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The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians (DC Comics Classic Collection)
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List Price: $26.98
Our Price: $20.99
Your Save: $ 5.99 ( 22% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Hanna-Barbera Studios
Starring: Adam West, Alan Burnett
Directed By: Larry Latham
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Binding: DVD
Brand: Warner Brothers
EAN: 0014764368429
Format: Animated
Label: Hanna-Barbera Studios
Manufacturer: Hanna-Barbera Studios
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Hanna-Barbera Studios
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2007-10-23
Running Time: 170
Studio: Hanna-Barbera Studios
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Editorial Reviews:
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In 1985 this final version of Hanna-Barbera's Superfriends premiered. The Superfriends were once again headquartered at the Hall of Justice in Metropolis, and battled such familiar foes as Lex Luthor, Scarecrow and Darkseid.� Second only to Challenge of the Superfriends, Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians was one of the most faithful TV adaptations of DC Comic superheroes. Like its predecessor, SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers show, Galactic Guardians featured Adam West as Batman along with featuring Superman and Robin and showcasing relatively new superheroes Firestorm and Cyborg as well as members of previous Super Friend incarnations (Samurai, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, Hawkman, The Flash). The show featured Darkseid of Apokolips and his minions Kalibak and DeSaad as the primary protagonists. Other DC villains (the Joker, Lex Luthor, the Penguin, Scarecrow, Felix Faust, Joker, The Penguin, Brainiac, etc.) also appeared from time to time.
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Very Pleasantly Surprised
Comment: 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 GarcÃa-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.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Fun!
Comment: Not a comic buff in any way but have always enjoyed anything with these superhero icons and this is another one I enjoyed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Overpriced
Comment: There are only really 8 half hour episodes. After a while it became overly repetitive: Why is Darkseid always trying to conquer Earth? Don't they have other worthy adversaries?
Only two episodes stand out: Fear, which features the origin of Batman (almost like an episode of the celebrated animated series of the nineties), and The Death Of Superman, which at least showed some emotion. The rest is average.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Memories like the colors of my cape
Comment: When I first heard of this compilation, I was excited. MY youth!!! Cyborg!!! Firestorm (two ids in one!!!)!!! Then it arrived. Some cool mid 1980's pre CGI art, neatly handed stories. Yet, some stories fell flat. Overall, it's okay. Don't miss "the death of Superman" eight years before the comic intoduced Doomsday. Plus, the Royal Flush Gang and Bizarro stories R pretty good too. Fun!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Comment: You simply cannot get hold of
such classic material from England.
The video is my youth recaptured with all the famous DC Super Heroes thrown together in magical episodes that simply blow me away.
Excellent, and thoroughly recommended.
Thanks Amazon.com for bringing this video to my attention, there are so many other similar DVD's and I intend to purchase everyone eventually.
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