Super Friends: The Complete Collection (DVD Review)

• Reviewed by: Tim Salmons
• Review Date: Sep 27, 2024
• Format: DVD
• 

Director

Various

Release Date(s)

1973-1985 (September 10, 2024)

Studio(s)

Hanna-Barbera Productions/DC Comics (Warner Home Video)

• Film/Program Grade: B-
• Video Grade: C+
• Audio Grade: B-
• Extras Grade: C-
• Overall Grade: C

Review

Long before Zack Snyder’s Justice League assembled, DC fans were treated to Saturday morning and syndicated adventures with some of their favorite DC superheroes and villains with the long-running Super Friends animated TV franchise, which consisted of seven shows over the course of twelve years, courtesy of Hanna-Barbera Productions. The line up of heroes would be altered over the time, sometimes including young sidekicks who weren’t from the original comics, or some of the lesser known characters in the DC canon. At the center always was Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman, with Robin, the Flash, Cyborg, Firestorm, the Wonder Twins, Apache Chief, El Dorado, and Green Lantern, among others, coming and going over the various iterations of the show when it aired on ABC.

Super Friends from 1973 lasted for one season with sixteen episodes, The All-New Super Friends from 1977 lasted for one season with fifteen episodes, Challenge of the Super Friends from 1978 lasted for one season with sixteen episodes, The World’s Greatest SuperFriends from 1979 lasted for one season with eight episodes, Super Friends from 1980 to 1983 (the longest-running of the bunch) lasted for three seasons with twenty-two episodes, Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show from 1984 lasted for one season with eight episodes, and finally, The Super Powers Team: The Galactic Guardians from 1985 lasted for one season with eight episodes. The shows were repackaged over time, which led to some confusion when they started making their way to DVD. The official third season of Super Friends (1980-1983) ended up not airing in the US until 1995 when the show began airing on the USA Network. The episodes from that season were considered “lost” to US audiences, and when they were eventually released on DVD, they were branded The Lost Episodes, giving fans who didn’t catch them in 1995 a way to see them for the first time.

When it comes to the home video releases of these shows on DVD, there’s been some good and some bad. What’s good is that all of these shows have been available in some form or another on home video since the early 2000s. Each show features traditional cel animation, and is presented in the aspect ratio of 1.33:1. Super Friends: The Complete Collection gathers together all 21 previously-existing DVDs of the show with the same video and audio quality. Bitrates range from 3 to 10Mbps, while detail improves as each show was released on DVD. Minor instability, cel dirt, speckling, and other optical flaws are visible. Colors can appear bright to washed out to sun-baked, with tape-sourced flaws running along the bottom and left edges of the frame. Clearly, these were sourced from videotape.

The primary audio option for all of the shows is English mono Dolby Digital with optional subtitles in English SDH. Some shows feature alternate audio tracks in Spanish and Portuguese mono Dolby Digital, as well as subtitles in French, Spanish, and Portuguese, though not all. Consistency is not the name of the game here, it’s more about the repackaging of previously available material. As for the audio, it’s fine with good support for the various elements, though limited by a lack of restoration and being presented in a lossy container.

Unfortunately, the packaging for Super Friends: The Complete Collection on DVD is not ideal. It’s a multi-disc set with many discs sandwiched on top of each other, though to give some credit, the discs are presented in order of the show’s releases, but if you happen to have some loose discs, you might have to consult the internet to verify where they belong. A Blu-ray release is also available, but we cover that in a separate review. The following episodes and extras are included on each disc, all of them the exact same discs as their predecessors:

SUPER FRIENDS (1973)

DISC ONE (EPISODES 1-4)

1. The Power Pirate (45:05)
2. The Baffles Puzzle (45:04)
3. Professor Goodfellow’s G.E.E.C. (45:03)
4. The Weather Maker (44:59)

• Super Friends Trivia Challenge
• You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown DVD Trailer (1:06)

DISC TWO (EPISODES 5-8)

5. Dr. Pelagin’s War (45:05)
6. The Shamon ‘U’ (45:03)
7. Too Hot to Handle (44:52)
8. The Androids (44:58)

• Saturday Morning Cartoons DVD Trailer (1:00)

DISC THREE (EPISODES 9-12)

9. The Balloon People (45:00)
10. The Fantastic Frerps (45:25)
11. The Ultra Beam (45:27)
12. The Menace of the White Dwarf (45:00)

• Jonah Hex Motion Comic DVD Trailer (1:14)
• The Lord of the Rings DVD Trailer (1:20)

DISC FOUR (EPISODES 13-16)

13. The Mysterious Moles (45:26)
14. Gulliver’s Gigantic Goof (45:03)
15. The Planet-Splitter (45:04)
16. The Watermen (45:02)

• Super Friends Trivia Challenge

THE ALL-NEW SUPER FRIENDS HOUR (1977)

DISC FIVE (EPISODES 1-4)

1. The Brain Machine/Joy Ride/Invasion of the Earthors/The Whirlpool (46:05)
2. Invasion of the Hydronoids/Hitchhike/City in a Bottle/Space Emergency (46:03)
3. The Marsh Monster/Runaways/Will the World Collide?/Time Rescue (46:18)
4. Doctor Fright/Drag Race/Day of the Plant Creatures/Fire (46:19)

DISC SIX (EPISODES 5-7)

5. The Monster of Dr. Droid/Vandals/Super Friends vs. Super Friends/Energy Mass (46:19)
6. The Secret Four/Tiger on the Loose/The Mysterious Time Creatures/The Antidote (46:19)
7. The Enforcer/Shark/Planet of the Neanderthals/Flood of Diamonds (46:04)

• One Dimensional Goodness: The Super Friends and the Good Old Days (14:33)
• Origins of the Guest Stars (8:30)
• Academy Award Collection DVD Trailer (1:44)
• Classic Cartoons from the Vault DVD Trailer (1:21)
• Challenge of the Super Friends: The First Season DVD Trailer (1:12)
• FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage Video Game Trailer (1:45)

DISC SEVEN (EPISODES 8-11)

8. The Invisible Menace/Initiation/Coming of the Arthropods/River of Doom (46:17)
9. Attack of the Giant Squid/Game of Chicken/The Water Beast/Volcano (46:14)
10. The Collector/Handicap/The Mind Maidens/Alaska Peril (46:18)
11. The Fifty Foot Woman/Cheating/Exploration: Earth/Attack of the Killer Bees (46:17)

DISC EIGHT (EPISODES 12-15)

12. Forbidden Power/Pressure Point/The Lionmen/The Day of the Rats (46:03)
13. The Man-Beasts of Xra/Prejudice/The Tiny World of Terror/Tibetan Raiders (46:12)
14. Frozen Peril/Dangerous Prank/The Mummy of Nazca/Cable Car Rescue (46:11)
15. The Protector/Stowaways/The Ghost/Rampage (46:30)

• The Wonder Twins Phenomenon (12:08)
• The Smurfs: Season One – Volume Two DVD Trailer (1:03)
• Challenge of the Super Friends: The First Season DVD Trailer (1:08)

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPER FRIENDS (1978) (FIRST HALF SEGMENTS)

DISC NINE (EPISODES 1a-8a)

1. Rokan: Enemy from Space (22:44)
2. The Demons of Exxor (22:38)
3. Battle at the Earth’s Core (22:51)
4. Sinbad and the Space Pirates (22:45)
5. The Pied Piper from Space (22:44)
6. Attack of the Vampire (22:51)
7. The Beasts are Coming (22:48)
8. Terror from the Phantom Zone (22:46)

• The Ballad of Zan & Jayna (Wonder Twin Powers Activate) Music Video (4:06)

DISC TEN (EPISODES 9a-16a)

9. The Anti-Matter Monster (22:43)
10. World Beneath the Ice (22:41)
11. Invasion of the Brain Creatures (22:45)
12. The Incredible Space Circus (22:40)
13. Batman: Dead or Alive (22:37)
14. Battle of the Gods (22:46)
15. Journey Through Inner Space (22:49)
16. The Rise and Fall of the Super Friends (22:42)

• Pajama-Rama Super Friends Retrospective (11:55)
• Challenge of the Super Friends: The First Season DVD Trailer (1:10)
• Batman: The Animated Series – Volume 1 (1:09)
• Batman: The Animated Series – Volume 2 (:57)
• Batman: The Animated Series – Volume 3 (:50)
• Samura Jack: Season 2 (:32)
• Superman: The Animated Series – Volume 1 (:56)

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPER FRIENDS (1978) (SECOND HALF SEGMENTS)

DISC ELEVEN (EPISODES 1b-8b)

1. Wanted: The Super Friends (21:52)
2. Invasion of the Fearians (21:46)
3. The World’s Deadliest Game (21:45)
4. The Time Trap (21:46)
5. Trial of the Super Friends (21:46)
6. Monolith of Evil (21:44)
7. The Giants of Doom (21:44)
8. Secret Origins of the Super Friends (21:44)

DISC TWELVE (EPISODES 9b-16b)

9. Revenge on Gorilla City (21:43)
10. Swamp of the Living Dead (21:39)
11. Conquerors of the Future (21:44)
12. The Final Challenge (21:42)
13. Fairy Tale of Doom (21:49)
14. Doomsday (21:44)
15. Super Friends: Rest in Peace (21:40)
16. History of Doom (21:37)

THE WORLD’S GREATEST SUPERFRIENDS (1979)

DISC THIRTEEN (EPISODES 1-8)

1. Rub Three Times for Disaster (22:13)
2. Lex Luthor Strikes Back (22:10)
3. Space Knights of Camelon (22:01)
4. The Lord of Middle Earth (22:05)
5. Universe of Evil (22:09)
6. Terror at 20,000 Fathoms (22:14)
7. The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein (22:11)
8. The Planet of Oz (22:11)

• DC Heroes Trailer (2:16)

SUPER FRIENDS (1980-1983)

DISC FOURTEEN (SEASON ONE – EPISODES 1-8)

1. Big Foot/The Ice Demon/The Make-Up Monster (23:31)
2. Journey Into Blackness/Cycle Gang/Dive to Disaster (23:27)
3. Yuna the Terrible/Rock & Roll Space Bandits/Elevator to Nowhere (23:31)
4. One Small Step for Mars/Haunted House/The Incredible Crude Oil Monster (23:30)
5. Voodoo Vampire/Invasion of the Gleeks/Mxyzptlk Strikes Again (23:32)
6. The Man in the Moon/Circus of Horrors/Around the World in 80 Riddles (23:31)
7. Termites from Venus/Eruption/Return of Atlantis (23:31)
8. The Killer Machines/Garden of Doom/Revenge of Bizzaro (23:32)

• DC Heroes Trailer (2:13)
• LEGO Batman: The Movie – DC Super Heroes Unite Video Game Trailer (1:51)

DISC FIFTEEN (SEASON TWO – EPISODES 1-6)

1. Outlaws of Orion/Three Wishes/Scorpio (21:32)
2. Mxyzptlk’s Flick/Sink Hole/Alien Mummy (21:30)
3. The Evil of Krypton/The Creature from the Dump/The Aircraft Terror (21:32)
4. The Lava Men/Bazarowurld/The Warlord’s Amulet (21:33)
5. The Iron Cyclops/Palette’s Perils/Colossus (21:32)
6. Stowaways from Space/The Scaraghosta Sea/The Witch’s Arcade (21:29)

• Man of Steel Trailer (3:05)
• Batman: Arkham Origins Video Game Trailer (1:55)

DISC SIXTEEN (SEASON THREE aka THE LOST EPISODES – EPISODES 1-4)

1. Mxyzptlk’s Revenge (7:39)/Roller Coaster (6:07)/Once Upon a Poltergeist (7:44)
2. The Krypton Syndrome (7:38)/Invasion of the Space Dolls (6:07)/Terror on the Titanic (7:46)
3. Revenge of Doom (7:39)/A Pint of Life (6:07)/Day of the Dinosaurs (7:45)
4. Playground of Doom (7:38)/Space Racers (6:07)/The Recruiter (7:46)

DISC SEVENTEEN (SEASON THREE aka THE LOST EPISODES – EPISODES 5-8)

5. Warpland (7:37)/Two Gleeks Are Deadlier Than One (6:07)/Bulgor the Behemoth (7:45)
6. Prisoners of Sleep (7:40)/An Unexpected Treasure (6:07)/The Malusian Blob (7:47)
7. Return of the Phantoms (7:39)/Bully for You (6:07)/Superclones (7:46)
8. Attack of the Cats (7:35)/One Small Step for Superman (6:08)/Video Victims (7:44)

• Smashing Out of Your TV Screen – Your Saturday Morning Favorites Comic Gallery
• Batman: The Brave and the Bold DVD Trailer (:31)
• Green Lantern DVD and Blu-ray Trailer (3:01)
• Super Friends Comic Book Stories (DVD-ROM)

SUPER FRIENDS: THE LEGENDARY SUPER POWERS SHOW (1984)

DISC EIGHTEEN (EPISODES 1-5)

1. The Bride of Darkseid Part I (14:27)/The Bride of Darkseid Part II (8:46)
2. The Wrath of Braniac (11:24)/Reflections in Crime (10:41)
3. No Honor Among Thieves (11:32)/Mr. Mxyzptlk and the Magic Lamp (10:42)
4. The Case of the Shrinking Superfriends (11:32)/The Mask of Mystery (10:48)
5. Darkseid’s Golden Trap Part I (11:30)/Darkseid’s Golden Trap Part II (10:46)

• Audio Commentary on The Wrath of Braniac by Glen Leopold and Mark Waid
• Audio Commentary on No Honor Among Thieves by John Semper and Mark Waid
• Audio Commentary on The Mask of Mystery by Glen Leopold and Mark Waid

DISC NINETEEN (EPISODES 6-8)

6. The Island of the Dinosoids (11:32)/Uncle Mxyzptlk (10:44)
7. The Case of the Dreadful Dolls (11:32)/The Royal Ruse (10:45)
8. The Village of Lost Souls (11:32)/The Curator (10:39)

• Evolution: New Heroes, Viler Villains, and Ethnic Additions (17:43)
• The Super Powers Collection: The Effect of the Toy Industry on the Super Friends (7:37)
• Audio Commentary on The Case of the Dreadful Dolls by Rich Fogel and Mark Waid
• Audio Commentary on The Royal Ruse by Rich Fogel and Mark Waid
• Classic Cartoons from the Vault DVD Trailer (1:21)
• Challenge of the Super Friends: The First Season DVD Trailer (1:12)
• Popeye the Sailor 1933-1938: Vol. 1 DVD Trailer (1:50)
• The Batman: The Complete Third Season/Teen Titans: The Complete Third Season DVD Trailer (1:28)

THE SUPER POWERS TEAM: GALACTIC GUARDIANS (1985)

DISC TWENTY (EPISODES 1-4)

1. The Seeds of Doom (21:21)
2. The Ghost Ship/The Bizarro Super Powers Team (21:19)
3. The Darkseid Deception (21:14)
4. The Fear (21:10)

DISC TWENTY-ONE (EPISODES 5-8)

5. The Wild Cards (21:27)
6. Brainchild/The Case of the Stolen Powers (21:26)
7. Escape from Space City (21:15)
8. The Death of Superman (21:05)

• Super Friends Redux: Galactic Guardians (11:10)
• The Smurfs: Season One – Volume Two DVD Trailer (1:02)
• Tom and Jerry: Spotlight Collection – Vol. 3 (1:03)

While this is a nice repackaging of material, it’s not without its flaws. Some of the episodes are out of their original airdate order, and some containing multiple stories are split up among different discs, or are only selectable by story, not episode. Occasionally title cards are missing, as well. Sometimes there are chapter stops and sometimes there aren’t. The ability to skip, fast forward, rewind, and/or return to the main menu is absent altogether. In other words, these DVDs are very dated and in desperate need of new pressings.

The good news is that if you already own all of the individual DVD releases of these shows, there’s no need for you to pick this up as you’re not missing out on anything. This set is clearly for folks who’ve never purchased any of these shows on optical disc before, and want a more affordable option than Blu-ray. For that alone, Super Friends: The Complete Collection is a decent budget release, which will likely only drop in price over time.

- Tim Salmons

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