The Wonder Twins (September 10, 1977) This Day In Comics
The Wonder Twins, Zan and Jayna, are an extraterrestrial twin brother and sister superhero duo who made their debut in The All-New Super Friends Hour in the episode “Joy Ride” which first aired September 10, 1977. The Wonder Twins were prominently featured in the first season of the Hanna-Barbera produced series called The All- New Super Friends Hour but were supporting characters in proceeding seasons and iterations of the Super Friends seasons.
Zan and Jayna are siblings from the planet Exxor who were being informally trained by the superheroes. Unlike their predecessors, Wendy Harris and Marvin White, this pair was able to participate in combat with abilities of their own. Zan can transform into water at any state (solid, liquid, gas) and add to his mass by incorporating water in his immediate area. Jayna can transform into any animal, whether real, mythological, indigenous to Earth or to some other planet. They were originally called Dick and Jane, and their sidekick was Mighty Monkey, before finally becoming Zan, Jayna, and Gleek. The names “Zan” and “Jayna” derived from the Edgar Rice Burroughs characters Tarzan and his romantic interest Jane. Zan and Jayna are Exorian metas, genetic throwbacks to an ancient race of Exorian shapeshifters.
Their parents died when they were still babies during a plague, and, because of their origin, no Exorians want to adopt them. They are adopted by the owner of a Space Circus who only wants to use them as sideshow freaks. Fortunately, the circus’ clown is a kind man and raises them. He also gives them Gleek as a pet.
