corners that Hanna-Barbera cut to keep costs down.
In, “The Wrath of Brainiac”, the new and improved Brainiac is introduced in his new robotic body as he and Darkseid join forces to destroy the Super Friends. “The Royal Ruse”, “Island of the Dinosoids” and “Darkseid’s Golden Trap are other standout episodes. The disc comes with commentary on five of the shorts by the episode’s original writer, and comic writer/historian Mark Waid. These provide some insightful and often humorous revelations about the constraints placed on the writers on how they had to present the heroes. There are two special features on the set, the first a look at the previously mentioned cultural diversity of the Super Friends; and the second a look at the Super Powers Toy line.
