List of Super Friends villains
The following is an overview of the various villains featured in the long running Super Friends franchise.
Legion of Doom
The
In each episode they appeared in, the Legion of Doom enacted various plots against the Super Friends, only to be met with defeat by the end of the story. Often, however, they escaped capture through a last-minute plan.
The Hall of Doom was often positioned in a swamp outside Gotham City. It resembled Darth Vader's helmet. It could fly and be remote-controlled, and travel through time and another dimension. The Legion of Doom often used it to escape, for example rays from it could teleport the Legion. The group returned infrequently, notably in the Challenge of the Superfriends inspired Legends of the Superheroes.
Bizarro
- Bizarro appears in the 1980s revival of Super Friends. In "The Revenge of Doom", Bizarro is seen with the Legion of Doom when they get back together. In two other episodes, Bizarro is a lone villain.
- Bizarro appears, voiced by Danny Dark, in "The Bizarro Super Powers Team", an episode of The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians. This version is a more faithful adaptation from the comics as a well-meaning bumbler.
Bizarro World
Bizarro World makes its first television appearance in Super Friends in the episodes "The Revenge of Bizarro" from 1980 and "Bizarowurld" from 1981. Bizarro World also appeared in the episode "The Bizarro Super Powers Team" from The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians. Bizarro World is populated by countless imperfect duplicates of Supermen and Lois Lane, led by Bizarro #1.
Black Manta
Manta appeared on The All-New Super Friends Hour, where he was referred to simply as "Manta" and his suit color was now olive brown.
Black Manta also became a part of the
Brainiac
- Brainiac also appeared in a Super Friends short episode "Superclones" where he ended up cloning Aquaman and El Dorado. He was voiced by Stanley Ralph Ross, who took over for the late Cassidy in 1980.
- The mechanical version of Brainiac appeared in Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show in the episodes "The Wrath of Brainiac" and "The Village of Lost Souls" again voiced by Stanley Ralph Ross. In "The Wrath of Brainiac", Brainiac reveals that he shed his earlier appearance when he worked alongside Darkseid.
- Brainiac next appeared in The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians episode called "Brain Child" once again voiced by Stanley Ralph Ross.
Captain Cold
On the ABC animated series Challenge of the Superfriends, Captain Cold is one of two Flash villains (along with Grodd) that appear as members of Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom. Dick Ryal provided the voice of Captain Cold. This version of Captain Cold was depicted as having pale blue skin.
Cheetah
The
Giganta
Giganta appears in Challenge of the Superfriends voiced by Ruth Forman. She appears as a powerful member of the Legion of Doom. In the TV series, she has the ability to grow to giant size (with accompanying superhuman strength) simply by willing it (at the time, she did not yet possess this ability in the comics). She typically dresses in a leopard skin two-piece loincloth (presumably treating them so that they grow with her when she uses her powers to achieve her gigantic stature), wears large, bangle-like bracelets and anklets, and she is always barefoot (like her original appearances). Her muscular body is a side effect of her powers.
In the episode "History of Doom", it was revealed that Giganta was a normal woman who was horseriding when she witnessed
Giganta later appeared in the
Gorilla Grodd
On the
Solomon Grundy
This incarnation of Grundy is arguably one of the more "intelligent" versions of the character, as he is able to carry on a conversation and devise plans of his own.
Lex Luthor
Luthor was a recurring villain in
- He makes his Super Friends debut in Challenge of the Superfriends. Luthor was head of the Legion of Doom, a coalition of villains who plotted the downfall of the titular heroes.[1] Luthor appeared a little slimmer than in his previous animated appearance and sported his pre-Crisis purple jumpsuit. The episode "History Of Doom" depicts a portion of Lex Luthor's origin from Adventure Comics #271.
- In the series The World's Greatest Super Friendsseason, the second episode "Lex Luthor Strikes Back" features Luthor escaping from jail and challenging the Super Friends.
- He also appears in the series Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show season, in the opening and the episodes "No Honor Among Super Thieves", in which acquires his power suit from the comics, then in "Case of the Shrinking Super Friends" and "The Mask of Mystery".
- In the series The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians season, he briefly appears at the beginning of the episode "The Seeds of Doom".
Doctor Natas
The episode "Superfriends: Rest In Peace" makes a reference to a former unseen member of the Legion, the only time such a reference has been made. This was Doctor Natas (Satan spelled backwards), the inventor of the Noxium crystal that had the power to destroy all of the Super Friends. The Super Friends knew of this crystal and tricked the Legion into thinking that it had killed all of them (using android doubles of the Super Friends). They anticipated the Legion throwing away the crystal when they no longer needed it. The crystal was retrieved by the Super Friends and launched into deep space. Natas' fate is unknown and the Legion apparently was unable to recreate the crystal.
Riddler
The
- As previously mentioned, he made his only solo appearance in a Super Friends short episode, "Around the World in 80 Riddles", again voiced by Michael Bell. Here, he uses his new Stupid Spray (which slowly causes the intelligence of those sprayed upon to be reduced to the intelligence of babies) on Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin, where different riddles will provide clues where the antidote can be found. The first one quotes "As your I.Q. drops to below 42, you'll need mya help to tya your shoes". The answer to the riddle led Super Friends to the Mayan ruins, where they ended up in one of Riddler's deathtraps. After barely escaping the deathtrap, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin find what appeared to be the antidote only to be a container for another riddle. The riddle reads "You're probably too stupid now, so here's an easy clue. Climb the tallest mountain until you turn blue". Due to the group's dwindling intelligence, Batman had to use the Batcomputer on his Batplane to decipher the riddle, with the answer being Mount Everest. Upon arriving at Mount Everest, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and Robin encounter Riddler's blimp, where the Stupid Spray is at its final effect on them. The Super Friends managed to claim the Stupid Spray Antidote and defeat Riddler. In "Revenge of Doom", Riddler was with the Legion of Doom when they got back together.
Scarecrow
The Scarecrow appears in the 1978 Challenge of the Superfriends. He appears as a member of Lex Luthor's Legion of Doom voiced by Don Messick. His voice is raspy, fitting with his scare theme. Here he is shown to have control over a flock of crows, but no other powers. In one story, he beats Apache Chief in a contest to capture a two-headed snake by freeing a head Apache Chief had captured, then lassoing both heads.
In Super Friends #32 (May 1980), Scarecrow returns to induce phobias in the Super Friends such that they can no longer operate as crimefighters.
The Scarecrow later appeared in the Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians episode "The Fear", voiced by Andre Stojka. In this episode he captures Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman; he then exposes them to his fear gas in what was the first animated rendition of Batman's origin, as he forces the Crusader to relive his memories of his parents' deaths.
Sinestro
Sinestro has been prominently featured in Challenge of the Superfriends (where he was part of the "Legion of Doom") voiced by Vic Perrin. He is shown to have the power to travel to the antimatter Universe without much trouble.
- Sinestro appeared in the Super Friends episode "The Revenge of Doom" voiced again by Vic Perrin. He is with the Legion of Doom when they get back together again.
Toyman
The
- He was supposed to appear in the episode "The Case of the Dreadful Dolls" during Batman villain of the same name).[2]
New Gods of Apokolips
In the mid-1980s,
Darkseid
Boom tube
Outside of the comic books,
DeSaad
Kalibak
Parademons
On the final season (1985–86) of the
Super Foes
A villainous analogy to the Super Friends featuring major enemies to each of the heroic group's members. The villains also adopted the Justice League's concept of training young heroes by adding youthful counterparts to themselves. They were introduced in the first two issues of the Super Friends (1976) comic.
Cheetah
Wonder Woman's feline nemesis who joined the Legion of Doom. Cheetah took on Kitten as her younger trainee.
Human Flying Fish
One of Aquaman's major enemies, the Human Flying Fish was Vic Bragg, a human physically altered to breathe underwater and survive the depths of the ocean while employing a suit which additionally provided flight through the air. His protege was Sardine.
Penguin
A criminal mastermind and major foe to Batman, the Penguin employed a cache of trick umbrellas in his crimes. He adopted Chick as his youthful apprentice. Penguin went on to appear in The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians, where he gains Superman's superpowers by accident when Felix Faust tries to get them for himself. Ironically, Batman is not featured in the episode. This version of the Penguin was voiced by Robert Morse. Penguin was intended to be part of the League of Evil in Battle of the Superheroes but he was licensed to Filmation and left out of what became Challenge of the Superfriends.
Poison Ivy
A brilliant scientist in botany, Pamela Isley turned to crime as Poison Ivy and fought Batman. Her junior partner was Honeysuckle. Ivy was intended to be part of the League of Evil in Battle of the Superheroes but she was licensed to Filmation and left out of what became Challenge of the Superfriends.
Toyman
Superman's enemy in the group, Winslow Schott was the Super Foes' Toyman while later his successor Jack Nimball joined the Legion of Doom. Schott's trainee was Toyboy. Schott returned to face the Super Friends with his gang in Super Friends #41 (February 1981).
Other villains from DC Comics
Bizarra
An earlier animated version of
Chronos
When
The Conqueror
Capturing Kanjar Ro, Queen Bee, Sinestro, Hector Hammond, Time Trapper, and World Beater, the Conqueror gains the power to defeat any foe. First appears in Super Friends #45 (June 1981).
Joe Chill
In The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians episode "The Fear", a flashback depicts Thomas and Martha Wayne being mugged by someone who might be Joe Chill. This flashback is induced by the Scarecrow. When his father tries to fight him, a young Bruce says "No Dad, he's got a..." and lightning is shown in the sky as his parents are shot. This episode represents the first time that Batman's origin is portrayed on television. He is voiced by Michael Rye.
Crime Syndicate of America
Felix Faust
Gentleman Ghost
Grax
Rival to Brainiac and enemy of Superman, Grax plants twelve bombs across Earth. The Wonder Twins come to Earth to warn the Super Friends which prompts the group to team with the Global Guardians to find and defuse the bombs in Super Friends #7-9. He returns in issue #38 empowering gangsters with intangibility.
Green Thumb
In Super Friends #42 (March 1981), Fargo Keyes employs alien plants to battle the Super Friends as Green Thumb.
Greenback
Using money as his weapon, Greenback kidnaps Bruce Wayne for ransom. First appears in Super Friends #5 (June 1977).
Johnny Witts
Johnny Witts and his gang of impersonators assume the guise of the Super Friends in order to uncover their secret identities. First appears in Super Friends #26 (November 1979).
The Joker
The Joker makes an appearance in the final incarnation of Super Friends, The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians, in the episode "The Wild Cards", which features a version of the Royal Flush Gang. The leader of the group, Ace, turns out to be a disguised Joker (voiced by Frank Welker). Batman determined the Joker's masquerade upon noticing that the Joker's house of cards was short of the Joker's namesake card.
Kingslayer
An assassin specializing in eliminating world leaders, Kingslayer is hired by the Overlord to kill global rulers in a bid to seize power. His sights become set on Solovar, Nuidis Vulko, Queen Astrid, Prince Ali, Princess Evalina, and Prince Mark. First appears in Super Friends #11 (April–May 1978).
Menagerie Man
Employing white dwarf star technology, Menagerie Man sports a shrunken zoo of trained animals he can produce seemingly out of thin air. First appears in Super Friends #6 (August 1977).
Menthruy
An alien that abducts Poseidonis in Super Friends #27 (December 1979).
Mirror Master
Mirror Master sends the Super Friends into different universes in Super Friends #23 (August 1979). He returns in an episode of Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show entitled "Reflections in Crime". In the episode, Mirror Master sets about trapping the Super Friends in this particular episode inside mirrors called the sixth dimension. The Super Friends managed to escape and trap Mirror Master in a House of Mirrors.
Mr. Mxyzptlk
Monocle
Graeme the
Overlord
Sandor Fane poses as the Overlord and hires the Kingslayer to eliminate prominent leaders around Earth in order to seize power. Fane later took control of the minds of the Elementals (Salamander, Gnome, Undine, and the Sylph) in order to destroy the Super Friends. Upon his defeat, his henchman Underling assumes his identity. This new Overlord returns to control the minds of the Super Friends into becoming tyrants. Later, this Overlord clones himself and hyper-evolves him to create Futurio. First appears in Super Friends #11 (April–May 1978).
Royal Flush Gang
In
Shark
A villain called
Skyrocket
High-flying super-villain capable of emitting powerful sparks from his hands that teamed with Riddler. First appears in Super Friends #4 (April 1977).
Superiorman and Wondrous Woman
Yeltu and Fegla of Exor come to Earth as body-doubles of Superman and Wonder Woman in Superiorman and Wondrous Woman, respectively. They first appear in Super Friends #21 (June 1979).
Time Trapper
Ty M. Master, the
Warhead
Rupert C. Hall, better known as a munitions thief named Warhead, is sought by the Super Friends and Plastic Man. First appears in Super Friends #36 (September 1980).
Weather Wizard
Weather Wizard battles the Super Friends in Super Friends #37 (October 1980).
World Beater
Dr. Ihdrom creates the powerful android World Beater from the demise of over 100 super-villains including Spectrum, Anti-Man, Thunderhead, Powerhouse, The Traveler, The Apparition, Turncoat, Ultra-Light, Firelord, Sub-Zero, and Bombshell and pits his creation against Earth's heroes. First appears in Super Friends #3 (February 1977).
Yarq
A criminal and his gang from Exor that come to Earth and steal the Super Friends memories in Super Friends #44 (May 1981).
Zond and Zhanra
Ancient Exorian criminals, Zond and Zhanra switch places with the Wonder Twins in Super Friends #24 (September 1979).
Villains appearing not adapted from the comic books
Count Dracula
Count Dracula appears in an episode entitled "Attack of the Vampire". Here, Dracula arises and tries to turn the whole world into vampires. The Super Friends battle Dracula, who transforms Superman and the Wonder Twins into vampires. Dracula uses intense beams from his eyes to transform his victims into vampires.
Dr. Hiram Gulliver
Using a micro-wave reducer, Dr. Gulliver shrinks the world's adults to reduce the use of resources of the planet and to stand as a giant as the planet's ruler. He appears in the Super Friends episode "Gulliver's Gigantic Goof" (1973).
Dr. LaBond
Stealing diamonds to power his Planet Splitter, LaBond plans to turn the planet Signus Uno into a second moon to provide more natural resources for Earth. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Planet Splitter" (1973).
Dr. Pelagian
Marine biologist Dr. Ansil Hillbrandt adopts the identity of Dr. Pelagian and terrorizes industrialists to topple pollution. Pelagian employs technology that allows him to speak with sea creatures and control the weather and sea. He appears in the Super Friends episode "Dr. Pelagian’s War" (1973).
Dr. Rebos
Seeking to eliminate the space program, Dr. Rebos builds robot duplicates of Wonder Dog and Superman for sabotage. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Androids" (1973).
Dr. Thinkquick
From the bitterly cold continent Glacia, Thinkquick uses a tugboat with a jet nozzle to shift the Gulf Stream to warm his homeland as weather is disrupted around the globe. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Weather Maker" (1973).
Dr. Victor Frankenstein
In an episode of
Hank and Ben
Hank and Ben are scientists who employ a blue jet that emits a blue beam to destroy the world's gold, believing the material to be the root of all evil. They appear in the Super Friends episode "The Ultra Beam" (1973).
Holo and Zara
Holo and Zara are aliens trying to strip Earth of its silicon from its oceans to power their space vessel to return to their home planet. They appear in the Super Friends episode "The Watermen" (1973).
King Plasto
Heisting raw plastic powder, King Plasto creates Frerp. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Fantastic Frerps" (1973).
Kolbar
Hailing from the scorching planet Solartararium, Kolbar sought another world for his people when Solartararium begins to cool due to pollution. Trying to heat the Earth for this purpose, the Super Friends stop him and clean Solartararium restoring its temperatures. He appears in the Super Friends episode "Too Hot To Handle" (1973).
Noah Tall
Noah Tall is an evil genius that sought to capture the Balloon People of Balunia to uncover their powers of teleportation. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Balloon People" (1973).
Orville Gump
Orville Gump appears in the episode "Lex Luthor Strikes Back" in
Phantom Zone villains
In the 1978 series Super Friends there is an episode entitled "Terror from the Phantom Zone" in which a comet's collision causes the Phantom Zone to release three Kryptonian villains Hul, Rom-Lok and Logar. The villains go on a crime spree and banish the Superfriends to the Phantom Zone but keep Superman on Earth, exposing him to red kryptonite which causes him to age quickly. The villains get great enjoyment showing off "old Superman" to the world. Superman then manages to figure out with help from the Justice League computer that blue kryptonite may reverse the aging process because blue kryptonite is harmful to backwards Bizarro and therefore should be helpful to Superman. He finds the blue kryptonite and is aged back to normal and then goes on his quest to rescue the other Super Friends from the Phantom Zone and ultimately send the three villains back into the Phantom Zone. This episode can be found on the DVD collection "Super Friends: Volume Two", which features 16 Super Friends cartoons from 1978.
The Super Friends version of the Phantom Zone is described as: "Far beyond the boundaries of the Milky Way. In the uncharted void of deep space. An incredible 5th dimension of space and time, lies parallel to the universe that we know. This interesting interstellar warp which holds the most sinister and ruthless criminals in the galaxy is the infamous Phantom Zone". The molecular structure of any person exiled in the zone appears white and black. Batman's devices and the Wonder Twins' Exxor Powers are useless within the Phantom Zone.
Zy-Kree
A Phantom Zone villain named Zy-Kree, resembling the
Power Pirate
Power Pirate, also known as Anthro of the Traum, needing power for his planet, comes to Earth and masquerades as Sir Cedric of Scotland Yard to steal the power he needs. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Power Pirate" (1973).
Professor Baffles
Professor Baffles, real name Mr. Mergen, is a chemist that sought to destroy currency so mankind can begin anew with a clean slate. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Baffles Puzzle" (1973).
Raven
Raven is a brilliant alien scientist that seeks revenge against Superman for imprisoning him. He appears in the Super Friends episode "The Menace Of The White Dwarf" (1973).
Sinbad
A human-looking space pirate who resembles a 16th-century pirate captain, not the Middle Eastern Sinbad of lore, he comes to Earth with his crew to steal various treasures, including gold beneath the ruins of Stonehenge. The weapons at his disposal include flying pirate ships that can turn invisible and hypnotic cannons that fire mind-control beams. He appears in season 3 episode "Sinbad and the Space Pirates".
Doctor Fright
Doctor Fright is a villain that uses a fear gas to paralyse his victims, turning them weak and frightened. He appears in season 2 episode "Doctor Fright", where Superman and Wonder Woman stopped his plans.
See also
References
- ^ Seanbaby's Super Friends Page - Lex Luthor. Retrieved on 2007-7-20.
- ^ Commentary for "The Case of the Dreadful Dolls" on the DVD Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show.
- ^ "The Bizarro Super Powers Team". The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians. Season 1. Episode 3. 1985-11-21. Hanna-Barbera.
- ^ "Latest posts of: Brian Krey". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-01-09.