Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Bat Man of Shanghai: Catwoman

And the bar has been raised. This first in a trio of shorts from the anime studio Wolf Smoke featured the three main characters in the live action movie The Dark Knight Rises but placed them in 1930's Shanghai. I absolutely love this short from the concept to the designs to choreography. It is a flawless minute that even manages to sneak in a peek at Bane who would be the focus of part 2. Not sure how Cat Woman's prehensile tail functions, but who cares. The only flaw here is that this begs for more episodes.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Lord of Middle Earth

Even without a Super Friends rendition of "Where There's a Whip, There's a Way" this was a near perfect episode on the outrageously amazing scale. After all, its not everyday the Justice League get transformed into Hobbits... er I mean "trolls."

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Space Knights of Camelon

There is a line between fan service and outright pandering that the creators of this season of Super Friends clearly crossed. This episode just took a bunch of things "kids love" and put them in a stew including Superman, King Arthur, lightsabers, and aliens. While it was fun seeing Superman as a masked Black Knight,  it was a real stretch, even for this series, to introduce an alien planet ruled by King Arthur 7 (as well as a planet of cavemen who spoke English). The episode culminated in an epic joust between Batman and and amnesiac Superman. I am not sure if this episode was terrible, or one of the greatest episodes ever.

Super History of Superman: The Adventures of Superboy (1966-9)

At the same time that the New Adventures of Superman aired, Filmation also produced episodes of The Adventures of Superboy in a similar six-minute format. 33 segments including one double length 12 minute segment were made and packaged to air along with Filmation's other series including Superman, Aquaman, and the DC Comics Super Heroes. Superboy ran from 1966-69 and focused on the adventures of The Man of Steel when he was still young, hence Super "boy." Ma and Pa Kent, along with Lana Lang would make up the supporting cast as opposed to Superman's Daily Planet crew.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Lex Luthor Strikes Back

While it was nice to have Luthor back, it was a shame that he was Legionless. Instead, the cue-ball teamed with "sun creatures" to turn the sun red in order to weaken Superman. But when the conquers decided to go for broke and burn down the planet, Luthor had to free the rest of the defeated Friends to save the day. I would be harder on the plot, but All Star Superman pretty much did the same thing, but brilliantly.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Rub Three Times for Disaster

In this, the World's Greatest Super Friend first outing, the writers opted for Aladdin in space with a villain resembling then contemporary Ayatollah Khomenei from the planet Zaghdad and his trusty space genie.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The World's Greatest Super Friends

Rather than trying to top the Challenge of the Super Friends with more heroes and more diabolical villains, the 1979 incarnation of Super Friends went smaller. The World's Greatest Super Friends delivered just eight additional episodes focusing on the core team member of Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and of course the Wonder Twins. The series was paired with the Plastic Man Comedy Adventure Show beginning in September 1979. What a way to close the decade!