Super Friends #33 (2025 Comic Book & Graphic Novel Reading Challenge)

Though Super Friends sidekicks Wendy and Marvin, along with their pooch Wonder Dog, were unceremoniously replaced by the Wonder Twins when the animated series returned to TV in 1977, the trio was given a send off in the comic book adaptation. 

Siblings Zan and Jayna, along with their blue space monkey Gleek, first appeared in comic book form with issue #6 of Super Friends. In a 3-part story, the twins are given an origin story by E. Nelson Bridwell, which sees the orphans coming to Earth to warn Superman of a space bomb attack from the villainous Grax. Impressed by the alien teens' bravery, the Justice League offers them membership and training as superheroes while Wendy and Marvin leave in issue #9 for college. It's hinted that Wendy will eventually enter the FBI after finishing college.

With Zan's ability to take the form of water in any state and shape and Jayna 's mastery of transforming into animals, both real and mythical, the Wonder Twins become valuable allies to the Super Friends. In order to change their form, Zan and Jayna must make physical contact with one another. Generally, giving one another a fist bump while as humanoids. Should the twins be separated from each other, they will remain in whatever form until they can once again touch. It is that limitation of the Wonder Twins' powers that is the main plot point of this issue.

Someone is targeting the priceless collections of Gotham City's elite. Without any clue as to the culprit, Batman enlists the Super Friends to help. Believing that he knows the next target, a collector of gems and rare birds, Batman has Zan transform into a giant diamond made of ice while Jayna becomes a bird. Only she accidentally becomes a bird that has been extinct for centuries. 

With the twins in place as bait, the culprit is revealed to be the Menagerie Man, who uses trained animals to commit his crimes. When the villain notices Jayna in prehistoric bird form moving, the Menagerie Man believes that he's discovered a missing link and unknowingly steals Jayna. 

With Zan stuck in ice diamond form, the Justice League is down 2 members. But thanks to a feathery friend, Hawkman arrives with the location of the Menagerie Man's hideout. It looks like the rescue mission is going to be easy until the Super Friends are attacked by wildebeests, leopards and birds of prey carrying nuggets of deadly kryptonite!

This 1980 issue was written by Bridwell with artwork by Wonder Twins co-creator Ramona Fradon. Inks were provided by Vince Colleta.

The Super Friends comic book would continue to run through the summer of 1981; ending with issue #47. Both the Wonder Twins and the team of Wendy and Marvin and Wonder Dog would return in the 2000s as characters in both DC animated series and as official comics canon. 

Completing this review completes Task #20 (A Superhero Team Book) of the 2025 Comic Book and Graphic Novel Reading Challenge.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.