Sure they were creepy Donny and Marie look-alikes who had to touch each other to activate their Wonder Twin powers, but the Superfriends’ Zan and Jayna were the original “transformers” (at least to kids in the U.S.) and deserve respect. So before you go off thinking those robots in disguise are so freakin’ cool, here are the four reasons why the Wonder Twins are superior to the Transformers.

1) THE NEW ORIGINALS
It didn’t do Native Americans any good either, but the Wonder Twins were here first — and that should count for something. They made their debut in 1977, way before anyone ever heard of robots transforming into cars or toasters. When the kids of the ’70s thought of transforming, they thought of those alien teenagers from the Superfriends. The Transformers first appeared in 1984, but by then the Wonder Twins were already well along the path to obscurity.

2) VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE
The Wonder Twins could transform into anything — as long as it was a form of water or an animal. Zan (the male twin) could take the form of a snowball, a glacier, Perrier, even weather patterns. Jayna could transform into any animal, whether real or mythical. The mighty Transformers usually transform into only one other form, like a car or a cassette player. I think a kangaroo and a frozen bowling ball trumps an F-15 Eagle any day.

3) SIDE-KICKS
It’s been proven time and time again, a pet space monkey is cooler than some kid named Spike. Gleek not only provided comic relief; he conveniently provided a bucket whenever Zan took the form of watery substances. Otherwise, who knows how many lawsuits would have been brought against the Justice League by people slipping on Zan.

4) CATCHPHRASES
“Wonder Twin powers, activate!” This was more than a catchphrase, these were the magical words that allowed Zan and Jayna to transform. The line has taken on a life of its own and is more popular than the Wonder Twins themselves. Compared to the fabulousness of the Wonder Twins catchphrase, the Transformers’ “Autobots, transform — and roll out!” is, well, unfabulous.