Customer Reviews

The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (DC Comics Classic Collection)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well this is it, the final chapter of the Hanna-Barbera saga of the Justice League of America, and we go out with more treats for comic fans. There's appearances by past adversaries like Mxyzptlk, Brainiac, the Scarecrow (finally portrayed as he was meant to be!), and of course Darkseid and company, but we also have newcomers to the series like Felix Faust, the Penguin, the Joker, and the Royal Flush Gang. We have another new hero in Cyborg (sorry, Teen Titans fans, no booyahing to be found here) and the exit of campy characters like the Wonder Twins. And the stories! Superman "dies," Batman's origin is told on TV for the first time, and we also get probably the best and most original-spirited version of the Bizarros at the time (as they are now totally played for comedy). The characters all receive makeovers from their Alex Toth roots as well, some subtle, some more noticeable.

Did the series reach Timmverse-like quality? No. But it definitely concluded with a new hint of maturity.

This is the 7th and final installment of Super-Friends. Here are all the others and air dates (1973) Super Friends(16 Episodes), (1977) All-New Super Friends Hour (47 Episodes), (1978) Challenge of the Super Friends (32 Episodes), (1979) The Worlds Greatest Super Friends (8 Episodes), (1980-1983) Super Friends (66 Episodes), (1984) Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers (16 Episodes) and finally (1985) The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (10 Episodes)

This series, "The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians", ran in the 80s and only made 8 episodes. All 8 are in this set:

Disk 1:
The Seeds of Doom
Ghost ship
The Bizarro Super Powers Team
Darkseid Deception
The Fear

Disk 2:
The Wild Cards
Brainchild
Escape From Space City
The Death of Superman

A couple of the above episodes are split in half to create 2 "shorts" - so the dvd says it's 10 episodes, but it's actually 8.

My daughter (& I) enjoyed the slightly more modernized style in this version compared to the 70s series. It's a tad more *cinematic* than it's predecessors, appearing to (barely) foreshadow the more naturalized drawings, scripts, and styles of the 90s animations.

The superfriends maintain their black & white, one-dimensional, clear cut *good* personalities so prominent in the 70s series. So, while the cartoon style seems updated, they have not yet written the multifaceted behaviors that the characters of today posess.

I find that one-dimensional-ness charming and *safe* for my young daughter to watch, providing great conversation fodder, they are so firm in their by-the-book behaviors, while today's characters are more jaded and likely to bend rules. Of course, today's characters provide great fodder in other ways, just that the older series is a safer starting point for children.

As a side note, I loved the addition of a strong, black superhero, (Cyborg), as well as the fact that it was his father who was the brilliant and talented man who invented the cyborg technology to save his son.

This was a great superfriends' series. With new super heros like Firestorm and Cyborg, great animation for its time, and amazing storyboards. Some great episodes like "The Death Of Superman" or "Fear" make all the superfriends get together in spectacular action. Old and new villians join the superfriends in this series, the last one of that era and probably the best too.

I have been guilty of buying up all of the prior Superfriends collections and, sadly, not for their intricate plots or beautiful artwork. No, indeed nostalgia is a powerful motivator in these instances and so I thought when my chronological Superfriends collection led me toward purchasing The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians, the final incarnation of the Superfriends formula.

I came into the set expecting a slightly modified variation of the Legendary Super Powers Show (which was the season before Galactic Guardians by the way); a show that I felt made vast improvements over seasons prior. What I found in Galactic Guardians was a revolution not only in just the realm of the Superfriends, but also what I thought was possible within the heavily restricted realm of Saturday morning cartoons circa 1985.

A closer look at what makes this incarnation vastly superior to prior efforts reveals a cast of individuals who would continue going on producing beautiful DCAU efforts even up through today: Andrea Romano (Batman: Animated series, Batman Beyond, Justice League, JL Unlimited, The Batman) directs the voice talent here and story editor Allan Barnett (The Batman) appears on the roster as well. Clearly this show was the stepping-stone to what would eventually become the DCAU as we know it today. Plus, thanks to reworked character models from none-other than famed comic artist José Luis García-López, the team received a much-needed makeover which coincided with DC comic books at the time.

The writing matured to include much more space-scenarios with (thankfully) an improved scientific understanding throughout. Rather than carbon copy characters in different costumes, for the first time we receive individual personalities, struggles, and conflicts of each of the members of the Justice League of America (which are renamed the Super Powers Team here to better reflect Kenner's corresponding toyline).

The villinans are given their proper due as well and, much to my appreciation, are used to near perfection. The Penguin, Lex Luthor, Brianiac, Darkseide, Felix Faust, The Royal Flush Gang, and even the Scarecrow make wonderful appearances.

The show's writers seemed also to finally have figured out that the only way to balance out a cast as diverse and powerful as the Justice League, separation is a necessity (a technique later mastered in Justice League). Many episodes focus on only one or two members of the Team which allows for far better story arcs and character development. Gone are the Wondertwins (thankfully) and signed on is Cyborg who, like his comic book character, is quite well done and allows the younger set (who know him from Teen Titans) an opportunity for appreciation.

Episodes that stand out are The Fear, whereby for the first time we receive a Superfriends episode with our heroes out of costume and also Bruce Wayne's backstory masterfully told without ever showing a gun onscreen. Death of Superman also comes on strong considering just a few short seasons earlier the word "death" was strictly prohibited. Here it shows up in the very title of one of the episodes which just so happened to be one of the hottest selling comic books of the era.

In conclusion, The Super Powers Team: Galacatic Guardians was perhaps the biggest step in the right direction for the Superfriends franchise possible. While the rest of the sets I purchased for nestolgia, this one earned a place through genuine entertainment value. I can go as far as to say that had the Superfriends show continued to evolve along these lines, Justice League would have eventually resulted even without the stunning vision that was Batman (and Superman) the Animated Series as steppingstones.

A great collection of cartoons feature DC Comic characters well drawn. Most of the incidental music is borrowed from HB's Godzilla show. (Check out current vol 1-3 releases).
Cyborg (of New Teen Titans in the comics) joins the team.
The art work is improved after Super Friends. The beginning theme revamps the first series of 1 hour Super Friends episodes theme from 1973. It would be nice to see them eventually release the remaining Super Friends serieses:
Super Friends (1973)
All New Super Friends Hour (1976; 4 stories per show: Team ups , Wonder Twins, Full team, Guest star team us)
Worlds Greatest Superfriends (1980)
Let's keep hoping. IN the mean time, enjoy these. They're addictive viewing, with some solid gritty stories focussed on Superman, Batman, Darkeseid, and Firestorm

The Super Powers Team: Galatic Guardians is a wonderful dvd. The Super Powers Team: Galatic Guardians has lots of action and adventure. It is WONDERFUL! I recommend The Super Powers Team: Galatic Guardians to all (children and adults).

I have enjoyed Superman, Batman, Justice League comics for years -- and I totally enjoyed this DVD. It has 4 22-minute episodes on two discs. All of the stories are good ones, the animation is first-rate and having Adam West voice the role of Batman is a stroke of genius. For those of us old enough to remember him on TV as Batman, he brought back those memories and more with each line uttered.

This DVD was intended to bring the Superfriends to a new level -- a more mature look and story level. But it is not one that is overly violent or crass. I can see my nephew's children sitting around the monitor watching this with interest and excitement. It brings new focus to Firestorm and Cyborg and tempers the story with ideas very relevant to today's society. Those individuals dealing with handicaps or disabilities can contribute significantly to society and we see that through the eyes of Cyborg, a young man injured in an accident and kept alive with mechanical implants.

As with any videos, parents should always watch them with their children in case there are questions to be answered -- or they may want to point out some of the finer points of the story. The good triumphs over evil is good -- no matter what the age of the audience.

What can I say? I grew up and started reading comics in the 60s thru 1990. It was a simple time for a kid, heroes were good and villains were evil. Sometimes I just want to go back to the simple times, no hard plot lines, just something to watch and relax with on the couch with the cat. These were the best cartoon depictions of the JLA that they ever did.

I have kinda lukewarm feelings about this one. I watched all the incarnations of Superfriends in the 70's and 80's, so I'll just tell you what I think was good and not-so-good about Galactic Guardians:

GOOD: Firestorm. A unique character with cool powers (was there anything he COULDN'T do?).
NOT-SO-GOOD: Cyborg. Nothing wrong with the character per se, but he was used for too much comic relief. For modern-day Justice League fans, think of Flash but not funny. At all.
GOOD: The use of ongoing villains like Darkseid, foreshadowing the Superman and JL stuff that would come 15-20 years later.
NOT-SO-GOOD: Bizarro Planet. Ugh...I just can't talk about it.
GOOD: No more Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna or other insipid kid-friendly sidekicks.
NOT-SO-GOOD: Adam West as Batman. Sorry, but it's impossible for me to hear that voice in a reasonably serious adaptation of Batman without thinking of the campy, crappy 60's t.v. series.
GOOD: Better animation all-around. It's nice to see Superman with muscles without having him looked pissed-off like he started to look in comics around 1990.
GOOD: Some stories focus on only 2 or 3 characters at a time, instead of trying to cram everyone into the action. Best example is the Batman origin story "The Fear." This is something the latter-day Justice League accomplished in spite of horribly cheap animation.

Well, you can see the Good outweighs the Not-So-Good. And if you're a fan, you may not be bothered by any of the stuff I mentioned. For anyone who grew up in the seventies, "Challenge of the Superfriends" remains the all-time best incarnation. But there's still plenty to hold your interest here. Recommended for fans; casual viewers may want to rent first.