Super Friends (1973 TV series)

Did You Know?

• This first run of Super Friends concluded on August 24, 1974, and was cancelled, only airing in reruns during the Fall of 1974.
• The series continued to air as re-runs until the Fall of 1977.
• The sixteen one-hour episodes were rerun several times.

Main characters

ABC debuted Super Friends on September 8, 1973, assembling DC heroes Superman, Batman and Robin, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman. Before this show, Superman, Batman, and Aquaman had their own Filmation cartoons, and voice actors from those series returned for Super Friends. Shortly prior, Superman and Wonder Woman appeared in two episodes of The Brady Kids, while Batman and Robin guest-starred in two episodes of The New Scooby-Doo Movies. The series also introduced three original sidekicks not from the comics: Wendy Harris (voiced by Sherri Alberoni), Marvin White (voiced by Frank Welker), and Wonder Dog. None possessed special abilities, except Wonder Dog’s unexplained intelligence and ability to talk. Wendy and Marvin were portrayed as detectives or superheroes-in-training.

Format and episode formula

Each episode kicked off with the team racing to a crisis flagged by the massive TroubAlert computer inside their headquarters, the Hall of Justice. A recurring figure was Colonel Wilcox, a U.S. Army officer who acted as the government’s link to the Super Friends during these events. Problems usually ended when the villains were talked into using more sensible methods to reach their goals, helped along by the heroes. The show often featured natural disasters caused by people or aliens, with a strong focus on environmental issues. Guest heroes from the wider Justice League appeared this season, including the Flash, Plastic Man, and Green Arrow. Both Plastic Man and Green Arrow were voiced by Norman Alden.

Home media

The original 1973 Super Friends series was released on DVD in two volumes by Warner Home Video in 2010. The first volume, a two-disc set containing the initial eight episodes, arrived on January 5 with a suggested retail price of $26.99. These episodes were presented in their original, uncut hour-long format, matching their initial ABC broadcasts. Later that year, on July 20, the second volume was released. This was also a two-disc set, collecting the remaining eight episodes of the season.