Batman Gotham Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition) (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)*This does contain some minor spoilers. I tried not to spoil too much.*
Batman: Gotham Knight is advertised as the missing link between Batman Begins and The Dark Knight. There are six stories in total. Each story is by different artists, but they all link together and flow together nicely.
The first story is called, "Have I got a story for you," and involves a boy waiting for his friends to arrive. Once they do, each one of them tells a story about what they saw today and they all saw Batman. Each story is farfetched in its own way as this story capitalizes on teenagers stretching the truth and/or having overactive imaginations. It seems their day isn't finished though as the fight they all witnessed makes its way to that very skate park.
"Crossfire" is the story of Chris and Anna being apart of Lieutenant Gordon's MCU (Major Crime Unit). Chris thinks Batman is a vigilante that takes the law into his own hands while Anna is still unsure about him and is just thankful that good cops that know how to do their job are actually being respected now that Batman has shown up. After taking a recent Arkham escapee back to the asylum, they soon realize they're stuck in the middle of a gang war between Sal Maroni and The Russian.
"Field Test" begins with Lucius Fox showing Bruce Wayne some new gadgets. Amongst them is a harness equipped with an electromagnetic pulse strong enough to deflect bullets. Batman decides to test it out with Maroni, The Russian, and his goons. Everything is going Batman's way until a certain...glitch...happens.
"In Darkness Dwells" has everyone looking for a monster. Killer Croc, to be exact. Apparently, he was the former patient of a certain Johnathan Crane. Coincidentally, one of the reasons he was admitted to Dr. Crane was for his fear of bats. Go figure.
Batman is injured on what seems like any other night he puts on his mask in "Working Through Pain." We're basically shown how tenacious he really is as he struggles with his injuries. We're also shown a few flashbacks of his past and soon learn the difference between exterior and interior pain. There's a way to put pain in its place and this is how Bruce Wayne found out how.
"Deadshot" has come back to Gotham and has set his sights on Jim Gordon, but it looks like he has ulterior motives. Bruce Wayne also gives his views on guns.
Gotham Knight is superb. There's really no other way to describe it. I had my doubts about it, but I think those were blown away during the first few minutes of the film. The animation is fantastic. Everything moves crisply and smoothly. It just seems to flow. And let me just say that it's amazing to hear Kevin Conroy as the voice of Batman again. It's like a homecoming in so many ways.
The biggest question you may be asking yourself is how can all the stories actually flow together since they're all done by different artists. The truth is that other than the artistic style changing, you don't really notice anything. The voice cast stays the same throughout the entire film and while each individual story has its own story to tell, they're all connected in some way and flow together nicely.
Gotham Knight is a feature that shouldn't be missed by anybody. Whether you're an anime fan, a Batman fan, or you're just looking for something new to catch your eye, I'd recommend Gotham Knight to anyone and everyone. The animation is beautiful and has a real crisp flow to it while the stories are written incredibly well and will keep you interested. The voice cast is also something worth mentioning. Other than seeing Kevin Conroy come back as Batman, the rest of the cast does a great job as well. My one complaint is that it doesn't really bridge the gap between anything. However, it doesn't really seem to bridge the gap between anything and is just an excellent stand alone animated feature.

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Acclaimed screenwriters including David Goyer (Batman Begins), Josh Olson (A History of Violence) and Alan Burnett (Batman The Animated Series) join forces with revered animation filmmakers on six spellbinding chapters chronicling Batman’s transition from novice crimefighter to Dark Knight. These globe-spanning adventures pit Batman against the fearsome Scarecrow, the freakish Killer Croc and the unerring marksman Deadshot. Using an arsenal of high-tech gadgetry from Wayne Industries, Batman’s ethical boundaries exist only where he chooses to place them, leaving some fearful of his power. The sharp storytelling, complemented by stylish art from some of the world’s most visionary animators, masterfully depicts the blurred lines of Batman as man, myth and legend.

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Ruby-Spears Superman (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Premiering on CBS in 1988 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Superman, this Joseph Ruby and Kenneth Spears (Ruby-Spears) produced cartoon series marked the first time that elements of the Christopher Reeve Superman movies and the post-Crisis Superman were combined onscreen. Veteran comic book writer Marv Wolfman acted as the lead story editor for the series and helped transform Lex Luthor from the mad scientist featured in the Superfriends cartoons to the billionaire industrialist found in the 1986 John Byrne penned Man of Steel revamp. Each episode consisted of a lead 18-minute Superman story, followed by a 4-minute flashback story that was part of the 'Superman's Family Album' segment, which chronicled Superman's life from his adoption by the Kents to his first appearance in costume. With character designs by the legendary artist Gil Kane, this series featured some of the finest animation that Superman had seen in decades, despite having lasted for only one season. The tone of the stories were also slightly more mature than what had been previously seen of Superman on the Saturday morning landscape, save for the underrated Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians cartoon series. The title sequence for each episode started off with the music cue from the John Williams Superman theme and quickly transitioned into the series' original theme music by Ron Jones, accompanied by the familiar "faster than a speeding bullet" narration made famous by the Fleischer Superman cartoons and the George Reeves Adventures of Superman TV series. Here are the episodes on this set;
1. DESTROY THE DEFENDROIDS- Superman must stop Lex Luthor's super-police force, the Defendroids.
THE ADOPTION- Baby Kal-El causes trouble at the adoption agency until the Kents finally decide to adopt him.
2. FUGITIVE FROM SPACE- An alien cop is hunting an escaped fugitive and Superman is caught in the middle.
THE SUPERMARKET- Little Clark makes a trip to the supermarket into an adventure for Ma Kent.
3. BY THE SKIN OF THE DRAGON'S TEETH- Superman unwittingly aids Luthor find a treasure in China.
AT THE BABYSITTER'S- The babysitter has her hands full with young Clark's super powered mischievous behavior.
4. CYBRON STRIKES- Superman does battle with a seemingly unstoppable cyborg from the future.
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL- Clark tries to fit in at school while keeping his powers a secret.
5. THE BIG SCOOP- Lex Luthor learns that Clark is really Superman via a futuristic machine.
OVERNIGHT WITH THE SCOUTS- Clark's camping trip turns into a search for a legendary monster.
6. TRIPLE PLAY- The Prankster forces Superman to play in a rigged game of baseball for the lives of his friends.
THE CIRCUS- Clark no longer feels like an outsider when he accidentally joins a traveling circus.
7. THE HUNTER- Superman battles Phantom Zone villains including Zod and a shapeshifter called the Hunter.
LITTLE RUNAWAY- Clark runs away from home only to realize things were not that bad at home.
8. SUPERMAN & WONDER WOMAN VS. THE SORCERESS OF TIME- Our heroes must stop a threat to Paradise Island.
THE BIRTHDAY PARTY- Young Clark's birthday party is filled with surprises for Ma and Pa Kent.
9. BONECHILL- Superman battles a sorcerer with a magic talisman that can create monsters.
THE DRIVER'S LICENSE- Clark is nervous about passing his driving test with an instructor.
10. THE BEAST BENEATH THESE STREETS- Lois is kidnapped by a scientist turned monster.
FIRST DATE- Teenage Clark's first date with Lana Lang leads to several unforeseen problems.
11. WILDSHARK- Superman confronts an overzealous villain deep in the Bermuda Triangle.
TO PLAY OR NOT TO PLAY- Clark discovers that he cannot use his powers to play football.
12. NIGHT OF THE LIVING SHADOWS- Luthor develops a suit that can turn the wearer into a shadow.
GRADUATION- A series of catastrophes threatens to keep Clark from going to his highschool graduation.
13. THE LAST TIME I SAW EARTH- An alien seizes a space shuttle with Lois and Jimmy onboard.
IT'S SUPERMAN- Clark arrives in Metropolis and makes his first appearance as Superman.
The sole bonus feature for this set is the 'Corruption of the Corrupt: The Rise of Lexcorp' featurette, which examines Luthor's transition into the head of a greedy, corporate conglomerate. While the inclusion of series-specific extras would have been a welcome addition, most fans are probably just grateful to finally have this long overlooked series on DVD. With many of Superman's screen adaptations now available to own commercially, one can only hope that it is simply a matter of time before WB revisits the remaining Superboy seasons, as well. As for the exceptionally well-crafted Ruby-Spears series, it served as the perfect bridge between the kid-friendly cartoons of the 80s and the animated series phenomena of the 90s. Now, over two decades later, fans can once again enjoy these lesser-seen adventures in Superman's never ending battle!

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As a 50th anniversary gift, DC Comics legendary Man of Steel got a brand-new Saturday morning cartoon. Produced by Ruby-Spears, this new Superman series brought back a few familiar foes, along with new unfriendly faces, for weekly battles and a peek into the private life of the man with the S on his chest.
The final four minutes of each Superman episode were devoted to a brief snapshot from the Superman Family Album. These biographical segments showed the kids at home what it was like to grow up as the most powerful boy in Smallville. Unfortunately, super powers only made awkward childhood and adolescent situations even more awkward, as young Clark was forced to deal with his first day at school, an overnight scouting campout, getting a driver's license, his first date, and more.

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Wonder Woman (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Warner Bros. Premiere have been putting out DC Universe animated features revolving around the Detective Comics characters. First came Superman: Doomsday based on the record selling comic book story in which Superman is actually killed, second came Justice League: The New Frontier based on award winning graphic novel's about the earliest beginnings of the Justice League, then Batman: Gotham Knight was animated with strong anime influence and told several stories set between the two latest live action films (Batman Begins and The Dark Knight). Now we can finally experience the animated DC Universe depiction of Wonder Woman's origin.
The plot is about the amazon princess Diana, on the secluded Island Themyscira, first meeting Steve Trevor, a pilot who crash lands on the island of no men. After fighting in a tournament against fellow competing amazons for the right to escort Trevor back to 'man's world' Diana dons the Wonder Woman outfit for her first time and heads on her first outing. As she tries to understand the world of man Diana must deal with the threat of God Of War Ares, who has escaped from a centuries long imprisonment and is looking to start trouble.
Voice casting includes Keri Russell (Famous for Felicity, and more recently Waitress, August Rush and Bedtime Stories) as the young Wonder Woman. Nathan Fillion (co-starred with Russell in Waitress) as Steve Trevor. Alfred Molina (Doc Oc in Spider-man 2) as God Of War Ares, Virigina Madsen (Co-star of Jim Carrey in Number 23) as Diana's mother Queen Hippolyta and Rosario Dawson (Seven Pounds with Will Smith) as Dianna's rival amazon Artemis.
There are three versions released. The Blu-Ray, the Two-Disc Special Edition DVD (with Digital Copy) and the Single Edition DVD. Features included with the Two-Disc DVD and Blu-Ray will be:
Disc 1- Commentary by the creative team, also as is customary with these releases a first look at DC/Warner's next animated feature project 'Green Lantern'.
Disc 2- 2 Documentaries- Wonder Woman: A Subversive Dream, and Wonder Woman Daughter of Myth: Historical Amazon Lore and it's Evolution into the Modern Day Wonder Woman Character. Also as usual with these releases two episodes selected from the Justice League series are included as Bruce Timm's favorite picks: To Another Shore and Hawk And Dove.
The feature itself has a running time of 74 min. and is presented like the other features in widescreen format. These features are PG-13 and this one works hard to earn that rating. There are nods to adult situations (often occuring in brief passing or to provide humor) as well as alot of action scenes and killing but only a few specific uses of blood. This is not something recommended for children but is perfect for preteens and teenagers. Still parent's are capable of using their own discretion.
About the quality you can expect if you haven't seen the other recent features, DC/Warner have been delivering top notch animation on these features rivaling that of Disney's straight to DVD releases and I think this one has the best animation yet. The stories are always well written and stay true to source materials that the characters are taken from. Another thing these new features have done well is providing alot of well staged action scenes and still delivering fine moments of character development/exploration that I haven't seen since Batman The Animated Series.
This is the first solo animated feature for Wonder Woman and I feel it portrays her with the dignity DC's third biggest icon deserves and the same respect she was granted in the Justice League series, which to me is the most believably she has been depicted thus far (if only because of her lack of exposure in this medium to date). I hope there will be some sort of sequels developed for this film as it was such a good starting point for the character that it seems a shame to leave off here when she has really only just begun her role as Wonder Woman as the feature reaches it's end.
Overall the animation was spectacular, the best Warner Premiere has done yet. The story while suffering some pacing issues (to be expected in a 74 min. feature trying to tell such an epic story), was true to the character and is overall well done and enjoyable. The score was worthy of a summer blockbuster and perfectly matched the epic tone. The voice actor's were for the most part spot on and made me believe the character's and think of them as seperate entities from the actor's voicing them. There is even a fair amount of humor and a bit of a love story mixed into the plot that only adds to the viewer's enjoyment. As well the DVD has a fair amount of special features that I found enjoyable to watch. I definitely give it 5 stars on blue spandex, especially for anyone who is a fan of well depicted heroines or Wonder Woman herself. Thanks For Your Time.


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On the mystical island of Themyscira, a proud and fierce warrior race of Amazons have raised a daughter of untold beauty, grace and strength Princess Diana. When an Army fighter pilot, Steve Trevor, crash-lands on the island, the rebellious and headstrong Diana defies Amazonian law by accompanying Trevor back to civilization. Meanwhile, Ares (the god of War) has escaped his imprisonment at the hands of the Amazonians and has decided to exact his revenge - intending to start a world war that will not only last for centuries but will wipe out every living being on the planet, starting with the Amazons! It is up to Princess Diana to save her people and the world by using her gifts and becoming the ultimate Wonder Woman!

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Super Friends: Season One, Vol. One Review

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(More customer reviews)This is it! Superman! Wonder Woman! Aquaman! Batman & Robin! The very first Super Friends incarnation, with Wendy, Marvin & Wonderdog is finally coming to DVD!
Fans have been waiting years for this and now it's here! The show was comprised of 16 hour long episodes (about 45 minutes without commercials) and included some rare guest appearances such as Green Arrow & Plastic Man among others.
Warner Brothers is releasing the 1973 Season in Two 8 episode Volumes, which are both 2 discs each.
Episodes included with Volume 1:
Disc 1:
01) The Power Pirate
02) The Baffles Puzzle
03) Professor Goodfellow's G.E.E.C.
04) The Weather Maker
Disc 2:
05) Dr. Pelagian's War
06) The Shamon 'U'
07) Too Hot To Handle
08) The Androids
There will be a Super Friends interactive Trivia Challenge Quiz game included as bonus material.
Depending on how well it sells will have an affect on when Volume 2 is released.
This is great news for Super Friends fans every where! :-)


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Superman: The Complete Animated Series Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm going to be honest, I seemed to missed the big "DVDs-as-Frisbees" craze. Call me old fashioned, but my DVDs go from their case to the DVD Player and back to case, and that's the way I likes it. And I'm sure the "Real America" agrees with me. Double-sided DVDs are not any easier to scratch than a normal DVD, that's my experience.
But I guess if you are buying these for kids, the double-sided DVDs might be an issue. I've seen my niece scratch up The Little Mermaid with her carelessness. A competent adult can make double-sided DVDs last as long as normal DVDs. What are we supposed to do? Not buy our favorite programs because they were unfortunately released on double-sided DVDs? I gots to watch The Riches Season 2.Allow me to explain the contents of this DVD re-release. This is a partial re-packaging of the original release of Superman the Animated Series. Originally, they were released in three 3-Disks sets. What they did here is transplant the first disk from those DVD sets, then the second and third disks are made into a double sided disk. And you can tell because they still have "Volume 1, Disk 1," "Volume 2, Disk 1," etc. on them. So it's a single-sided disk, a double-sided disk, single, double, single, double, and the seventh "Bonus" Disk.
The 7th "Bonus" Disk is disappointing. It features a few trailers for DCs other animated movies, which is quickly becoming their "go-to" material for padding out bonus content, (And for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. WTH?) and a new Featurette "The Despot Darkseid: A Villain Worthy of Superman." It's mildly entertaining, but at around 15 minutes, it's hardly a deal breaker. I wish they had spotlighted Superman's current events in the comics, like they did for Green Lantern with The Blackest Night. Or a documentary on the Man of Steel's representation in other media.
I should warn about the packaging, though. It may not be the case for every version, but my case was gripping on to the DVDs like they were it's children. I guess it's to make sure they don't get knocked loose during shipping, but it can be very troublesome once you get them home. I was lucky enough to have a different 7 Disk set that I don't plan on watching too often, so I was able to switch them. Don't be afraid to get creative with your DVDs either.
Despite this, if you've never owned Superman: The Animated Series this is an okay collection. If you see this at your local retailer, don't be afraid to pick it up. If you're buying it from Amazon, you might want to consider different options. For instance, you can still get Superman - The Animated Series, Volumes 1-3 (DC Comics Classic Collection) for a reasonable price. (EDIT: Or you could get them for cheap, back when this review was first written.) So, shop smart, and don't listen to the clearly biased 1 Star reviews.

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The creative team behind the Emmy Award-winning "Batman: The Animated Series" chronicles the adventures of Superman, the legendary superhero, as he battles the forces of villainy and continues his quest for "truth, justice and the American way."

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Justice League: Season One (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have no gripes with Warner Bros. releasing this on Blu-ray, but I do have a problem with what they put on this disc (or, I should say, what they DIDN'T put on there). First, the picture itself does look fine and is fairly crisp and clean, but why in the world was it not presented in widescreen, the preference as stated in the very first commentary by the producers??? There's no excuse for that.
Second, there is only the standard Dolby Digital 5.1 which, for those who own the SD version, is an upgrade. The audio does sound pretty good, though it didn't have the impact I expected. There's plenty of dialogue that is clear, making use of the center channel while other speakers are used for the action sequences. Not overly impressive, but a decent effort.
Third, the studio was kind enough to port over all the features but added nothing else. Given the price difference between the two versions ($25 vs. $42), and the fact they didn't bother with a widescreen transfer, they could've added couple new features. How about one on making the Blu-ray release itself? Oh, and speaking of features, adding insult to injury, one of them actually showed a couple scenes from the season in widescreen (non-anamorphic since the feature was in full frame)...
As it stands, this is an OK Blu-ray release but not a must buy IMO. Comparing it with the SD (which I also own), the picture here does seem to be brighter and clean, but is the improvement worth the cost? I'm not so sure. The only (minor) plus side is the 26 episodes are now spread across 3 discs rather than 4 and all the featurettes are on one disc.
Note: I rated this 3/5, however it is closer to a 3.5/5, I just couldn't justify giving it a 4/5.

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Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl they have all used their unique powers to fight evil across the galaxy. These seven super heroes unite to become the Justice League. These 26 adventures feature battles with favorite villains like Lex Luthor, Vandal Savage and sorceress Morgan Le Fey. Acts of justice include saving Aquaman from a coup and clearing Green Lantern's name in a charge of genocide. From the smash hit TV series, these triumphant tales of teamwork will enthrall and inspire.

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The Zeta Project: Season 1 (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)This show is fun. Not very original, but fun. It is one of those great shows that are safe for kids, but parents can sit and watch with them.
The series follows Zeta (Nicknamed Zee), a robot trying to find his creator. He is helped by a girl named Ro, who teaches him about humans.
The main draw of the series is the interaction between the witty and sarcastic Ro, and the easily confused Zee. The action is also exciting.
As a fan of the DC animated universe, it is also cool to see the expanded world of Batman Beyond.
This is only the first half of the show, hopefully it will sell enough to warrant a second release. I highly recommend it to fans of cartoons, Batman Beyond, and parents who want a quality series for their kids that won't drive them nuts.

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ZETA PROJECT:COMPLETE FIRST SEASON - DVD Movie

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Plastic Man: The Complete Collection (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is not the Complete Plastic Man Collection, it's only the complete Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show. This is the series that had Plas teamed up with Hula-Hula, not Baby Plas. So calling this "The Complete Collection" is misleading. It's like when Shout! released "Captain N: The Game Master - The Complete Series" when they still had a third of the series to go. Many of the episodes even use the Plastic Man-Baby Plas Super Comedy Show opening. I found that annoying, since Baby Plas never appears in any of the episodes in this set. They should have used the original Comedy/Adventure Show opening for the appropriate episodes. Otherwise, why not just release an actual "Complete" set?
Having said all of that, this is a terrific show! The Comedy/Adventure Show was far superior to the versions with Baby Plas and Plastic Family. Our man Eel O'Brian is the perfect comedic superhero. Hula-Hula was a great sidekick, and Penny and the Chief were solid supporting characters/love interests. Every episode had Plas battling a different supervillain. Evil jerks like Dr. Dome, Dr. Dinosaur, The Weed, Half-Ape, and Ghostfinger were not classic DC villains, but they were great in this funny series.
This is not the weak cartoon other reviewers have made it out to be. This version of the show is more along the lines of a Scooby-Doo, with mysteries to solve and bad guys to beat. The Baby Plas stuff, I will agree, is fairly lame. But this series is GOOD. The combination of early 80s Ruby-Spears production and DC Comics can't be beat if you are into that sort of thing.
The animation is what you would expect, with the constant Superfriends-style transitions. The voice acting is standard for the era, which means it's awesome. Michael Bell, especially, does a fabulous job as the man of the hour, Patrick "Eel" O'Brian, AKA Plastic Man. He's great as the dashing, hilarious, likeable superhero.
I liked the simple packaging for this set, 4 single sided discs, nice sturdy clear plastic case, and retro art.
Plastic Man has always been one of "those" cartoons for me. One of those that I have been pining to add to my collection since I started collecting television on DVD. So there was never a question of buying this, the only concern is that the episodes would be really bad. But they're not, they rock. If you are into the late 70s/early 80s era of Saturday morning cartoons, (and why wouldn't you be) buy this so we can get an eventual Plastic Family set.

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Justice League: The Complete Series Review

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(More customer reviews)Justice League - The Complete Series is a 15-disc collection comprised of the following:
Justice League - Season One
Justice League - Season Two
Justice League Unlimited - Season One (Actually JLU S1 & S2) (aka JL S3 & S4)
Justice League Unlimited - Season Two (Actually JLU S3) (aka JL S5)The first 15 episodes of Justice League Season One were originally released separately on the single-disc volumes Secret Origins, Justice on Trial, Paradise Lost (all on June 1, 2004) and The Brave and the Bold (October 19, 2004). Also available on the 4-disc JL Season One set released on March 21, 2006 featuring all 26 episodes (multi-part arcs) in Full-Frame (1.33:1) video with following seasons to be in widescreen as originally animated; plus a host of special features.
The final 3 episodes of Justice League Season Two were originally released separately (before ever airing on TV) on the single-disc volume Starcrossed: The Movie (July 13, 2004) in Anamorphic Widescreen. Also available on the 4-disc JL Season Two set released on June 20, 2006 which oddly featured all 26 episodes (multi-part arcs) in non-Anamorphic Widescreen; plus special features.
6 episodes from the first half of Justice League Unlimted Season One were originally released separately on the single-disc volumes Saving the World (February 15, 2005) and "Joining Forces" (September 20, 2005). Also available on the 4-disc Anamorphic Widescreen JLU Season One set released on October 24, 2006 which (despite the "Season One" box title) actually contains both JLU Seasons One and Two (each 13 episodes) featuring extras covering only the first half of the 2 in 1 season set with the following season set to include the missing bonus material.
The final 13 episodes of Justice League Unlimited were only released on the 2-disc Anamorphic Widescreen JLU Season Two set released on March 20, 2007 featuring the extra sorely missed from the previous set, "Cadmus: Exposed" which resolved the discussion on the popular series story arc; plus other bonus material.
For the Complete Series release, Warner Home Video has lovingly repackaged from the separate season sets all 91 episodes and respective special features (in respective aspect ratios) on 15 single-sided DVDs (including a brand new bonus disc) all in an exclusive collectible box set that does justice to DCAU's League of Extraordinary Superheroes.
Special Features include:
New Bonus Disc Documentary "Unlimited Reserve: Exploring the Depths of the DC Universe".
Commentary on 8 episodes with Series Creators: "The Enemy Below Part 2", "Legends Part 2", "The Savage Time Part 2", "Twilight Part 2", "A Better World Part 2", "Starcrossed Part 3", "This Little Piggy", "The Return".
Featurettes: "Inside Justice League", "The Look of The League", "The Blueprint for Justice", "Justice League - The First Mission", "Voices of Justice", "Justice League: Declassified", "And Justice for all", "Themes of Justice", "Cadmus: Exposed", "Justice League Chronicles", Music-only audio track for the final episode "Destroyer".
Easter Egg: "Not too Savage", a Deleted Scene with an introduction by producer Bruce Timm.
Packaging:
Two large and sturdy digipaks - one for "Justice League" featuring Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman cover art identical to the outer case, and one for "Justice League Unlimited" featuring Red Tornado, Dr. Fate and Aquaman cover art - inside an outer case.
Bottom Line: Highly recommended, especially for fans who don't own any of the previous season set releases. To fans that already own the previous releases, just know that aside from the bonus disc documentary (and the convenience of complete series packaging) all of the disc content are the same as the previous releases before you decide.


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In this action-packed adventure series, the world's greatest superheroes, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Hawkgirl and Martian Manhunter, join forces as the Justice League to battle powerful villains, supernatural creatures and evil entities determined to take over the world and destroy the League.

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Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Vol. 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Three
(Released February 02, 2010 by Warner Home Video)
Another Looong DVD Review by Joe Torcivia
Batman the Brave and the Bold on DVD has become one of the easiest products to review. That's because little has changed over the three releases to date.
You can read my thoughts on the background and the specifics of Volume One and Volume Two elsewhere in "All My Reviews" at Amazon.
Briefly, the animated TV series is based upon the notable comic book series from DC Comics called The Brave and the Bold. It was best known for its team-up stories that paired Batman with virtually ALL the heroes and villains of the DC Comics Universe.
The voice cast of Diedrich Bader as Batman, Dee Bradley Baker, Will Friedle, Tom Kenny, James Arnold Taylor, Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett, John DiMaggio and others are first rate, and superbly walk the delicate balance of adventure and surprisingly good humor that the series has become known for.
A particularly endearing quirk of the series is that the TEASER of most episodes tells a short and completely different story than the main body of the program. This way, you get even more DC Heroes and Villains per show.
As is our custom in these reviews, we'll break it into CONS and PROS.
Pretty much the SAME CONS and PROS of the previous two sets. The CONS:
The Number of Episodes: Previous volumes offered only FOUR episodes, but this one offers FIVE! Probably for no other reason than, in original aired order, the set ends with a rare TWO-PARTER, and it would make no sense - even in sets produced as cheaply as these - to break up the final story of the set.
The Price: The MSRP is once again 14.98, but at least this is for FIVE episodes instead of FOUR. Diligent searchers, of course, can find it for less.
The Extra Features: Once again, there are NO extra features! A pity for a series with such a rich heritage!
Robo-Promos: "Robo-Promos" is my term for advertisements that play automatically before you even reach the initial menu. Volume Two inflicted FOUR of these upon the viewer before "getting on with the show", prompting me to add this new category to my CONS list. This was particularly annoying, given the small amount of actual program content that comprised the set, even though you can "zip" through them if you wish.
Warner, a studio that makes this too much of a standard practice, seems to have relented the onslaught a bit by limiting the "Robo-Promos" to TWO. The annoyance factor is also diminished because both promos are DC Comics-related. So, this is less of a CON than before... but still a CON. The PROS:
Characters and Settings: If there's one thing you can count on from Batman the Brave and the Bold, it is new animated interpretations of "Characters-And-Settings-of DC Comics Lore". Needless to say, we are not disappointed...
Featured Characters: Batman, Plastic Man, Elongated Man, Babyface, Aquaman, The Atom, Chemo, The Brain, Doctor Fate, Wotan, Green Lantern Hal Jordan, Green Lantern Guy Gardner, Green Lantern G'nort, Sinestro, Despero, Mogo the living planet Green Lantern, The Guardians of the Universe, The Cavalier, Jonah Hex, Bronze Tiger, The Top, The Red Hood, Owlman and the Injustice Syndicate, Green Arrow (Silver Age, no beard), Blue Beetle III (Jaime Reyes), Red Tornado, and The Joker.
Green Lantern Corps Cameos: Kilowog, Tomar-Re, C'hp, Saalak, Arisia, Katma Tui, Boodika, Arisia, the "Diamond Green Lantern", the "Robot Green Lantern", the "Big Head Green Lantern", Xax (the insect GL), and many other familiar faces and shapes from years of Green Lantern comics.
Villain Cameos: Black Manta, Gorilla Grodd, Gentleman Ghost, Dr. Polaris, and Clock King.
It's Not TV: Viewers can enjoy Batman the Brave and the Bold with no "Network Identifying Bugs" in the corner of the screen, no pop up ads for other shows, and credits that you can "freeze-frame" and read. Viewers can hear the "extended version" of the show's ending theme, which has probably NEVER played on TV because promos are always running over it! Indeed, one of the best reasons for collecting ANY contemporary TV show on DVD is that is has probably never been seen in this particular way ever before!
Image Quality: This is a new category for me, added mostly because I now have HD TV and a Blu-ray DVD player. Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Three is not offered as a Blu-ray release. However, the standard definition release is presented in wide-screen and, when upconverted by the Blu-ray player, the image is so rich and vividly colorful that it looks just as good as a Hi-Def broadcast of the show!
And, the ultimate "PRO" for Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Three...
The Episodes:
"Journey to the Center of the Bat!":
Teaser: Plastic Man and Elongated Man argue over which of the two heroes with redundant powers Batman would prefer to work with!
Main Story: The colossal sentient toxic compound "Chemo" walks across the ocean bent on destruction. In combat, Batman takes a direct shot of Chemo's poisons and, as Aquaman so delicately puts it "...is shipping some bilge!" The Atom is called in to help. He shrinks himself and Aquaman small enough to enter Batman's bloodstream in an effort to destroy the toxins from within.
John DiMaggio's heroically enthusiastic characterization of Aquaman is one of the highlights of the series, and the way he plays off the more businesslike Atom makes for great fun. Personally, I would have called this one "Bat-Tastic Journey"! "The Eyes of Despero!": Story by DC Comics writer J.M. De Matteis.
Teaser: Batman assists Doctor Fate battle Wotan at the Library of Infinity. The backgrounds for this short sequence are beautifully - and dizzyingly - designed in an M.C. Escher sort of way.
Main Story: Despero has conquered the Green Lantern Corps, save hot-headed Guy Gardner, dim-witted G'nort, and villain-to-be Sinestro who, for various reasons, were locked in cells at the time of the conflict. GL Hal Jordan's Power Ring enlists Batman to help. Bats frees the trio of imprisoned GL's and mounts an attack on Despero. Sinestro is still a member of the GL Corps at the time of this story, and not yet the full-fledged villain comics readers have know for decades. "Return of the Fearsome Fangs!":
Teaser: In the old west, Batman saves Jonah Hex from being "pulled apart" by four horses (one roped to each arm and leg) by a precursor to The Royal Flush Gang. This is a tribute of sorts to the famous comic book story "Ride, Bat-Hombre, Ride!" from BATMAN # 56 (December, 1949)
Main Story: The old Tibetan martial arts master, who was instrumental in young Bruce Wayne's training, is killed (!) by three former students who have turned to the dark side. The trio, who have assumed the guise of their "spirit animals" Fox, Shark, and Vulture - as Bruce assumed that of the Bat, are after an ancient totem that will transform them into powerful mystic manifestations of the creatures they represent.
In death, the master contacts Batman who, in turn, enlists the assistance of another former student, the man known as Bronze Tiger - who assumes the guise of a "tiger", natch! This is a story of well-staged battles and beautifully rendered backgrounds. The opening scene, where a near-infinite number of arrows arc across the moonlit sky and rain down upon the Master is breathtaking! I was never a big fan of "martial arts" stories in the BATMAN comics, but I like this one - a lot! "Deep Cover for Batman!":
Teaser: A break with "tradition" has this teaser function as the start of the episode! The heroic Red Hood of a parallel but opposite Earth, tries to escape from Owlman and his Injustice Syndicate to "our" Earth. There, he hopes to enlist the aid of its heroes. Red Hood is overpowered, and Owlman uses RH's "phase-oscillator" device to make the trip instead.
Main Story: In Part One of a rare two-part story, Owlman appears in the Batcave, Red Hood's intended destination. He is dispatched by Batman and thrown into a cell. Batman makes the return trip to the other Earth costumed as Owlman (his opposite) and infiltrates the Injustice Syndicate. There, he finds evil opposites of Green Arrow, Blue Beetle, Red Tornado and other familiar faces, and a host of imprisoned heroes-who-look-like-our-villains, including the Red Hood.
An eventual free-for-all ensues, which becomes so delightfully confusing that Batman stops short of taking a punch at this Earth's "good" Gorilla Grodd. The heroes prevail and the Red Hood is revealed as being a familiar face to Batman. (No Spoilers - but regular DC Comics readers will all know who!) Batman returns to his Earth, to another surprise - also not spoiled here.
This is a superb presentation of the parallel / infinite Earths concept that has been a cornerstone of DC Comics mythology for decades. The "overlapping Earths in sequence" image that punctuated the 1985 comic book epic CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS makes an appearance in this episode. Ironically, an ad for the upcoming DC / Warner direct-to-DVD production "Crisis on Two Worlds" appears on this disc as a Robo-Promo! "Game Over for Owlman!":
Teaser: Another break with "tradition" has this teaser function as recap of the previous episode.
Main Story: In order to defeat Olwman circumstances lead to an unthinkable alliance...Read more›

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Studio: Warner Home VideoRelease Date: 02/02/2010Run time: 110 minutesRating: Nr

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Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Vol. 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two
(Released November 10, 2009 by Warner Home Video)
Another Looong DVD Review by Joe Torcivia
Sometimes, these reviews just write themselves!
It's especially true when you've written a detailed review for "Volume One" of a series, and little or nothing changes in subsequent volumes. So it is for Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two.
You can read most of the background in my review of Volume One elsewhere at Amazon.
Once upon a time, in the long-ago and far-away "Silver Age of Comic Books" (roughly defined by the 1960s), there was a notable series from DC Comics called The Brave and the Bold. It ran from 1955 thru 1983, and introduced us to the Justice League of America, the Suicide Squad, and the Silver Age version of Hawkman among others. Starting with its 59th issue in 1965, it became the "Batman Team-Up" book, pairing Bats with Green Lantern - followed by virtually every known "guest star" in the DC Comics Universe.
And so follows this superb animated series, which teams Batman with both heroes and villains from every known corner of the DCU.
The tone is lighter than the contemporary comic books, its predecessor Batman the Animated Series (1992-1999), and the current crop of Batman feature films. In both style and content, it owes much to the imaginative comic books of the Silver Age.
As is our custom in these reviews, we'll break it into CONS and PROS.
The CONS:
The Set Itself: Just about every "CON" about Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two can be filed under this category. Let me count the ways...
The Number of Episodes: In a word... FOUR! JUST FOUR! REALLY? ONLY FOUR? YES, ONLY FOUR! Have I said "FOUR" enough to make the point?
The Price: For this set of FOUR episodes, that you can knock-off in little more than 90 minutes of sitting time, Warner's suggested list price is... (GASP!) 14.98! That's 3.75 per episode, folks! Fortunately, this MSRP mockery is only "suggested", and diligent searchers can find it for less.
The Extra Features: There are NO extra features! No commentaries. No DC and WB folks discussing the show and the comic book that inspired it. NOTHING!
Robo-Promos: This is a new item for my "CONS" list, but one that is making me increasingly annoyed. Pop in a DVD and you are assaulted by what I call "Robo-Promos"... those that play automatically before you even reach the initial menu.
Warner, more than other studios, seems to make this a standard practice. Yes, I know you can "zip" through them, but they're annoying all the same - all the more so when you consider that you've PAID Warner for the privilege of owning a digital copy of the program. There are FOUR of these Robo-Promos, totaling about 05:25. The PROS:
Content Notes: In previous reviews, I've complained about the total lack of CONTENT LISTINGS included as part of the packaging of a number of Warner Animation sets this year. Among those in my collection alone are Tom and Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection, Max Fleischer's Superman, Saturday Morning Cartoons 1960s Volume 1 AND Volume 2, and Ruby-Spears Superman. Notice how that list GROWS each time we visit this topic!
But, as with Volume One, I'm pleased to report that Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two lists its episode content on the outside back of the package. Of course, with only FOUR EPISODES, how much package space could it actually take! I shouldn't have to cite the inclusion of four episode titles incorporated into the set's packaging as a "PRO"... but let's give WHV its due.
Characters and Settings: If there's one thing you can count on from Batman the Brave and the Bold, it is new animated interpretations of "Characters-And-Settings-of DC Comics Lore". Needless to say, we are not disappointed...
In this (Ahem!) FOUR-episode set alone, there are so many characters to consider, that we'll break it into "Featured Characters" and "Cameos":
Featured Characters: Batman, Guy Gardner (Green Lantern), Kilowog, Green Arrow (Silver Age, no beard), Jason Blood and Etrigan the Demon, Kamandi "The Last Boy on Earth", Dr. Canus, Wildcat, Black Lightning, Metamorpho, Katana, Black Manta, B'wana Beast, Deadman, Gentleman Ghost, Speedy, Blue Beetle III (Jaime Reyes), Blue Beetle II (Ted Kord), Blue Beetle I (Dan Garrett), Doctor Polaris.
Cameos: Green Lanterns: Tomar-Re, C'hp, Saalak, Arisia, Katma Tui, Boodika, the "Diamond Green Lantern", the "Robot Green Lantern" Xax (the insect GL), and many other familiar faces and shapes from years of Green Lantern comics. Villains: Clock King, Kite-Man, Felix Faust, Mr. Zero, Punch and Jewlee, Mad-Hatter, Bookworm, Shame, King Tut, The Archer, Ma Barker, and Black Widow.
...Just imagine what a full-season set would have had! It's Not TV: For the first time, viewers can enjoy the (Ahem!) FOUR episodes that make up Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two with no "Network Identifying Bugs" in the corner of the screen, no pop up ads for other shows, and credits that you can "freeze-frame" and read. And viewers can hear the "extended version" of the show's ending theme, which has probably NEVER played on TV because promos are always running over it!
Indeed, one of the best reasons for collecting ANY contemporary TV show on DVD is that is has probably never been seen in this particular way ever before!
And, the ultimate "PRO" for Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two...
The Episodes:
"Day of the Dark Knight!": Story by DC Comics writer J.M. De Matteis.
Teaser: Guy Gardner taunts an alien prisoner and gets his! I was hoping for an animated recreation of one of the most famous comic-book moments of the `80s - "Batman takes Guy Gardner down with ONE PUNCH"! Didn't happen, but all those Green Lantern cameos make up for it.
Main Story: Batman and Green Arrow thwart a mass prison escape (hence the villain cameos), and are transported to 5th Century England by Merlin the Magician, who was posing as a prisoner and triggered the escape to attract the attention of Bats and GA. Our two heroes are thrust into the story of the "Sword in the Stone" vs. Morgaine LeFay, and with Jack Kirby's Etrigan the Demon thrown in for good measure. Top flight fantasy!"Enter the Outsiders!":
Teaser: B'wana Beast, a Silver Age character so bad even DC was ashamed of it, assists Batman in capturing Black Manta.
Main Story: Batman and Wildcat turn the "teen-age Outsiders" (!) away from a life of crime and urban terrorism. A rare stumble results in this being my least favorite of the series - at least of those seen so far. Wildcat is superbly characterized, as a hero of a bygone era (Comics' Golden Age: 1940s-early 1950s), but it's not enough to balance of the grossly mischaracterized Outsiders!
Black Lightning, Katana, and Metamorpho (who was properly characterized as the adult Rex Mason in JUSTICE LEAGUE) are misfit teens, who commit bad deeds in the service of The Slug - a grotesque mutant reading in Gotham's sewers.
This is just WRONG! I get the same crawly feeling as when seeing characters like Raven and Starfire depicted as "little girls" on the best-forgotten TEEN TITANS series of 2003.
"Dawn of the Dead Man!":
Teaser: In Jack Kirby's post-apocalyptic world of tomorrow, Kamandi helps Batman recover a "future-vaccine" to halt a present-day plague. This short bit has enough potential to have been a half-hour episode on its own.
Main Story: Begins with an eerie, semi-transparent Batman rising from his grave! "You're probably wondering who finally got me. The thing is, I'm NOT DEAD... not YET, at least!"
How do you not love a story that starts like THAT?!
An "astral projection" of Batman (who will soon suffocate, trapped in a buried coffin) teams up with Deadman, Green Arrow, and Speedy to foil Gentleman Ghost, who is raising an Army of the Dead to take his revenge on the city of London! This is perfect Silver/Bronze Age Batman, as he would have appeared in The Brave and the Bold comic book of the time! It's also my personal favorite episode of the set!
"Fall of the Blue Beetle!":
Teaser: Batman and Silver Age Blue Beetle Ted Kord break into a heavily fortified, top-secret installation - eluding guards and automated defenses - talking "shop" and comparing their respective gadgets and equipment all the way. Nicely sets up the main story.
Main Story: Novice hero Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) learns of the past history of the Blue Beetle line - and the fate of former Beetle Ted Kord, which involved Batman. Another excellent entry!
Overall: Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two succeeds in ways both expected and delightfully unexpected. It's not simply reflective of the lighter (but extremely imaginative) Silver Age DC comic books - but takes that tone and squarely hits every point in time of the DC Comics Universe.
Despite the severe and obvious flaws in it's "Three-P's" - Packaging, Presentation, and Pricing - Batman the Brave and the Bold: Volume Two is highly recommended to fans and enthusiasts of Batman, DC Comics and the Warner Animated Series based upon them, the Silver and Bronze Ages of Comics Books in general, and anyone who just wants to kick back and have a good time!


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BATMAN:BRAVE AND THE BOLD V2 - DVD Movie

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Batman: The Complete Seasons 1-5 Review

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(More customer reviews)This is not the 1960s, live-action Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward. This is an animated series from Warner Brothers "Kid's Collection".

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