Super Chicken


Super Chicken is a segment that ran on the animated television series George of the Jungle. It was produced by Jay Ward and Bill Scott, who earlier had created the Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons. It debuted September 9, 1967, on ABC.

Series overview

Super Chicken is an anthropomorphic chicken and superhero who is the alter-ego of wealthy Henry Cabot Henhouse III. He has a lion sidekick named Fred who wears an inside-out sweatshirt with a backwards F on it and acts as Henry's servant when in his civilian lifestyle. When danger reared its ugly head, Henhouse would take his "Super Sauce" and don his "Super Suit," which consisted of a plumed cavalier's hat, cape, Wellington boots, mask and sword. Super Chicken usually begins their adventures with the battle cry, "To the Super Coop, Fred!" The Super Coop was an egg-shaped air vehicle flown by Super Chicken and Fred to the rescue of innocent victims of crime. When Fred comments on his latest injury, Super Chicken responds with a variation of the theme, "You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred!" Following his own mistakes, Super Chicken remarks, "I'm glad no one was here to see that!"
Super Chicken was a parody of the well-off WASP of the 1950s, horn-rimmed glasses wearing, martini drinking, and having a sense of social obligation. A similar, contemporary fictional character was Bruce Wayne, a millionaire who fought crime as Batman. Earlier precursors included Zorro and the Scarlet Pimpernel.
The first pilot featured an all-star comedy cast, including Bill Dana with Don Knotts as the voice of Super Chicken. The project was shelved and eventually recast.

Episode list

Super Chicken episode titles and dates

Appearances in other media

In 1969, Gold Key Comics published two issues of a George of the Jungle comic book. Each issue contained a story featuring Super Chicken. Issue #1 presented "The Stolen State", and #2 "The Astounding Dr. Gizmo!", both adaptations of cartoon episodes.