Form of Sexy Hispanic!
Shape of Comic Fan Boy!
I loved “Superfriends.” It cashed in on the Scooby-Doo franchise by giving us two human teen characters and an annoying dog, and also introduced some of the stupidest superheroes of all time like Apache Chief, and the Wonder Twins. Ah, the Wonder Twins, a product of the disco era with a bit of “Xanadu” and pure retardation thrown in for good measure.
Seriously, what was the deal with Black Vulcan? Did he intentionally want to be Flash? Why “Black Vulcan”? What was the point of the Aqua Scooter? Where did they even find Zan and Jayna from? Who made the suit for Gleep? Why did Black Vulcan let himself be bullied by his captives on the first episode? Perhaps I’m over thinking this, yes?
“The All New Super Friends Hour” is another re-launch of the series with the same basic cast of characters along with people like Aquaman who just show up to impart life lessons, and Zan and Jayna who are mostly relegated to second string antics that involve their goofy monkey. For all kind of cheese, kitsch and hokum, you really don’t have to look any further than “The All New Superfriends Hour.” It’s a typical and corny animated series that aims to teach while also entertaining and most of the time it can work.
Shoot, on the first episode alone I learned about team work, not to joyride on an airplane, always to swim with a buddy (particularly one of the Aquaman persuasion), and how it doesn’t matter how much intelligence you have, it’s just how you use it! I think that sort of eye roll inducing preaching is enough for any old fashioned comic book geek to have a darn good time.
You also get to learn that no one takes Aquaman seriously, not even sailing captains who were just saved by him during a horrible monsoon, if you guilt villains enough they’ll admit to fault and turn themselves in, Batman and Robin shop for vegetables in their costumes, and even after a Captain has lost his job and his sailing license probably losing his house and all possessions, he can still laugh at the end of a quip from Aquaman.
Not to mention Superman constantly interacts with the audience for Decoder messages and influences taking part in the events, an interesting precursor to children’s fare like “Dora the Explorer.” Yes, I know “Sesame Street” started the interactive learning gimmick. There’s also Wonder Woman performing magic for the audience, teaching them basic tricks to use on their brothers and sisters.
Normally, I’d trust Zatanna more than Wonder Woman, but I digress.
“The All New Super Friends Hour” is not without its action, mind you. It still has enormous villains wreaking havoc on Earth while our heroes always announce what they’re doing before doing it which eliminates all elements of surprise, but is apparently still necessary. With Superman though it sounds like he’s often bragging. “I’ll just use my X-Ray Vision!”, “I’ll just use my super breath, and you twins turn into a mop and detergent or something.”
I never quite understood the purpose of the Wonder Twins. In all honesty they wouldn’t serve an actual purpose in the real comics. Zan and Jayna are, as we all know, just there to ease the action and prevent too much stern dramatic tension, paired with their idiotic monkey Gleep who mostly giggles a lot even in the face of a giant molten monster who seems to be irritated by the Wonder Twins as well. But of course the molten man manages to create a giant Superman which prompts most of the Superfriends to stand around watching in awe as Superman takes it on himself and proceeds to make him into a spinning top, driving him into the ground.
You really have to take this series with a strict tongue in cheek, because if you go into this thinking this is the Bruce Timm quality “Justice League,” you’re going to turn off your DVD and drive a spike through your skull. Grab some snacks and embrace the sheer lunacy that ensues. It’s animated “Brady Bunch,” nothing more than cheese, camp, preachy messages, and horrible dialogue.