DVD Reviews

Super Friends!: Season One, Vol. Two – DVD Review

By June L. Aug 16, 2010, 15:29 GMT

The series featured the adventures of DC Comics book heroes Superman, Batman, Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. These five superheroes along with superheroes in training Wendy, Marvin, and Wonder Dog focused their abilities on putting away criminals, saving lives, and stopping terrible disasters. Each episode of the SuperFriends was geared to present, not only action, but also some lesson of educational value. A number of other famous DC comic book ...more

Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batman and Robin are on the job when trouble happens.  From the Hall of the Justice League they monitor the world for any problems, and work as a team to save humanity time and time again.

This cartoon series from the 1970’s is beloved by many.  Following the adventures of the super heroes ably assisted by the obligatory young folks Marvin, Wendy and their canine companion Wonder Dog, was standard Saturday morning fare for children of all ages during the early 70’s. 

By the 1980’s, it was an afterschool treat to keep the youngsters occupied while Mom cooked dinner, a reward for getting homework finished or an incentive to get to homework right after supper. 

Whatever context, the cartoons were entertaining, and often had science bits that were based on actuality or close enough to make them not seem like pure fantasy and generate questions that led to looking things up in the encyclopedia. 

It is great to have these in collectible form for younger generations to embrace or for the young at heart to enjoy again.

Super Friends!: Season One, Vol. Two is presented on two discs containing eight episodes from the series.  These run the gamut from a group of balloon aliens to a retelling of Superman’s origins.  One episode “The Fantastic FRERPs” still makes us laugh as the evil genius for the story is King Plastico…..ruler (self-appointed?) of all things plastic. 

It is interesting to hear the environmental messages in many of the stories……we did care in the 1970’s, which hopefully will resonate with kids of today who are interested in helping save Earth.  Female junior Super Friend Wendy is way smarter than goofball junior Super Friend Marvin. 

Wendy has purpose and determination, Marvin stumbles onto the correct answer occasionally, but more often falls into trouble.  The dog is simply annoying.  However, the younger crowd is as entertained and amused by the Wonder Dog in the 21st century as they were in the 20th, so it is a good choice for family fun. 

The episodes included are : “The Balloon People; The Fantastic FRERPs; The Ultra Beam; The Menace of the White Dwarf; The Mysterious Moles; Gulliver’s Gigantic Goof; The Planet Splitter; and The Watermen.” 

Special Feature for this collection is a fun DC Comics Trivia Quiz which tests your knowledge of the Super Heroes.  It is amazing how much one remembers about childhood heroes.  

Visit the DVD database for more information.