Month: April 2022

SUMMARY:                     RUNNING TIME: 2 Hours, 52 Min.

In 1983, Hanna-Barbera produced these twenty-four ‘lost’ Super-Friends shorts, but ABC-TV’s long-running Super-Friends animated program was cancelled before they could be aired.  Few, if any of them, would be utilized for the two-season Super Friends revival (Super Powers and then Galactic Guardians) in the mid-80’s. 

However, these shorts eventually surfaced nearly fifteen years later as part of the New Superman/Batman Adventures TV syndication package.  Warner Bros Video subsequently issued these two dozen episodes (in standard-screen) as its own two-disc DVD set in 2009.    

Disc 1’s episodes are:

1. “Mxyzptlk’s Revenge”
2. “Roller Coaster”
3. “Once Upon a Poltergeist”
4. “The Krypton Syndrome”
5. “Invasion of the Space Dolls”
6. “Terror on the Titanic”
7. “The Revenge of Doom”
8. “A Pint of Life”
9. “Day of the Dinosaurs”
10. “Playground of Doom”
11. “Space Racers”
12. “The Recruiter.”

Disc 2’s episodes are:

1. “Warpland”
2. “Two Gleeks Are Deadlier Than One”
3. “Bulgor the Behemoth”
4. “Prisoners of Sleep”
5. “An Unexpected Treasure”
6. “The Malusian Blob”
7. “Return of the Phantoms”
8. “Bully for You”
9. “Superclones”
10. “Attack of the Cats”
11. “One Small Step for Superman”
12. “Video Victims.”

REVIEW:

The good news is, despite its own flaws, The Lost Episodes far surpass rival Filmation’s super-cheapo Justice League animated shorts from the late 1960’s. 

For historical purposes, one could deem these shorts as an okay supplement to 1978’s Challenge of the Super Friends, as familiar guest stars, such as Green Lantern, Apache Chief, Black Vulcan, the Atom, and even a reunited Legion of Doom, are utilized.  As a bonus, a Silver Age Superboy shows up in “Return of the Phantoms,” which is a sequel to Super Friends, Volume Two’s “Terror from the Phantom Zone.”    

Most accurately, however, these mini-episodes (as indicated by the guest presence of El Dorado) are a bridge between the early 80’s The World’s Greatest Super Friends to the short-lived Super Powers/Galactic Guardians era.  The best indication is the undemanding animation style consistent with prior seasons of Super Friends, let alone the consistent emphasis on Superman, Batman & Robin, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and The Wonder Twins as the primary team. 

As a parental heads-up, as deliberately bland as the scripting is, implied death is present.  Not only must a time-traveling Superman let Krypton suffer its destined catastrophe in “The Krypton Syndrome,” it’s clearly inferred that a family dog is mauled to death by a grizzly in “One Small Step for Superman.” 

It’s an odd deviation, considering Super Friends never before addressed mortal fatalities and other real world consequences, i.e. as to whether or not various Legion of Doom schemes, let alone natural disasters, inflicted irreversible mass casualties.  Though the subject matter is tastefully handled, the kiddie entertainment value of these Lost Episodes, unfortunately, is still diminished.  

Ultimately, these two dozen ‘lost’ adventures are really more of a forgettable curiosity than something special that Warner Bros. Video has unearthed from its vaults.  For Generation Xers, even initially gleeful nostalgia won’t likely prompt multiple viewings. 

BONUS FEATURES:

Available languages are English and Portuguese, and subtitles are available in English, French, & Portuguese.  Though possibly now obsolete, there are two downloadable DC Comics Super Friends comics:  “The Mindless Immortal” and “Wendy and Marvin Meet the JLA.”

PACKAGING:

The discs are solidly encased.  Each disc’s episodes are listed. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   5 Stars

SUMMARY:                     RUNNING TIME: 6 Hours, 5 Min.

Though it’s slightly confusing, Super Friends, Volume Two features sixteen 1978 twenty-minute installments that served as the first half of an ABC-TV Saturday morning Super-Friends double-feature. Hence, Volume Two’s adventures feature Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin, Aquaman, and The Wonder Twins only, with the remaining Justice Leaguers conveniently ignored.

The hour-long block’s second half was Challenge of the Super-Friends. Featuring the complete Justice League/Super-Friends TV roster (minus The Wonder Twins) during that time,  Challenge’s own sixteen episodes were released on DVD first in 2005. 

Several months later, this two-disc Super Friends, Volume Two set was released in mid-2006, which was later followed by a 2018 re-release.  In standard-screen only, Volume 2’s sixteen adventures are:

Disc 1:  1 – Rokan: Enemy from Space

            2 – The Demons of Exxor

            3 – Battle at the Earth’s Core

            4 – Sinbad and the Space Pirates

            5 – The Pied Piper of Space

6 – Attack of the Vampire (guest-starring Dracula)

            7 – The Beasts Are Coming

            8 – Terror from the Phantom Zone

Disc 2:  9 – The Anti-Matter Monster

            10 – World Beneath the Ice

            11 – Invasion of the Brain Creatures

            12 – The Incredible Space Circus

            13 – Batman: Dead or Alive

14 – Battle of the Gods

            15 – Journey Through Inner Space

            16 – The Rise and Fall of the Super Friends.

Note: The Super Friends: The Lost Episodes DVD set includes a sequel to “Terror from the Phantom Zone;” it’s entitled “Return of the Phantoms” with guest stars Green Lantern & Superboy.

REVIEW:

For the Late 70’s, this program’s production values were the best the Hanna-Barbera factory had; by comparison, rival Filmation’s rudimentary competition looked utterly chintzy.  Though perhaps forgotten, Volume Two’s scripting includes surprisingly good storytelling in several episodes (i.e. Attack of the Vampire; Terror from the Phantom Zone), though some others (i.e. The Pied Piper of Space) may be considered duds.  All in all, it’s ample compensation given the excessive screen time Hanna-Barbera’s Wonder Twins & Gleek were allotted. 

Then again, Zan & Jayna (even Gleek, for that matter) actually exhibited distinctive personalities.  By contrast, this bland incarnation of the primary Super-Friends (Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin, Aquaman, and Superman) often mirrored talking cardboard with interchangeable ‘I’ve got to act fast!’-style dialogue, aside from a few obligatory catchphrases each character possessed.  Still, the program’s welcome entertainment value isn’t compromised much. 

Though Challenge of the Super-Friends has long overshadowed this season’s episodes, Super Friends, Volume Two retains its own nostalgic charm closing in on a half-century later.     

BONUS FEATURES:

Languages and sub-titles available are English, French, and Spanish. 

Entitled “The Ballad of Zan and Jayna,” Disc 1’s featurette is a tongue-in-cheek music video/montage tribute to The Wonder Twins.  As to the mystery vocalist’s identity (beyond the obvious pseudonym credited), it sounds like voice actor Michael Bell (yes, “Zan” himself). 

With commentary by a mini-assortment of celebrities and ‘cultural enthusiasts,’ Disc 2’s featurette is a “Pajama-Rama Super Friends Retrospective.”     

PACKAGING:

Despite some deceptive imagery (specifically, Challenge’s Flash, Hawkman, & Apache Chief aren’t in these sixteen episodes), the DVD’s are safely encased.  Each disc’s contents are accurately listed.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                 6 Stars