Originally Posted by
AdamFTF
The Hanna Barbera version is the one I was thinking of. I know people like the Young Justice versions, but I don't care for the fact that he's a teenager and I just don't like his origin. I usually like teen characters, but lately it seems like there are a million of them in comics and the old ones don't get a proper send-off before they're ignored and replaced with a new crop. As for origins, it's the whole bit with him being experimented on by aliens. The Hanna Barbera El Dorado had no origin.
As far as permanently introducing the 7 Hanna Barbera created "Friends", as regulars into the DCU, I would love to see it.
I think it's ironic that both JLAnimated, and Young Justice cartoons are the ones that gave them huge nods by updating them to fit their own narrative and look. They also somewhat kept them together as a group. Which is important.
Yet DC proper has mostly either ignored them with just a few sporadic nods, and in doing so relegated them to their solo ethnic milieux. Particularly disavowing them as ever having existing as group or team together, which is the whole point.
And is what I'd most like to see transferred into the comics.
They really would make a formidable team.
As far as which cartoon version to use, I've posted this elsewhere;
https://community.cbr.com/showthread...=1#post3492429
https://community.cbr.com/showthread...st1990372Using
I think there is a visual and thematic middle-ground combining all 3 of their cartoon incarnations, that can be achieved. A hybrids of the names and visuals where everyone would recognize their version.
Like you I don't particularly like the origins given in either cartoon. JLAnimated they are experiments in lab, with no personal history or connection to their powers or motive. In YJ they are instead experimented by aliens. Neither do them justice.
However JLAnimated did give them some nicely updated modern (less ethnic cliche) looks, and YJ gave them distinct civilian personalities, and looks. None of which the SuperFriends had.
So using the SuperFriends version as the main templates. Adding some updated JLAnimated looks, and making their civilian ID's (although a little older) somewhat based on YJ.
An amalgam version of this group of 7 could actually exist as a legit team in DCU comics canon.
1- Tye /Apache/ Long Shadow - (with his giant astral projecting self)
2- Toshio / Samurai-Wind-dragon / Eto (wind elemental and heat-burst samurai sword)
3- Buster/ Volt "Lightning" / Jones (named after the man who voiced him on SF)
4- Eduardo/ El "Desperado" / Dorado (The original teleporter of the DCU)
5- Add YJ's Asami distinguished from Toshio (her cousin) give her Ch'i / Qi (氣), "energy force" powers.
6-7- The Exor Twins! / Zan & Jayna (and no they are not white or albino, HB had them as the first non-green non-caucasian humanoid looking aliens, DC should stop pretending they were white)
Also give Zan his as originally conceived all around elemental, (who like his sister becoming any beast, he was actually to powerful so they made it just water), yet he could emulate any element water(ice), fire, air, earth, and take on any elemental physical forms of each.
& Gleek!