The Super 6

This stuff seems corny now.

But in 1966 it was a kick start to the TV animation era. It wasn't the first mind you, but it was made specifically for this medium.

I wasn't alive yet when this bugger had it's say. I wish I was though. I've seen it on local TV during those "We don't know what else to fill this time block with" moments in the late 70's.

As a superhero show, it did the job. Villains attempt a dirty scheme, the gang thwarts. And the heroes (Elevator Man?) were at least trying to be original.

I agree. A DVD release is needed, NAY, demanded.

The SUPER 6 is one of the lost classics of 60's Saturday morning television. While I have no reason to believe that the episodes do not exist somewhere in the DePatie-Freleng vaults, this delightful animated super-hero spoof has reportedly not been rebroadcast anywhere in over thirty years, which is really a shame.

The Super 6 were comprised of Granite Man, a statue brought to life by a magical incantation, Elevator Man, who could grow or shrink by pressing a switch on his belt buckle, Magneto Man, a living electro magnet, Captain Zammo, who could fly and travel through time, Super Scuba, a water breathing version of Dean Martin's Matt Helm, and Super Bwoing, who could fly, had laser vision, super strength and was a complete incompetent. Or, as the show's theme song put it, "Five great thunderbolts of power and a bolt who is a nut."

The Super 6 were not a traditional team, like the Mighty Heroes were, rather they were all part of Super Service, a super hero agency where trouble calls were received. The Chief, a Louie De Palma for an earlier age, would take the calls in his dispatcher's booth and send the most appropriate, or in Super Bwoing's case available, hero out on the job. Our six headliners were not the only members of Super Service. Though they rarely took part in the stories, many other super hero types were frequently seen in the Super Service offices, waiting around for assignments.

As best as I can determine, there were twenty episodes of SUPER 6, which is an odd number. This is based on the following formula: each thirty minute episode featured three segments: a "Super Bwoing", a "Super Service", featuring a different member of the other five Super 6 heroes each week, and a "The Brothers Matzoriley", which was a cartoon unrelated to the Super 6 components. To further confuse matters episode guides record 21 "Super Bwoing" cartoons, 19 "Super Service" cartoons, and 20 of "The Brothers Matzoriley".

The quality of the cartoons varied greatly, especially among the Super Bwoing segments. Some, for instance "Don't Gloat Red Coat", are just incredibly dumb, while others, like "Coldpinky" are great fun. One particularly sophisticated segment was the Elevator Man cartoon "Down Please", inspired by the SF classic THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN. Alerted that the gang of an incarcerated crime boss are planning on breaking him out of the city jail, the authorities call in Elevator Man to guard the prisoner. Elevator Man becomes a twelve foot giant, believing that at that size he'll be able to handle anything. But the criminals flood the jail with gas, rendering everyone, including our gargantuan hero, unconscious. Before escaping, the crime boss presses the down button on Elevator Man's belt. When Elevator Man recovers consciousness, he finds that his belt has been removed, that he is now too small to press the "up" button, and that he is still slowly shrinking. Great stuff.

Sadly lacking a syndication or video release, SUPER 6 has too long been relegated to the memories of those who enjoyed the program when it first aired. However with classic 60's TV cartoons, such as THE FLINTSTONES, BATFINK, JONNY QUEST and DePatie-Freleng's own THE PINK PANTHER starting to see releases on DVD, one can only hope that this highly enjoyable series is returned to public view, and we can once again "meet the men from Super Service".

UPDATE: It has been nine years (17 December, 2004) since this review was originally posted and I am pleased to announce that, unheralded and without fanfare, SUPER 6 - THE SERIES was finally released on DVD a few weeks ago. All twenty original episodes, complete, uncut and in pristine condition for less than $10.00!

Love this cartoon series! Super Scuba, Granite Man, Elevator Man, Magneto Man, Super Boing and a Captain whose name I forget, with weird building design for a headquarters. It's stupid, yeah, but so what! It made a fan of the Freleng style of animation.

"The Super Six" was in fact DePatie-Freleng's first ever TV cartoon venture series for Saturday Morning. This was however,a half-hour show that featured a bunch of futuristic oddball characters working for Super Services,Incorporated., a "hero for hire" operation. The "Super Services" segments,which were eight minutes in length,featured Elevator Man(Paul Stewart),Super Scuba(Arte Johnson),Magnet Man(Daws Butler), Granite Man(Lyn Johnson),and Captain Zammo(Paul Frees),not to mention Super Bwoing(Charles Smith). However,Super Bwoing was an inept singing cowboy type that was reminiscent of Hanna-Barbera's "El Kabong"(based on the character of Hanna-Barbera's Quick Draw McGraw),while the second part of the series was the ethnically jumbled "Brothers Matzoriley"(which basically these characters were also featured in the first-ever theatrical short "The Inspector",based on the Pink Panther movies starring Inspector Clouseau,that was also produced by DePatie-Freleng).

The Brothers Matzoriley was voiced by Paul Frees and Daws Butler,along with the talents of June Foray,Pat Carroll,Joan Gerber,and Diana Maddox. The theme song to the "Super Six" was done by the great Gary Lewis along with his Playboy band. Think about it,the year 1966 was also the explosion of the Superhero cartoons that were all over the place. Since this series produced 21 episodes was pleasant entertainment put together by seasoned cartoon pros(the same animators who were behind the theatrical Pink Panther shorts,were also behind this series),since the original episodes ran only during the first season for NBC during the 1966-1967 season. Seasons 2 and 3 were repeated episodes(1967-1968 and 1968-1969). The series ran from September 10,1966 until September 6,1969. Produced by DePatie-Freleng Productions in association with Mirisch/Rich Productions-United Artists Television.

Gotta bring these Super 6 guys out of the vaults and into syndication, folks! Tell me how to do it, and I'll see if I can pitch in some $$$$ to help you out (I'm not made of money, mind you, but we gotta get Super 6 back into circulation!!!). This was one of the first great-fun and more sophisticated humorous animated vehicles of my early years, much in the genre of Warner Brothers' sophistication and not the mamsy-pamsy (sp.) cartoon-glut of the unfunny, action-off-camera Hanna Barbera pabulum. I loved Captain Zammo's sarcasm, and Super Scuba + Elevator Man's debonair personas. I don't recall the Brothers Matzoriley, but they can stay in the vault for all I care. Much too derogatory toward ethnicities, in my estimation. But the Super 6 themselves??? The total ultimate!!!