When I was young, I, like most kids my age, was in love with cartoons. When Saturday morning came, there I was, planted in front of the television watching everything from the Herculoids to Battle of the Planets – to my all time favorite cartoon – Challenge of the Superfriends. Being a die-hard DC Comic fan, I was enthralled at seeing DC’s brightest super heroes battle the world’s toughest villains each and every week – and immediately craved the next new episode when the one I watched came to an end.

As I got older, I was treated to newer and more modern versions of Challenge of the Superfriends, which may have had different heroes and villains, but was never as exciting as the original series, which truly captivated me as a child.

But on November 17, 2001, Cartoon Network premiered the most modern, cutting edge – and in my opinion, greatest version of Challenge of the Superfriends that I have ever seen – one that even puts the original series to shame – Justice League.

What makes this version so much better then Challenge of the Superfriends is the fact that like myself – the show “grew up.” In other words, the campy, Leave It To Beaver-type feel that was Challenge of the Superfriends is gone and was replaced with adult themes, edgy writing – and such amazing storylines that I sometimes forget I am watching a cartoon. Take the premiere movie of the Justice League, which was entitled, “Secret Origins.” The story is about a race of parasites that invades Earth and forces 7 superheroes; Superman, Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern, The Martian Manhunter, Hawkgirl and Wonder Woman, to work together for the first time to stop the alien invaders. We even get treated to a historic scene where Wonder Woman arrives to help Hawkgirl, and Green Lantern, upon noticing her, asks Superman, “Who’s the rookie in the Tiara?” To which he responds, “I’m not sure.” We also learn the origins of The Martian Manhunter – and almost lose one of our heroes. That three-part story was by far one of the most intense cartoons I have ever seen – and I have seen a lot of cartoons.

In addition to the “grown-up” storyline, the show has also crept into the 21st Century, bringing with it the items and lingo that have become staples in our modern lives. In a recent episode titled “The Brave And The Bold”, Flash and Green Lantern discover a working relationship between a female lab worker and the notorious villain Grog – due to the fact that the two have been carrying on an e-mail correspondence. In the same episode, Flash – who does an excellent job providing the comic relief for the show – reminds Green Lantern that they both have a Martian’s cell phone number on their speed dial.

After I saw the first episode of Justice League, I made it a point to clear my schedule and sit in front of my television at 7:00pm every Sunday – just like I used to when Challenge of the Superfriends was on. And with each new episode, the show has amazed me more and more with it’s incredible writing, design – and theme. And now, with the release of their next new episode, “Injustice For All”, they will debut the two most notorious villains in the history of the Superfriends – Lex Luthor and the Joker.

In my opinion, if Justice League is the last ever rendition of Challenge of the Superfriends, then I would be satisfied. This is by far the greatest of the Superfriends cartoons that I have ever seen, and if I had my way – I would keep this series on for the rest of my life – because of all the Superfriends-type cartoons I have seen – this one is definitely the best one – and one that makes me feel like a kid again.