13 Great Super Friends episodes across the seasons

[Earth 2 Chris]

To celebrate the anniversary of the Super Friends debut (Sept. 8, 1973) I wrote an article for 13th Dimensions spotlighting 13 great episodes across the many incarnations of the show. I could have just picked 13 from Challenge, World's Greatest and Super Powers, honestly, but I wanted to spread the love!

https://13thdimension.com/13-great-super-friends-episodes-across-all-seasons/

[shaunaconda]

Great article!

[Jmass]

That was a fun read! Thanks for sharing!

[Dan2Dan]

First of all, that photo is amazing!

I have purposely not Googled it, but from memory, is that the (former) Cincinnati Union Train Station? (Which is now a mall?)

At one point, maybe a decade ago or so, I wanted to make a scale replica of the Hall of Justice for a handful of (well-used/loved) Super Powers figures I bought on eBay. That's how I discovered the inspiration. But a few crucial days passed, life intervened, and I moved on. I've personally been to over 40 states in the United States, but somehow never been to Ohio....

[Earth 2 Chris]

First of all, that photo is amazing!

I have purposely not Googled it, but from memory, is that the (former) Cincinnati Union Train Station? (Which is now a mall?)

At one point, maybe a decade ago or so, I wanted to make a scale replica of the Hall of Justice for a handful of (well-used/loved) Super Powers figures I bought on eBay. That's how I discovered the inspiration. But a few crucial days passed, life intervened, and I moved on. I've personally been to over 40 states in the United States, but somehow never been to Ohio....

It is the Union Terminal Building, but thankfully, it's not a mall. It's a really nice museum, the Cincinnati Museum Center. It has several museums within the building, and rotating exhibits, like the recent Barbie exhibit I took my wife too...and snapped some pics with my Super Friends!

[Dannyc]

I really love that 'World's Greatest' season. The Frankenstein, Wizard of Oz & Lex/Sun Creatures episodes are among my favorites in the entire series.

[monitor_ep]

All good episodes but I would have included the Frankenstein episode and the Plastic Man.
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I would have loved to have this as action figures.

[Earth 2 Chris]

All good episodes but I would have included the Frankenstein episode and the Plastic Man.
OIP (33) (15).jpg OIP (24).jpg OIP (33) (18).jpg

I would have loved to have this as action figures.

Frankenstein was on my short list, and is a personal favorite. I was tempted by Plas and Flash's guest spots in Season 1 as well. If only it was for 15th or 16th Dimension!

[PNGwynne]

I'm always so happy to see 13th Dimension articles! I have a few later seasons of the show on DVD, including Challenge of course.

Stan Jones' voice as Luthor is iconic to me.

I'm confused though by World's Greatest Super Friends--for foreign markets? I don't recall the "Zod" episode at all, though I do recall--even as a child--that Aquaman got short shrift in later incarnations. I was unsettle when they recast him, too.

[monitor_ep]

Another episode I loved to watch: Return of Atlantis

Aquaman is captured by Ocina when the lost city of Atlantis rises from the sea. Ocina plans to conquer the world with her female warriors. Wonder Woman and Rima the Jungle Girl gather the Amazons of Paradise Island to stop her.

To see the Amazons go up against the Atlantis before Flashpoint.
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[Dan2Dan]

A great list! It included 3 of my personal favorites: Bride of Darkseid, the Fear, and that episode with "Gentleman Jim Craddock." For whatever reason, as a kid that ghost character made a deep imprint on my young mind. I was hoping McFarlane would make a DC Multiverse figure of him. But if he did, I missed it, unfortunately!

For the most part, I didn't have personal favorite episodes of Super Friends. But I disliked most anything featuring the Wonder Twins (Zan and Jayna?), and remember liking most the Challenge of the Super Friends season as well as later episodes featuring Cyborg and Firestorm. I was also always hoping for Green Lantern to feature, even though I never bought his comic book.

I suspect like many kids at the time, what I liked best was seeing the superhero characters move in animation. What I liked least was (what I learned later was intentional) that the shows never felt like there was really any danger or action or direct fighting.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Another episode I loved to watch: Return of Atlantis

Aquaman is captured by Ocina when the lost city of Atlantis rises from the sea. Ocina plans to conquer the world with her female warriors. Wonder Woman and Rima the Jungle Girl gather the Amazons of Paradise Island to stop her.

To see the Amazons go up against the Atlantis before Flashpoint.
OIP (33) (29).jpg OIP (33) (31).jpg OIP (33) (30).jpg

I like that episode, but it broke my head canon with Atlantis rising, when they already established Aquaman IN Atlantis on SF. He took the Wonder Twins there in the Frankenstein episode, which is why none of them take place in that story. I know Super Friends continuity was VERY loose, but I remember scratching my head the first time I saw that. But it is a fun story, and prescient of Flashpoint...even thought I am not a fan of that event and what it wrought.

[Beatriz]

Fantastic article, thank you!