The Ultimate Guide to the Cartoons of the 1980s – Chapter 9: SuperFriends

Chapter 9: SuperFriends

Total Episodes: 22 episodes (8 were not shown originally)
Total Segments: 66 segments (24 were not shown originally)
Episode Length: 22 minutes (3, 7-minute segments each)

First Air Date: September 13th, 1980
Final Air Date: October 31st, 1981
Day(s) Aired: Saturdays
Channel: ABC
Reboot/Spin-Off Data: Spin-off/Continuation of the 1973 series, Super Friends
Based On: DC Comics Justice League by Gardner Fox

Creator: Gardner Fox
Developed By: Alex Toth
Producer:
Gerald Baldwin (1980 & 1981)
Don Jurwich (1980)
Art Scott (1980)
Kay Wright (1983)
Director(s):
George Gordon (1980, 1981, 1983)
Rudy Zamora (1980, 1981, 1983)
Ray Patterson (1980)
Carl Urbano (1980, 1981, 1983)
Oscar Dufau (1980)
Charles A. Nichols (1980)
Bob Hathcock (1983)

Voice Director: Gordon Hunt
Writer(s):
1980 Writers:
Uncredited
1981 Writers:
David Villaire (7)
Jeffrey Scott (3)
J.Michael Reaves (3)
Gene Ayres (1)
Marc Scott Zicree (1)
Doug Booth (1)
2 Segments Uncredited

Music: Hoyt Curtin

Production Companies: Hanna-Barbera & DC Comics

Component or Standalone: Component, Aired along side 1 half hour repeat from one of the previous series to make up an hour of programming in total.

Episode List: (Click HERE for Episode Guide)

Season 1:
Episode 1: Big Foot / The Ice Demon / The Make-Up Monster
Episode 2: Journey into Blackness / The Cycle Gang / Dive to Disaster
Episode 3: Yuna the Terrible / Rock & Roll Space Bandits / Elevator to Nowhere
Episode 4: One Small Step for Mars / Haunted House / The Incredible Crude Oil Monster
Episode 5: Voodoo Vampire / Invasion of the Gleeks / Mxyzptlk Strikes Again
Episode 6: The Man in the Moon / Circus of Horrors / Around the World in 80 Riddles
Episode 7: Termites from Venus / Eruption / Return of Atlantis
Episode 8: The Killer Machines / Garden of Doom / Revenge of Bizarro

Season 2:
Episode 9: The Outlaws of Orion / Three Wishes / Scorpio
Episode 10: Mxyzptlk’s Flick / The Sink Hole / The Alien Mummy
Episode 11: The Evil from Krypton / The Creature from the Dump / The Aircraft Terror
Episode 12: The Lava Men / Bazarowurld / The Warlord’s Amulet
Episode 13: The Iron Cyclops / Palette’s Perils / Colossus
Episode 14: The Stowaways from Space / The Scaraghosta Sea / The Witch’s Arcade

Season 3: (Not included in this Chapter since it didn’t air originally)
Episode 15: Mxyzptlk’s Revenge / Roller Coaster / Once Upon a Poltergeist
Episode 16: Warpland / Two Gleeks are Deadlier Than One / Bulgor the Behemoth
Episode 17: The Krypton Syndrome / Invasion of the Space Dolls / Terror on the Titanic
Episode 18: Revenge of Doom / A Pint of Life / Day of the Dinosaurs
Episode 19: Return of the Phantoms / Bully for You / Superclones
Episode 20: Prisoners of Sleep / An Unexpected Treasure / The Malusian Blob
Episode 21: Attack of the Cats / One Small Step for Superman / Video Victims
Episode 22: Playground of Doom / Space Racers / The Recruiter

Main Cast:

Superman: Danny Dark

Batman: Olan Soule

Robin: Casey Kasem

Wonder Woman: Shannon Farnon

Jayna: Louise Williams

Zan & Gleek: Michael Bell

Recurring Roles:

Flash, Hawkman and Samurai: Jack Angel

Aquaman and Bizzaro: Bill Callaway

Apache Chief & Green Lantern: Michael Rye

Black Vulcan: Buster Jones

The Atom: Wally Burr

El Dorado: Fernando Escandon

Hawkgirl: Janet Waldo

Mr. Mxyzptlk: Frank Welker

Guest Roles:

Jack Angel: J.S. Snyder, Spike, Submarine Captain, Gramps, Chief

Michael Rye: Romac, Dr. Olin, Pack, Novarian Leader

Michael Bell: The Riddler, Glook, Bobby

Julie McWhirter: Lois Lane, Kate

Kathy Carver: Rima, Ocina

Patty Dworkin: Hippolyta, Divina

Amanda McBroom: Vampiress, Tigress

Frank Welker: Dr. Wells, Elephant

Richard Erdman: Space Genie, Grimes

Kenneth Mars: Warlord, Bud

Peter Cullen: John Palette

Chuck McCann: Colossus

Jered Barclay: Diamond Jack

Larry D. Mann: Itsy

Allan Lurie: Zi-Kree

Phil Hartman: Stardust

Bob Holt: Holmes

Greg Burson: Keelhaul Kelly

Takayo Doran: Witch

Morgan Lofting: Dr. Gibbs

Other Credited actors without images:
Bill Woodson: Narrator
Jerry Dexter: Superboy
Aileen Fitzpatrick: Yuna
Peggy Frees: Girl
Joyce Jameson: Judy
Zale Kessler: Bat Computer
Vic Perrin: Sailor, Justice League Computer
Andy Rivas: Professor Nazca
Mike Road: Security Guard (Museum)
Paul Ross: Aircraft Carrier Captain
Michael Sheeham: Truck Driver
Olan Soule: Repair Man
Andre Stojka: Scorpio
Lee Thomas: Captain Hood
Michael Ambrosini: Dr. Ardri

Synopsis:

SuperFriends is the 5th iteration of the over arching cartoon series that began in 1973. Unlike the previous installments this version adapted a format that consisted of three 7-minute shorts (30 minute time-block overall). It was paired with 30 minutes of content from one of the previous series to make up the 60 minute total time-slot. There were 3 seasons of this incarnation, however the 3rd season did not air in the original broadcasts. These episodes are typically referred to as the “Lost Episodes” and are not covered in this chapter of the Ultimate Guide. These episodes were seen uniterrupted in Australia but United States audiences would not see them until 1995 on the USA Network. They later were also seen on the Cartoon Network and Boomerang.

In the first season, the three segments were broken up in a very systematic manner. The first segment was a generic segment featuring the Super Friends where in all but 1 episode we see Batman and/or Superman. The middle segment was always an story involving the Wonder Twins and Gleek. The final segment was typically set aside for known characters within the DC Universe. For example, we see Flash, Hawkman, Hawkgirl, Mr. Mxyzptlk, The Riddler, Ocina, Rima, Hipployta, Divina and Bizarro all appear in the third segment throughout the season.

In the second season this format gets altered. The Wonder Twins still appear a total of six times throughout the 6 episodes. However, there are two episodes they appear in two segments during and two episodes in which they don’t appear at all. They also are not relegated to only appearing in the middle segment in season 2. Flash, Samurai and Apache Chief all appear in the 3rd segments of their respective episodes but Bizarro and Mr. Mxyzptlk do not follow that structure this time.

Batman makes the most appearances throughout these two seasons, appearing in 22 total segments, Superman appears in 21 segments, Robin in 19, Wonder Woman in 17, The Wonder Twins and Gleek in 14 a piece. Of the recurring characters Aquaman makes the most appearances by showing up in 8 segments, followed by Black Vulcan in 5, Green Lantern, The Atom and Apache Chief in 4 a piece.

Overall Breakdown:

Although, I understand the thinking behind quick 7 minute segments to create a fast pace and keep the attention of the kids watching, the end result for a series such as this is that it created segments that were very formulaic and predictable. If it was an episode featuring the Wonder Twins you would begin with a conflict of varying degrees, the Wonder Twins would arrive on the scene, they would use their super-powers to transform into the various pairing listed below, this would not ultimately solved the problem and either another Super Friend or Friends would have to come to their rescue or they would have to rely on a second or even at times third transformation before the segment was wrapped up quickly with a bow. They averaged two transformations per appearance.

If it was an episode involving Batman and Robin, the episode would follow the same format, just replacing the Wonder Twins transformations with the use of the Bat Gadgets listed below. They deployed at least 1 Bat Gadget per apperance and often times multiple.

Each character seemed to have their go to catch-phrase or a variation of that as well as a super-power that they would employ after. That in and of itself is not a problem. However, when you only have 7 minutes of story time to tell a complete story arc it becomes very paint by number. This is especially problematic and noticeable if anyone it sitting down to watch a number of these episodes at one time.

Another thing that I feel goes against this series is the lack of iconic DC villains. We get a lot of non-descipt doctors, scientists, wizards, witches and meglomaniacs but we only see one appearance of Bizarro in each season, one appearance of Mr. Mxyzptlk in each season and one standalone appearance from The Riddler.

As someone without much experience with the cartoon segment of the DC universe I was looking forward to what this classic series had in store. I was left wanting much more than what I was given though.

Overall Show Score: 2/5
Average Episode Rating on our Episode Guide: 2.45

7 of the 42 segments scored a 3.5 or 4.
No Segment received a 4.5 or 5.0 rating
Lowest rated segment was a 0.5

Behind the Scenes/Fun Trivia:

Robin’s Holy Holy’s:
Holy Computerized Traitor
Holy Catastrophe
Holy Wrong Numbers
Holy Mutations
Holy Heavyweights
Holy Tree Bark
Holy Dead Ends
Holy Space Bugs
Holy Hot Foot
Holy Lava Flow
Holy Jet Lag
Holy Close Call
Holy Fang Face
Holy Impossibilities
Holy Infestations
Holy Close Encounters
Holy Roadwork
Holy Predicaments
Holy Helplessness
Holy Horror Films
Holy Explanation
Holy Sci-Fi Movies
Holy Jiminy, a Cricket
Holy Elusive Antidote
Holy Optical Illusions
Holy Hallucinations
Holy Squeeze Plays
Holy Close Calls
Holy Ferocious Flocks
Holy Jumbo Jet Monsters
Holy Surprise Attacks
Holy Monster Beams
Holy Wing Grip
Holy Metamorphasis
Holy Body Stretches
Holy Pirate Ghosts

Bat Gadgets used in this series:
Bat Goop Dummy Trap
Bat Buggy
Bat Language Translator
Bat Rocket
Bat Tape
Telescopic Bat Ring
Bat Photon Immobilizer
Bat Hoist
Bat Freeze
Bat Stitchers
Bat Repellant
Bat Motor
Bat Dome
Bat Cape
Bat Bazooka
Bat Magnet
Bat Submarine
Bat-a-rang
Bat Gas
Bat Solvent
Bat Screwdriver
Bat Bolos
Bat Torch
Bat Bean Bagger
Bat Flares
Bat Reflector
Bat Net

Every Wonder Twins Transformation in this series:
Sand Whale – Ice Net
Giant Spider – Ice Catapult
Eagle – Block of Ice
Eagle – Icy Straight Jacket
Giraffe – Ice Slingshot
Eagle – Water [4 Times]
Flying Serpent – Ice Jack
Ice Jet – – By Itself [2 Times]
Octopus – Ice Unicycle
Pteradactyl – Ice
Woodpecker – Ice Trapeze
Crocodile – Ice Ramp
Condor – Ice Gondola
Woodpecker – Ice Drill
Octopus – Ice Ramp
Python – Ice Crane
Kangaroo – Frozen Bowling Ball
Elephant – Ice Water
Giant Tortoise – Ice Turret
Electric Eel – Ice Catapult
Elephant – Ice Blanket
Beaver – Snowballs
Pteradactyl – By Itself
Ice Bridge – By Itself
Gorilla – Ice Stilts
Ice Faucet – By Itself
Giant Rabbit – Ice Shears
Parakeet – Thundercloud

Related Media/Merchandise:
None, although some comics could be tied loosely to this property.

Toys:
None, although in 1984 a toyline would exist that would coincide with a future version of this ‘series’