Starring:
Norman Alden as Aquaman (Arthur Curry) (voice)
Michael Bell as Wonder Twin Zan (voice)
Danny Dark as Superman (Clark Kent) (voice)
Shannon Farnon as Wonder Woman (Diana Prince) (voice)
Casey Kasem as Robin (Dick Grayson) (voice)
Olan Soule as Batman (Bruce Wayne) (voice)
Liberty Williams as Wonder Twin Jayna (voice)
Ted Knight as Narrator (voice)
Special Features:
Featurette: “Pajama-Rama: Super Friends Retrospective” A group of pop culture enthusiasts and fun celebrities share their memories of the world’s greatest team of ’70’s super-heroes, The Super Friends !
Music Video: “The Ballad of Zan & Jayna”- A wild and wacky music video celebrating the Wonder Twins, and of course, their pet primate Gleek!
Other Info:
Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Running Time: 365 Minutes
Synopsis:
The following is the official description of the DVD:
“Only the combined superpowers of Earth’s greatest heroes can stop the unthinkable dangers that jeopardize humanity in these 16 episodes from the beloved animated TV series! Superman, Batman and Robin, Aquaman, Wonder Woman and Zan and Jayna battle villains from the darkest regions of outer space to the depths of the ocean in their fight for truth and justice. They face extraordinary perils at the core of the Earth and defy the laws of nature to shrink to microscopic size to defeat a radioactive monster. Even Dracula returns from the grave to challenge the Super Friends to a showdown! And with this exciting compilation that boasts cool extras, you can join the Super Friends for the ultimate victory celebration!”
Superfriends: Volume Two is not rated.
The Series:
I used to watch SuperFriends as a kid and I absolutely loved it. Now I can share it with my kids on DVD. My son is a superhero superfreak, so when I pop this in the DVD player I can count on 365 minutes of peace and quiet. Even though it is campy and the animation is crude, the characters still mesmerize kids over 25 years later. It’s a real testament to the work by Hanna Barbera.
One thing that really stands out for me about this DVD collection is that it features the Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, and their space monkey Gleek. Even though they were a cheesy addition to the established characters from DC Comics, they were infinitely better than Wendy, Marvin, and their dog from the first season. When you say, “Wonder Twin Powers, activate!!” people still know exactly what you mean today. Gleek was better comic relief, too.
The main stars of the show are Superman, Batman and Robin, Aquaman, Wonder Woman. This is quite a contrast from the previously released “Challenge of the Superfriends” which also featured Green Lantern, Hawk Man, and others. This DVD set lacks the classic bad guys of that series, too. While they previously fought Lex Luther and other established foes, they fight more generic monsters and villains in this series. It allows our main heroes to get more screen time.
Super Friends is a required addition to the DVD collections of comics fans. It’s also a great piece of nostalgia for the children of the 70’s and 80’s. I think you’ll find kids today enthralled by it, too.
The Extras:
There are two bonus features included on this DVD:
“Pajama-Rama: Super Friends Retrospective” In a format similar to VH1’s “I Love The **’s”, we are treated to this Super Friends Restrospective. Of the people that provide amusing comments about the show, the only one I recognized was Paul Dini from “Batman: The Animated Series”. (Oddly, they only credit him as the writer for the “Lost” TV series.) They make funny jokes about each of the characters, their powers, etc. In the end it’s a fun look back at the show.
Music Video: “The Ballad of Zan & Jayna”- This is a hilarious parody music video featuring the Wonder Twins and their space-monkey. The music sounds like a different take on “Dreamweaver” or some hair band ballad from the 80’s. If you’re a Wonder Twin fan, you’ll get a kick out of this.
The Bottom Line:
Super Friends: Volume Two works great as entertainment for young kids, a collectible for comic fans, or a piece of nostalgia for 30-somethings. If you fall into any of the above categories, you’ll want to pick up this DVD.
