All-New Super Friends Hour: Super Friends vs. Super Friends (1977)

 

This is the third segment of the fifth episode of The All-New Super Friends Hour, unlike most other Super Friends formats, this one had hour long episodes that were made up of various shorter cartoons. The first segment would be an adventure staring two members (or three in some cases as Batman and Robin would often team with another Super Friend) of the Super Friends. The second would be a morality play staring the Wonder Twins. The third would be a typical half hour Super Friends adventure. The fourth and last segment would feature one of the main Super Friends teaming up with a special DC Comics guest star. 

In this cartoon, when a giant octopus attacks a group of scientists underwater, the Super Friends are called to save the day. Since it is underwater, Aquaman comes down and saves the day. However two sea creatures see this and force him to fight in their undersea gladiator games. When the other Super Friends go to save him, they find themselves also forced to fight in these games. 

This is a wonderful cartoon. The idea of the Superfriends being forced to fight in these games is a wonderful plot and leads to a lot of great action scenes. The designs of the monsters used in these games are delightful and add a lot to the fun. The underwater city also features much of the great background art seen in Hanna-Barbera cartoons of this era. This helps give the episode a great sense of atmosphere.  There is also a great sense of suspense here as this episode truly makes us believe the Super Friends are in true danger with the way the villains are able to subdue the super powers of our heroes.  

This is simply an excellent cartoon.