The World s Greatest SuperFriends is an American animated television series about a team of superheroes which 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 (then) 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 (1900–1989).

Some fans refer to this season as the Absentee Super Friends season , as a number of the episodes have members who only appear in cameos, or not at all.

Rub Three Times For Disaster – Full group appears.

Lex Luthor Strikes Back – Zan & Jayna (the Wonder Twins) 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 Exor.

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 Gleek is only seen in a group shot.

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, 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 (in The Planet of Oz )
• Michael Bell – Zan, Gleek, Hellion (in Lex Luthor Strikes Back ), Gore (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), Logan (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Kareem Azar s Henchman (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Evil Gleek (in Universe of Evil ), Frightened Citizen (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein )
• William Callaway – Aquaman, Orville Gump (in Lex Luthor Strikes Back ), Evil Aquaman (in Universe of Evil ), Frightened Citizen (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein )
• Danny Dark – Superman, Rebel (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Soldier (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Evil Superman (in Universe of Evil ), Carron (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms )
• Shannon Farnon – Wonder Woman, Lois Lane (in Lex Luthor Strikes Back ), Camelon Villager (in Space Knights in Camelon ), Evil Wonder Woman (in Universe of Evil ), Sergeant Ritter (in Universe of Evil ), Dorrell (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms ), Dr. Pali (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein )
• Pat Fraley – Sir James (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Rebel (in Space Knights of Camelon )
• Bob Holt – Taskmaster (in The Lord of Middle Earth ), Gorka (in The Lord of Middle Earth), Captain Nemoy (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms ), Wizard of Oz (in The Planet of Oz )
• Stan Jones – Lex Luthor (in Lex Luthor Strikes Back ), Kareem Azar (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Fortress Guard (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Submarine Captain (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Computer Override Circuit (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms ), Dr. Frankenstein (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), Frightened Citizen (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein )
• Casey Kasem – Robin, Kareem Azar s Henchman (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Evil Robin (in Universe of Evil )
• James Reynolds – African Leader (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms ), Mivor (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms )
• Stanley Ralph Ross – Frankenstein s Monster (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), Super Monster (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), Mal Havoc (in The Lord of Middle Earth ), Genie of Olam (in Rub Three Times for Disaster )
• Michael Rye – King Arthur 7 (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Ogar (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Kareem Azar s Henchman (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Scientist (in Rub Three Times for Disaster )
• Olan Soule – Batman, Dr. Simms (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), O Brien (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), London Citizen (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Evil Batman (in Universe of Evil ), Android Batman (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms ), Joseph s Friend (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), Magic Mirror (in The Planet of Oz )
• Vernee Watson-Johnson – Uninversity Scientist (in Universe of Evil )
• Frank Welker – Spider Creature (in The Lord of Middle Earth ), Mister Mxyzptlk (in The Planet of Oz ), Crows (in The Planet of Oz ), Wild Boars (in The Planet of Oz ), Hour Glass Cult Members (in The Planet of Oz )
• Liberty Williams – Jayna, Kana (in Terror at 20,0000 Fathoms )
• William Woodson – Narrator, The Sultan of Zagdad (in Rub Three Times for Disaster ), Kareem Azar’s Henchman (in “Rub Three Times for Disaster”), Vol (in Lex Luthor Strikes Back ), Warden McGee (in Lex Luthor Strikes Back ), Little William (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Poor Camelon Villager (in Space Knights of Camelon ), Baldiskam (in The Lord of Middle Earth ), South American Villager (in Universe of Evil ), Air Force General (in Terror at 20,000 Fathoms), Joseph (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein ), Dreadsylvania Official (in The SuperFriends Meet Frankenstein )

Episodes

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original air date
48	1	Rub Three Times for Disaster	September 22, 1979
Kareem Azaar is a ruthless thief on the planet Zaghdad who has stolen the Magic Lamp of Olam, which contains the power of an evil genie. Kareem uses the Genie s power to take over the planet and banish the Sultan into the world of the Genie s lamp. When the Super Friends arrive to do battle, Superman and the Wonder Twins wind up in the lamp as well, leaving the other heroes to take on Kareem s forces, only for Kareem to escape and is never seen again. Note: Starting with this episode, the Super Friends logo has a metallic cosmic silver look to it. Also, the title card background changes to one with an orange background that has the four adult heroes floating at the top.
49	2	Lex Luthor Strikes Back	September 29, 1979
Lex Luthor uses a projector ray (reverse camera) to disguise himself as Lois Lane in order to escape from prison. Him and his assistant Orville Gump, hatch an elaborate plot to destroy the Super Friends. Luthor aligns himself with evil fire aliens who originate from the sun. They aid Luthor in capturing the Super Friends and placing them in death traps. The aliens then change the color of the sun from yellow to red, which cause Superman s powers to vanish. However, the Sun Creatures double-cross Luthor and he is trapped in a fire, so he has no choice but to free the Super Friends in an effort to save himself and Earth. The Super Friends perform rescues and put out the fires. Superman uses the Supermobile to chase the fire aliens back into the sun…which causes the sun to return to its natural color… which restores Superman s powers. Luthor and his assistant are sent back to prison. Note: Orville Gump is based on Otis, the character played by Ned Beatty in the 1978 film Superman. The movie also provided the model for Luthor s subterranean lair in this episode.
50	3	Space Knights of Camelon	October 6, 1979
While protecting a prehistoric planet from a meteor, Superman ends up hit by the meteor s nuclear core, crash lands on the medieval planet of Camelon, and loses his memory. A bunch of rebels led by Logan take him in as their black knight in a plan to overthrow King Arthur 7. It is up to the Super Friends to help Superman remember who he is and defeat the rebels. Note: This episode, the 1st season episode The Power Pirate and the Challenge of the Superfriends episode Sinbad and the Space Pirates are the only episodes in the Super Friends series where Wonder Woman s magic lasso involves truth-compelling power like in the live-action Wonder Woman television series, which was canceled when CBS ended its third season a month earlier.
51	4	The Lord of Middle Earth	October 13, 1979
What starts off as a camping trip for the Wonder Twins turns into a nightmarish adventure in Middle Earth when the Super Friends must battle a black magic sorcerer named Mal Havok who has taken over the troll kingdom. Mal Havoc uses his magic to turn the Super Friends into trolls. With their powers reduced, Batman and Wonder Woman accompany the troll king on a mission to free Middle Earth of the evil sorcerer.
52	5	Universe of Evil	October 20, 1979
In a parallel universe, the Super Friends are supervillains, the Super Enemies. Mount Vesuvius is a focal point that links the two universes — in one universe, Superman tries to stop the eruption, while his evil counterpart is causing the same disaster in his own reality. Vesuvius explodes, causing the two Supermen to exchange universes. While Superman has to fight his evil comrades and find a way back to his own world, his evil counterpart battles the real heroes and begins his plan to conquer Earth.
53	6	Terror at 20,000 Fathoms	October 27, 1979
The evil Captain Nimoy plots to use nuclear warhead missiles to sink continents below the sea where he plans to rule. Nimoy is aided by an android duplicate of Batman to help him out, but with Superman and Wonder Woman away on a space mission, the Super Friends are aided by Superman s tiny Kryptonian friends from the bottle city of Kandor.
54	7	The Super Friends Meet Frankenstein	November 3, 1979
When a descendant of the original Dr. Frankenstein abducts and steals the powers of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman and transfers them into his latest creation, it is up to Robin to stop the Super-Monster. He transfers the remaining powers into himself, then manages to restore the Super Friends powers.
55	8	The Planet of Oz	November 10, 1979
After the Wonder Twins and the Dynamic Duo find out they are not able to get rid of a tornado, the storm transports the Hall of Justice to the Land of Oz, where Mr. Mxyzptlk, who has once again escaped from the Fifth Dimension and informs the Super Friends that they must find the Wizard to get home. Along the way, they encounter the Wicked Witch of the Worst Kind in a gingerbread house, who turns Aquaman into the Scarecrow, Superman into the Tin Man, and Wonder Woman into the Lion.

DC Super Friends

The main title theme for the direct-to-video original animation DC Super Friends: The Joker s Playhouse (2010) is from the World s Greatest SuperFriends.

Home media

The complete season four was released on DVD titled The World s Greatest Super Friends: And Justice for All as a Target exclusive on April 23, 2013. It was scheduled to be a general retail release ( at all sellers who decide to participate ) starting November 12, 2013.

Year	1979
ReleaseDate	1979-09-22
Plot	The further and darker adventures of the team consisting of DC Comics’ greatest superheroes.
Stars	Casey Kasem, Michael Bell, Olan Soule
Series Produced by	Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, Don Jurwich, Iwao Takamoto
Series Editing by	Gil Iverson
Series Production Management	Jayne Barbera, Joed Eaton
Series Art Department	Rick Hoberg, Emilie Kong, Larry Latham, Will Meugniot, Iraj Paran, Don Sheppard, Bob Singer, Tom Wogatzke
Series Sound Department	Pat Foley, Bill Getty, Denise Horta, Eileen Horta, Don Jurwich, Richard Olson, Kerry Dean Williams
Series Camera and Electrical Department	Ross Avery, Bob Berry, Allen Childs, Marc Debbaudt, Candy Edwards, Curt Hall, Brandy Hill, Mike Kane, Jerry Mills, Neil Viker, Roy Wade, Jerry Whittington
Series Animation Department	Robert Alvarez, Frank Andrina, Fernando Arce, Colin Baker, Anne Marie Bardwell, Ed Barge, Tom Barnes, Greg Battes, Maxwell Becraft, Bob Bemiller, Greg Bombeck, Richard Bowman, Bob Bransford, Jim Brummett, Bonnie Callahan, Oliver Callahan, Dario Campanile, Rudy Cataldi, Roger Chiasson, Curtis Cim, Steve Clark, Richard Coleman, John Conning, Tom Coppola, Jesse Cosio, Phyllis Craig, Susan Crossley, Gabor Csupo, Zeon Davush, Daniel de la Vega, Elaine Despins, Gil DiCicco, Charlie Downs, Joan Drake, Judy Drake, Dennis Durrell, Flamarion Ferreira, Marcia Fertig, Owen Fitzgerald, Martin Forte, Gail Frank, Hugh Fraser, Al Gaivoto, Chuck Gammage, Miguel Garcia, Robert Gentle, Al Gmuer, Bob Goe, Fernando Gonzalez, Ann Guenther, Jeff Hall, Tom Hames, Terence Harrison, Bob Hathcock, James Hegedus, Fred Hellmich, Eric Heschong, Jim Hickey, Gary Hoffman, Charles M. Howell IV, Jack Huber, Michael Humphries, Bill Hutten, Volus Jones, Mario Julio, Bill Keil, Jack Kirby, Aundre Knutson, Cynthia Lalla, Rick Leon, Alison Leopold, Teresa Loewy, Hicks Lokey, Michael Longden, Ernesto Lopez, Tony Love, Mircea Mantta, Mauro Maressa, Duncan Marjoribanks, Greg Martin, Lorraine Marue, Burt Medall, Don Morgan, Gale Morgan, Terry Lee Mullen, Kenneth Muse, Constantin Mustatea, Sean Newton, Margaret Nichols, Eduardo Olivares, Anna Lee Orr, Margaret Parkes, Lester Pegues Jr., Andrew Phillipson, Bill Proctor, Delpino Ramirez, Harry Rasmussen, William Recinos, Morey Reden, Vivien Rhyan, Jeff Richards, Jeff Riche, Mitch Rochon, Tom Ruegger, Jay Sarbry, Joel Seibel, Mike Sekowsky, Mark Simon, Ken Southworth, Leo D Sullivan, Robert Taylor, Barry Temple, Dave Tendlar, Richard Thompson, Cal Titus, Richard Trueblood, John Tucker, Bob Tyler, Dennis Venizelos, Carlos Vincenzi, Tran Vu, John Walker, Al Wilson, Allen Wilzbach, Star Wirth
Series Editorial Department	Larry C. Cowan, William E. DeBoer, Nancy Massie
Series Music Department	Hoyt Curtin, Paul DeKorte, Sam Horta, Robert Talboy
Series Additional Crew	Rick Hoberg, Will Meugniot, Bill Perez
Genres	Adventure, Animation
Companies	Hanna-Barbera Productions, Taft Broadcasting
Countries	USA
Languages	English
ContentRating	TV-Y7
ImDbRating	7.4
ImDbRatingVotes	845
Keywords	twin,dc comics,justice league,superman character,wonder woman character