Super Friends is the animated series that features Batman and Robin along with Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, and other DC superheroes and villains.
Series titles[]
Main article: Lists of Super Friends episodes
Over the years, the show existed under several titles:
- Super Friends (1973–1974)
- The All-New Super Friends Hour (1977–1978)
- Challenge of the Superfriends (1978–1979)
- The World's Greatest SuperFriends (1979–1980)
- SuperFriends (1980–1983)
- Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show (1984–1985)
- The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (1985–1986)
Writing[]
Plot lines for the later series involved many of the familiar DC Comics super-villains, like the Joker and the Riddler, that the first incarnation of the Super Friends did not. Instead, like the comic books, they focused on the far-fetched schemes of mad scientists and aliens, who were invariably revealed as being well-intentioned, and simply pursuing their goals through unlawful or disreputable means. Typically, at the end of each story, a peaceful and reasonable discussion would be performed by the heroes to convince the antagonists to adopt more reasonable methods.
The All-New Super Friends Hour departed somewhat from the previous series' formula by featuring villains using more elaborate methods to further their goals; as a rule they could not be reasoned with, requiring the heroes to use direct force to stop them. Beginning with Challenge of the Superfriends, several of the heroes' arch-villains from the comic books (such as Lex Luthor and The Riddler) began to feature prominently in comic-style stories. Throughout the series, plots often wrapped themselves up neatly in the final minutes of an episode in the fashion of the typical comic books and deus ex machina.
Production history[]
In 1973, animation company Hanna-Barbera acquired rights to the DC Comics characters and partnered with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) to adapt the Justice League of America comic book for television. The network made several changes in the transition including the change of name to Super Friends to "cut off any accusations of extreme patriotism". Nevertheless, team members sometimes referred to themselves as the Justice League on the show. The violence common in superhero comics was toned down for a younger audience and to adhere to broadcast standards governing violence in 1970s children's television.
As a DC Comics-based show, the Super Friends franchise was owned by DC's parent company Warner Bros., who later put the series into syndication. Cartoon Network, which had the rights to air most of the rest of the Hanna-Barbera library from its inception in 1992, was not able to air Super Friends until after the merger of Warner Bros.' parent company, Time Warner and Cartoon Network's parent company, Turner Broadcasting System was completed in 1996. This merger also led to Warner Bros. taking control of Hanna-Barbera and all of its other assets as well. The series was owned by Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, DC Comics Entertainment, Warner Bros. Family Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Animation.
Characters[]
The Justice League of America[]
The core group of five heroes made up the "Super Friends":
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Other members and guest stars:
- The Flash (1973; 1977–1985)
- Plastic Man (1973)
- Green Arrow (1973)
- The Atom (1977; 1980–1983)
- Green Lantern (1977–1985)
- Hawkgirl (1977; 1980; 1983)
- Hawkman (1977–1978; 1980–1985)
- Rima the Jungle Girl (1977; 1980)
- Apache Chief (1977–1978; 1980–1984)
- Black Vulcan (1977–1978; 1980–1984)
- Samurai (1977–1978; 1980–1985)
- Abin Sur (1978)
- Superboy (1978; 1983)
- El Dorado (1982–1985)
Junior Super Friends:
- Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog (1973–1975)
- Wonder Twins: Zan and Jayna and Gleek (1977–1984)
Supporting characters originally from DC comic books:
- James Gordon
- Hippolyta
- Lois Lane
- Jimmy Olsen
- Alfred Pennyworth
- Perry White
- Solovar
- Steve Trevor
Legion of Doom[]
Thirteen villains composed the Legion of Doom during the Challenge of the Superfriends season:
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Other DC Comics villains[]
Villains appearing independently from the Legion of Doom:
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Villains not adapted from the comic books[]
- The Alien Mummy
- The Anti-Matter Monster
- Barko
- Bigfoot creatures
- Blackbeard
- Bulgor the Behemoth
- The Brain Creatures
- The Capricorn Kid
- Captain Shark
- The Collector
- The Incredible Crude Oil Monster
- Darkon
- Dictor and the mysterious Time Creatures
- The Dollmaker
- Count Dracula
- Dr. Cranium
- Dr. Droid
- Victor Frankenstein
- Dr. Fright
- Dr. Gulliver
- The Earthors
- The Enforcer
- Giant Snow Creature
- The Highway Angels
- The Hydronoids
- The Ice Demon
- Insecta and the Arthropods
- The Iron Cyclops
- John Palette
- The Junk Creature from the Dump
- Kareem Azaar
- Keelhaul Kelly
- King Arthur
- The Lion Men
- The Make Up Monster
- Mal Havok
- The Man Beasts Of Xra
- The Marsh Monster
- Medula and her Mind Maidens
- Mongor
- The Mummy Of Nazca
- The Mysterious Mutants of the Space Sphere
- Nartan
- Ocina and the Ancient Atlantean Warriors
- Old Man Holmes
- Orville Gump
- The Outlaws of Orion (Pack and Stardust)
- The Phantom Zone Villains (Hul, Logar, Rom-Lok)
- The Plant Creatures
- Professor Amy Zhan
- Professor Fearo
- Professor Korloff
- The Power Pirate
- The Robber Baron and Sleeves
- The Rock and Roll Space Bandits
- Rock Batman
- Rokan
- R.O.M.A.C.
- The Secret Four
- Scorpio
- Sculpin
- Sinbad and the Space Pirates
- Solderath and the Lava Men
- The Space Dolls
- The Evil Space Genie
- The Space Racers
- The Star Energy Creature
- The Super Enemies
- The Termites from Venus
- Torhana
- Tyrannic
- Vampiress, the Voodoo Vampire
- Yuna the Terrible
- Zarnum
- General Zod
- The Zoons
DC characters who only appeared in Super Friends comics[]
- Batgirl
- Black Canary
- Black Orchid
- Chronos
- Doctor Mist of the Global Guardians
- Elongated Man
- Etrigan
- Fire
- Glacier of the Global Guardians
- Hector Hammond
- Huntress
- Jack O'Lantern of the Global Guardians
- The Little Mermaid of the Global Guardians
- Man-Bat
- Red Tornado
- Seraph of the Global Guardians
- Supergirl
- Swamp Thing
- Tasmanian Devil of the Global Guardians
Home Media[]
| Season | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale | DVD title/volume | DVD release date and ASIN | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | ASIN Number | |||||||
| 1 | 16 | September 8, 1973 | August 24, 1974 | Super Friends - Season 1: Volume 1Super Friends - Season 1: Volume 2 | January 5, 2010
July 20, 2010 |
B002S3Y1LQ
B003F3NE4S | |||
| 2 | 15 | September 10, 1977 | September 2, 1978 | Super Friends - Season 2: The All-New Super Friends Hour, Volume 1Super Friends - Season 2: The All-New Super Friends Hour, Volume 2 | January 8, 2008
January 27, 2009 |
B000W2C28Y
B001HRS8HW | |||
| 3 | 16 | September 9, 1978 | September 3, 1979 | Super Friends - Season 3: Challenge of the Superfriends, The First SeasonSuper Friends - Season 3, Volume 2 | July 6, 2004
May 24, 2005 |
B00023E88U
B0007XFZMS | |||
| 4 | 8 | September 22, 1979 | September 27, 1980 | Super Friends - Season 4: The World's Greatest Super Friends, The Complete Series | April 23, 2013 | B00CREAO9O | |||
| 5 | 24 | September 13, 1980 | September 1, 1981 | Super Friends - Season 5: A Dangerous Fate, The Complete Series | July 23, 2013 | B00CM0DIT6 | |||
| 6 | 18 | September 26, 1981 | October 31, 1982 | Super Friends - Season 6: Super Friends! Legacy Of Super Powers, The Complete Season Six (6 on DVD label) | October 8, 2013 | B00DVKKWFE | |||
| 7 | 8 | September 10, 1983 | September 8, 1984 | Super Friends - Season 7: Super Friends The Lost Episodes | August 11, 2009 | B0027WNRV8 | |||
| 8 | 16 | September 8, 1984 | August 31, 1985 | Super Friends - Season 8: The Legendary Super Powers Show, The Complete Series | August 7, 2007 | B000PC8AKK | |||
| 9 | 10 | September 11, 1985 | November 6, 1986 | Super Friends - Season 9: The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians, The Complete Series | October 23, 2007 | B000TSTEJG | |||