Super Friends Season 1 finally coming to DVD

[Earth 2 Chris]

Found this at the Superman Homepage:

On January 5, 2010 Warner Home Video will release "The Superfriends (1973-74): Season One, Volume One" on DVD.

THE HEROICS THAT LAUNCHED A PHENOMENON!

From the creative team of William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, this 2-Disc 8-Episode Collection features the first animated adventures of the prolific Super Friends legacy. Showcasing favorite DC Comics super heroes Superman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Batman and Robin plus junior Super Friends Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog, each exciting episode showcased Earth's cosmic legends saving humanity from the threat of destruction at the hands of alien invaders, misguided geniuses and overzealous scientists. With prophetic threats such as global warming, over-mining and government misappropriation, this was a generation's unwitting glimpse into the future. No super hero collection will be complete without this classic hit.

The 2-disc DVD collection will contain the first 8 episodes from the 16-episode debut season.

"Their mission: To fight Injustice. To right that which is wrong. And to serve all mankind!"

Superman Homepage - News

But what's with this artwork?



Now, I love Jose Luis Garcia Lopez's DC style guide artwork, but this clearly comes from an era later than the first season of Super Friends, and is more associated with the Super Powers era of the show. WB has been all over the place on the DVD artwork of these sets, even using Super Friends-inspired art on the SP: Galactic Guardians season, even though the episodes inside looked nothing like it!

I wonder if this is a preliminary design?

Either way, it's coming out. I'm way behind on SF sets, and other than the Green Arrow, Plastic Man and Flash guest shots, this is my least favorite incarnation of SF. I dig the more direct hand Alex Toth had in the look and storyboarding, but I can't stand Marvin.

Chris

[The Toyroom]

Season One VOLUME ONE? Ugh! I know I'll buy this anyway but I have to complain.....I don't mind Wendy, Marvin and Wonder Dog but it's the hour-length of the episodes that kills it for me for repeated viewings. And if I recall, a lot of the themes have to deal with pollution and conservation. Back in the day, as a kid on Saturday mornings, I'd be glued to the tube just to see the Fab Five in action. But I don't know if I'll be able to sit through this more than once again. Coupled with the fact that they're dishing this out in 2 servings. I'm sure there are some bonus features but couldn't they do more than 8 hours on 2 discs? Just release the thing as one complete season like modern TV shows do.

And I agree with the confusion on the artwork...I would have thought it would have been a no-brainer to have used the iconic Alex Toth "hands-on-hips" artwork featuring the 8 principal characters:



Or even this:

[The Toyroom]

Now, I love Jose Luis Garcia Lopez's DC style guide artwork, but this clearly comes from an era later than the first season of Super Friends, and is more associated with the Super Powers era of the show.

The only reason I can think of is DC wants to push the double-W version of Wonder Woman's brassiere instead of the eagle-eyed version for licensing purposes?

[jasonmego1277]

Wow it's about time. I can't complete the series without these. I don't mind Wendy, Marvin , or Wonderdog Myself. I hope That this is a sign that WB is finally starting to dig deep into the vast Hanna Barbera and Ruby Spears Vaults....

[HardyGirl]

YAY! I already have all of them on tape (thanks Mego73), save one ep, but I'm glad this is getting the recognition it deserves. My class loved these when I brought them in for cartoon and comics week, and now they can get it themselves.

[Riffster]

yay..I have them on my pc from amazon, but i'll be buying the dvd's too

[VintageMike]

Not my favorite, but still glad to see it's getting released. The fact that's being split up is no surprise since that that's the format they've been using more often that than not with these releases. I can only hope this means we'll eventually see "World's Greatest" (The shorts season probably most famous for "Universe of Evil").

[filmation batman fan]

As a lifelong fan of the SuperFriends, I am personally delighted at the announcement of the DVD release. At least, half of the series anyways, which leads me to believe the next set will be the second half of the show.

I only recommend this particular SuperFriends series for completionists like myself and those who like this particular series and are fond of Wendy and Marvin. But I would advise others to avoid this since this series had less action and more educational value and brain power. However, this set will have Plastic Man's cameo and the Flash, and whenever they release volume 2, that one will have Green Arrow.

Beyond the original series, I hope they release the 1980 and 1981 shorts next and save the World's Greatest SuperFriends series for last since that season will be the easiest to release.

Cheers.