In 1978 the Super Friends were rebranded once again with a major shakeup in the team roster and big name bad guys.
Challenge of the Super Friends
Banded together from remote galaxies are thirteen of the most sinister villains of all-time -- the Legion of Doom. Dedicated to a single objective ... the conquest of the universe. Only one groups dares to challenge this intergalactic threat: the Superfriends!
This diabolical Legion, consisting of Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Solomon Grundy, the Riddler, the Scarecrow, Bizarro, Cheetah, Black Manta, Giganta, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Captain Cold, and the Toyman, were actually mostly from Earth. Nevertheless, this series marked the introduction of real supervillains challenging the friends who had previously been occupied with natrual disasters, monsters, and the occassional alien threat. The heroes finally had an excuse to throw some punches.
Although there were 13 villains, there were but 11 heroes. Zan and Jayna were dropped from the line-up and replaced with previous guest stars. The roster now consisted of Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin, Hawkman, Flash, and Green Lantern, as well as the invented for the series Black Vulcan, Samurai, and Apache Chief.
Wonder Twins fans, despair not. In addition to the Challenge series, additional All-New Super Friends Episodes were produced featuring the core team of Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Wonder Twins. In all, 16 episodes apiece were produced for the Challenge and All-New series, but it was Challenge of the Super Friends which has gone on to become the most memorable of all the Super Friends titles.
This diabolical Legion, consisting of Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Solomon Grundy, the Riddler, the Scarecrow, Bizarro, Cheetah, Black Manta, Giganta, Gorilla Grodd, Sinestro, Captain Cold, and the Toyman, were actually mostly from Earth. Nevertheless, this series marked the introduction of real supervillains challenging the friends who had previously been occupied with natrual disasters, monsters, and the occassional alien threat. The heroes finally had an excuse to throw some punches.
Although there were 13 villains, there were but 11 heroes. Zan and Jayna were dropped from the line-up and replaced with previous guest stars. The roster now consisted of Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Batman, Robin, Hawkman, Flash, and Green Lantern, as well as the invented for the series Black Vulcan, Samurai, and Apache Chief.
Wonder Twins fans, despair not. In addition to the Challenge series, additional All-New Super Friends Episodes were produced featuring the core team of Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and the Wonder Twins. In all, 16 episodes apiece were produced for the Challenge and All-New series, but it was Challenge of the Super Friends which has gone on to become the most memorable of all the Super Friends titles.
Availability: Challenge of the Super Friends DVD
Up Next: Legends of the Superheroes
The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure * Super Friends * The All New Super Friends Hour * Challenge of the Super Friends
This is most definitely one of the greatest adaptations of Comic Books EVER. At many times, they were suddenly under budget or pressed for time thus giving some low hand production....and yet they always stayed true to the spirit of comic books.
ReplyDeleteThey style of the story telling was EXACTLY mirroring comic books and the characters were precisely true to form. WonderWoman was noble and mature, Robin was enthusiastic and heroic, Aquaman was natural and hearty, Batman was brainy and moral, and Superman was bold and pure. They nailed the characters DEAD ON because they could reach the archetype.
WonderTwins was the nicest touch because it kept it all grounded. I mean essentially what were talking about are GODS, they're all like gods with such great power and the adventures and threats were so cosmic that a normal person would pee in his pants, so the Twins kept it grounded with their youth and they're average-ness. Black Vulcan, Samurai, and other characters were really original.
"Greatest forces of good ever assembled"? Greatest show ever made of Comic books!!