Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Case of the Shrinking Superfriends

 

Aw, I had begun to wonder what had become of the Wonder Twins. This episode gave them a chance to ally with the other juniors, Firestorm and Robin - just don't call them Teen Titans. And I suppose the writers were already out of ideas, because we got another shrink ray treatment courtesy of Lex Luthor. To be fair, this was the first time I recall a double shrinking. Still, this one was kind of a dud.

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Episode Count: 0485
Series Count: (6 of 14)

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Flight 601 Has Vanished

Dr. Sivana was back, this time with a tiny rhiny. Not only was there shrinking, and and alternate "4th dimension," but amnesia, and dino attacks. This episode really went for broke and pretty much broke. Just remember, in the crazy 4th dimension, the laws of physics are backwards... shrink rays make you grow, and I presume time runs backwards. Then again maybe time just exists whereas is Fawcet City which presumably has no time, all things exist at all places concurrently.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Best Seller

Well, this is the first I have heard of Freckles Marvel who just 3 episodes in  is something like the Cousin Oliver of the Marvel family. After that the Izod wearing Hiss-men got to work. This one was full of gags, involuntary shrinking, jumping into books, time travel, and lizardication of the Marvels.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Witch's Arcade

Any episode that opens with an ostrich powered by an ice wind sail gets points in the plus column right away. The shrinking plot was just icing on the cake. Sure it was preposterous, but Wonder Twins in a pinball machine was a bit of fun and Wonder Woman at any size is always a treat.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Garden Of Doom

Wow. This was pretty amazing. It had form of a giant rabbit holding ice shears vs a killer tomato plant, tiny Wonder Woman and a pea pod vs a cricket, and a banana monster. It actually was a pretty fun episode though its time like this that I wonder why they didn't use the Atom. Its not like there are that many occasions when he would actually be helpful - better not to squander the opportunities that do make sense.In any case, this one turned out a lot better than I expected.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Who Undo The Zoo?

Just a fun day for the Plastic Family at the zoo until Unko the alien came to capture an antelope for his own interstellar zoo.  Did I mention Unko had a shrink ray? This was a pretty bad one... unless you have a soft spot for tiny lions.

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Episode Count: 0381
Series Count: (9 of 13)

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Toyman

Although I doubt this was THE Toyman (since he was an actual toy), this villain was certainly memorable. With his jester outfit coupled with his shrink ray, cackle, and ice cream cart, Toyman had all the makings of a nemesis. Shrinking episodes are always fun even though you would think Plas could just stretch back to normal size easily enough. 

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Episode Count: 0357
Series Count: (20 of 35)

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Tiny World of Terror

The Super Friends voluntarily submitted to shrinking in order to more efficiently find the involuntarily shrunk scientists.  Not sure that was such a good idea, but I guess it all worked out in the end. Why they didn't just call in the Atom? or stay big and use their eyes? or at least keep one friend big to guard the machine? I am pretty sure Aquaman could have handled that frog a lot easier if he wasn't the size of a bug. That goes the same for the near lethal encounters with wasps and spiders.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - City in a Bottle

 

 I hate to stereotype, but alien cavemen are always trouble. Once again, I guess Brainiac was busy but that didn't keep the writers from dishing out another entry in the surprisingly prolific bottled city genre.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Bite-Sized

Another day, another new villain. I have a hankering that Electro was created because Brainiac was off limits. His threat to put the city in a bottle was a tip off along with his penchant for shrinking people and the fact that he was an android. Of course, this guy also had a mastery of mind control making him a double threat.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Gulliver's Gigantic Goof

 This episode holds a very special place in my heart. Somehow it found its way into the rerun rotation when I was a kid, and I still remember being introduced to Green Arrow for the first time. I always hoped he would turn up again, but this was his one and only Super Friends showing. In fact, even though his sidekick Speedy had appeared in the Filmation Teen Titans series, this was Green Arrows first onscreen appearance.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Sea Raiders

In this adventure some space robots put a giant vacuum tube in the ocean to collect sea creatures. Tusky thought it would be a good idea to play in the tube and he got sucked up. Der!

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Luthor's Lethal Laser

At this point I am starting to empathize with the show creators. How many 6 minute tales can you really tell before running out of ideas. Obviously, less than 53. The series decided to double-up segments for the third season. Eight new stories consisting of two-part segments were made. Off we go...

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Cage of Glass

Brainiac shrank and bottled the city of Metropolis. Dun, DUN, DUNNNNNNNNN!

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Brainiac's Bubbles

Beany the office boy is back. You gotta love that guy with is old man voice in a tiny body. Luckily, Beany saw Brainiac's spaceship which Superman immediately recognized in spite of the fact that he has encountered about 15 flying sauces that all kinda look the same. Anyways, a team of short shorts wearing Brainiac's came to Earth to abduct Lois, using a big bubble, in order to repopulate their planet.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - APE Strikes Again

This APE dropped the Prankster and Toyman for Brainiac. I would consider that an upgrade. I suppose this team-up served as a nice "season premier" kicking off the second batch of New Adventures of Superman episodes, this time composed of just 16 6-ish minute segments.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - Superman Meets Brainiac

I know I already pointed it out after watching The Return of Brainiac, but this episode was clearly added out of order since Superman had already met Brainy. So, I guess Superman joined the circus. In an homage to the Fleischer short Terror on the Midway, Superman was going to wrestle Mr and Mrs Gigantic gorillas. Turns out Brainiac, who I swear Lois said didn't look like a "circus freak," was shrinking and stealing pairs of animals Noah style (except for the shrinking part). He also abducted Supes and Lois.

Crisis of Infinite Episodes - The Return of Brainiac

Despite the title of this segment, this was in fact Brainiac's first onscreen appearance. Something wacky must have happened with the production / airing order of the episodes. Anyway, Brainiac didn't really do much except shrink Superman and Co and then turn invisible. Then Lois got antnapped. Then Brainiac came back and the gang got enlarged.