The World's Greatest SuperFriends
The World's Greatest SuperFriends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes that ran from September 22, 1979, to September 27, 1980, on ABC. It was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions and is based on the Justice League and associated comic book characters published by DC Comics.
Summary
This particular incarnation of Super Friends relied heavily on folklore and classic fairy tales for plots. One episode in particular, "The Lord of Middle Earth", was inspired by the novel The Lord of the Rings, in which the team journeys to Middle-earth to save the inhabitants from an evil wizard. The series also borrowed from contemporary politics, as the main villain Kareem Azar in "Rub Three Times for Disaster" is almost a carbon copy of the late Iranian religious leader Ayatollah Ruholla Mussaui Khomenei.Some fans refer to this season as the "Absentee Super Friends season", as a number of the episodes have members who only appear briefly in cameos, or not at all.
"Rub Three Times For Disaster" - Full group appears.
"Lex Luthor Strikes Back" - Zan & Jayna and Gleek are seen only in cameos at the beginning and end of the episode. They spend the rest of the episode visiting their home planet of Exxor.
"Space Knights of Camelon" - Full group appears.
"Lord of Middle Earth" - Full group appears, but the Wonder Twins are only seen at the beginning and end of the episode, and briefly in the middle.
"Universe of Evil" - The evil version of the Wonder Twins are only seen in a group shot, in the darkened Hall of Evil.
"Terror At 20,000 Fathoms" - Superman has a brief cameo at the beginning, and states he must fly to Saturn and meet Wonder Woman, who isn't seen at all.
"The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein" - Aquaman and the Wonder Twins are not seen this episode, as they are visiting the city of Atlantis although Gleek is in this episode.
"The Planet of Oz" - Batman, Robin, the Wonder Twins, and Gleek are only seen at the very beginning and end of the episode.
Characters
- Superman – the Supermobile appeared in the episode "Lex Luthor Strikes Back". In the episode "Terror at 20,000 Fathoms", Superman gives Aquaman, the Wonder Twins and Gleek a guided tour of the Fortress of Solitude showing off many structures such as the Bottle City of Kandor.
- Batman
- Robin
- Wonder Woman - she remained in her animated form throughout the Super Friends series after CBS ended her live action television series.
- Aquaman
- Wonder Twins
- Gleek
Cast
- Marlene Aragon - Wicked Witch of the Worst-Kind
- Michael Bell – Zan, Gleek, Hellion, Gore, Logan, Kareem Azar's Henchman, Taskmaster, Gorka, Spider Creature, Evil Gleek, Frightened Citizen
- William Callaway – Aquaman, Orville Gump, Evil Aquaman, Frightened Citizen
- Danny Dark – Superman, Rebel, Soldier, Evil Superman, Carron
- Shannon Farnon – Wonder Woman, Lois Lane, Camelon Villager, Evil Wonder Woman, Sergeant Ritter, Dorrell, Dr. Pali
- Pat Fraley - Sir James, Rebel
- Bob Holt - Captain Nemoy, Wizard of Oz
- Stan Jones - Lex Luthor, Kareem Azar, Fortress Guard, Submarine Captain, Computer Override Circuit, Dr. Frankenstein, Frightened Citizen, Monorail Driver
- Casey Kasem – Robin, Kareem Azar's Henchman, Evil Robin
- James Reynolds - African Leader, Mivor
- Stanley Ralph Ross - Frankenstein's Monster, Super Monster, Mal Havoc, Genie of Olam, Cave Monster
- Michael Rye - King Arthur 7, Ogar, Kareem Azar's Henchman, Scientist
- Olan Soule – Batman, Dr. Simms, O'Brien, London Citizen, Evil Batman, Android Batman, Joseph's Friend, Magic Mirror
- Vernee Watson-Johnson - Uninversity Scientist
- Frank Welker - Mister Mxyzptlk, Crows, Wild Boars, Hour Glass Cult Members
- Louise "Liberty" Williams – Jayna, Kana
- William Woodson – Narrator, The Sultan of Zagdad, Kareem Azar's Henchman, Vol, Warden McGee, Little William, Poor Camelon Villager, Baldiskam, South American Villager, Air Force General, Joseph, Dreadsylvania Official
Episodes