1. The Super Friends (1973-1974)

How much did the Super Friends suck, oh let me count the ways.

1. Imagine a show written so poorly that Scooby Doo seems edgy.

2. This was the show that solidified Batman as everybody’s awesome step-dad. A goofy buffoon version of the Dark Knight that took years of work by Neal Adams ands Denis O’Neal to overcome. Can you imagine a post Dark Knight movie Batman saying “Good point chum”? Nope, neither can I.

3. Superman was so annoying you started rooting for Lex Luthor.

4. You think the Wonder Twins were annoying? Try the original sidekicks Wendy, Marvin White and Wonderdog. Marvin whined a lot and looked like Shaggy with a cape while Wendy made snappy little comments that had you wishing she’d be run over by the bat mobile. Wonderdog barked a lot and wore a cape to. BRILLIANT!!

5. Though advertised Aquaman was hardly ever in it.

6. The giant group laugh thing that ended every show made me want to put my foot the screen at age 4.

7. The bad animation, which featured maybe two new scenes an episode, the rest was rehashed from last episode.

8. We were forced to learn about Apache Chief who could grow REALLY TALL. Wow, if there’s ever a heroes vs. villains basketball game we’re all SET!!

9. It launched all the subsequent Super Friends show, which sucked just as badly but never wanted to end.

10. It helped reinforce that comics are silly kids material, a stigma us fans still battle today.

So there you have it, my 5 best and worst Superhero cartoon shows. I’m sure I missed some or you may simply think I’m insane, either way it’ll be something to talk about. I must give a few shout outs to the honorable mention category. Though not technically the “best” I did love Thundarr The Barbarian (Ukla, Ariel we RIDE) and I was also a loyal Gigantor fan.

On the worst side the only one I struggled with was Thundercats. I hated that show, hated it. It felt to me like somebody had written a hybrid of the play Cats and the X-Men. Every time they won a battle I kept waiting for the Thundercats to break into the song “Memories”. I also couldn’t stand the cat head insignia that was everywhere during the shows popularity.

Until next time!!