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[Complete First Season] [Volume II] [Attack Of The Legion Of Doom] [United They Stand]
[NEW! - DVD Volumes III & IV]
[Warner Home Video] [VHS tapes] [Episode List]

[The Justice League Of America] [The Legion Of Doom]
[Episode Guide] [Superfriends Chronology] [Links] [Main Page]

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS - The Complete First Season

Editorial Review
Challenge of the Super Friends is the ultimate animated all-star contest of good versus evil.  The original Super Friends (running from 1973 to 1977--Wonder Twins and Gleek anyone??) was made up of the greatest DC Comics superheroes fighting together to uphold justice for all mankind.  Overall, it was a pretty good show, but getting stale very fast.  In 1978, the superhero animation bar was raised high when the first (and only) season of Challenge of the Super Friends hit the Saturday morning circuit.  Immediately these 16 episodes made up the best that Super Friends had to offer for one reason alone: the creation of the Legion of Doom, banding together the 13 most sinister villains of all-time from remote galaxies.  Led by the sinister genius of Lex Luthor, the Legion of Doom was dedicated to take over the universe, and only the Super Friends, led by Superman, Wonder Woman and the Dynamic Duo, dared to challenge this intergalactic threat and bring them to justice.  There is no denying that animated superhero shows have come a long way since Super Friends.  The Challenge of the Super Friends is very '70s in presentation, riddled with inconsistencies and drawing mistakes, and allowing heroes to fly even if they couldn't fly in the comics.  However, there is no denying the staying power of the stories, its concept, the superheroes/villains pairing and its overall charm.  Included in this set are a couple of nice features, particularly the superheroes/villains biographies, each with their own mini-video.  There is also a good, brief documentary of today's comic book and TV show creators reflecting on their impressions of Challenge of the Super Friends and its influence on their careers.  If you want to take a trip down memory lane to the Hall of Justice or the swamps of the Hall of Doom, you will not be disappointed by this set.  -- Rob Bracco [top]

THE SUPERFRIENDS - Volume II

Product Description
Only the combined superpowers of Earth's greatest heroes can stop the unthinkable dangers that jeopardize humanity in these 16 episodes from the beloved animated TV series!  Superman, Batman and Robin, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Zan and Jayna battle villains from the darkest regions of outer space to the depths of the ocean in their fight for truth and justice.  They face extraordinary perils at the core of the Earth and defy the laws of nature to shrink to microscopic size to defeat a radioactive monster.  Even Dracula returns from the grave to challenge the Super Friends to a showdown!  And with this exciting compilation that boasts cool extras, you can join the Super Friends for the ultimate victory celebration!

DVD Features
Featurette:"Pajama-Rama: Super Friends Retrospective" [A group of pop culture enthusiasts and fun celebrities share their memories of the world's greatest team of '70's super-heroes, The Super Friends !]Music Video:"The Ballad of Zan & Jayna"- [ A wild and wacky music video celebrating the Wonder Twins, and of course, their pet primate Gleek !] [top]

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS - Volume I (Episodes 1-4)
ATTACK OF THE LEGION OF DOOM

from AMAZON.COM

DVD Features
The Challenge of the Super Friends: Attack of the Legion of Doom DVD is rounded out by some slight extras that provide a few nuggets of background information on the Legion of Doom and the series itself. "Hall of Doom" is the most enjoyable feature, offering thumbnail sketches of each Legion member as well as a montage of their fiendish exploits. However, "Super Friend or Super Foe?" is an ill-explained identification game that asks viewers to find hidden Super Friends in a portrait of the Legion of Doom. Series story editor Jeffrey Scott contributes brief anecdotes about the program, which can be played before each episode; these bits are advertised as introductions, but this is somewhat misleading, as he doesn't mention anything specific about the four episodes. Finally, the main menu offers viewers the opportunity to play the episodes individually or all at once. --Paul Gaita

Editorial Review
Warner Home Video aims to please viewers hungry for vintage Saturday morning animation with this DVD, which compiles the first four episodes of the popular 1978 super hero series. Challenge of the Super Friends was the third go-round with DC's heroes for producers Hanna-Barbera; the difference here is in the premise, which pits Superman, Batman et al. against their sworn enemies-Lex Luthor, the Riddler, and 11 other villains-who have joined together as the Legion of Doom and are dedicated to defeating the Super Friends. Scripting and animation in each episode is rudimentary by today's standards, which may be off-putting for younger viewers who are familiar with the recent Justice League series. But purists will appreciate the more serious tone of the episodes, and how closely they hew to the original comics, and fans of all stripes should enjoy the cliffhanger action and the over-the-top machinations of the Legion of Doom. --Paul Gaita [top]

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS - Volume II (Episodes 5-8)
UNITED THEY STAND

from AMAZON.COM

Warner Home Video Press Release

As the infamous Legion of Doom unleashes one diabolical scheme after another, the heroic Super Friends explode into battle to thwart them!  Join Superman, Black Vulcan and Hawkman as they fight to free themselves from imprisonment in the center of the Earth!  Travel back in time to witness the amazing origins of the most powerful Super Friends of all! And watch the larger-than-life action as Superman, Batman, The Flash and Green Lantern are transformed into the 100-foot-tall Giants of Justice. [top]

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS - Volumes III & IV (Episodes 9-16)
THE CHALLENGE OF DOOM / JOURNEY INTO OBLIVION

For some reason, Warner Home Video has decided to stop releasing Challenge of the Superfriends DVDs after two volumes.  Eventually, they released an entire boxed set, but purchasers of the first two discs now had to rebuy the episodes on the first two volumes.  I am offereing DVD backups of my VHS tapes.  A few years ago The Cartoon Network aired Challenge of the Superfriends, which I recorded and have recently transferred to NTSC DVD.  If you are interested in obtaining DVD+R backups of the last eigth episodes of Challenge of the Superfriends, please select this link.  Carefully read the terms and conditions of the document.  Please note, I have no access to information on any of the other Superfriends shows.  Please DO NOT contact me regarding any show except Challenge of the Superfriends.  Thank you.  [top]

OFFICIAL WARNER HOME VIDEO DVDs

Media giant AOL/Time-Warner (who by the way...hosts this web site) owns Hanna-Barbera and therefore all the rights to Challenge of the Superfriends.  Warner Home Video has recently release two excellent DVDs entitled Challenge of the Superfriends: Attack of the Legion of Doom and Challenge of the Superfriends: United They Stand.  You can purchase these official DVDs from AMAZON.COM or directly from Warner Home Video at www.superheroesdvd.com.  [top]

EPISODES ON VHS TAPE?

The Cartoon Network has aired ALL the Superfriends shows in it's schedule from time-to-time.  I was lucky enough to have a cable provider that offered this great station at that time.  I have no idea if any cable currently airs any of the Superfriends series.  If you are interested in obtaining video tape dubs of all sixteen episodes of Challenge of the Superfriends on four (4) NTSC VHS tapes, please select this link.  Carefully read the terms and conditions of the document.  Please note, I have no access to information on any of the other Superfriends shows.  Please DO NOT contact me regarding any show except Challenge of the Superfriends.  Thank you.  [top]

EPISODE LIST

Full Episode Guide  [top]

[The Justice League Of America] [The Legion Of Doom]
[Episode Guide] [Superfriends Chronology] [Links] [Main Page]