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As you can see, there is little variance in the runtimes. I haven't actually watched every single episode again to make sure nothing is missing because I watched a screener copy of the episodes that Liberation sent to me a few months ago. I didn't feel the need (or desire!) to watch them all again. They were unedited then. Odds are they are unedited now. Of course, stranger things have happened. Let me know if you discover something missing. Video Everything is relative, right? The picture quality you get here is the best looking you'll have seen the show...depending on your point of view. Quite a few episodes seem to have the contrast set too high. Iceman often appears white (he's a light blue, if you didn't know) and his interior lines are washed out at times. Flesh tones (people's faces), can be washed out at times too. The transfers that have been airing on TOON DISNEY here in the US seem to be better done...but the DVD quality of these episodes makes them better overall. I find it disappointing...but certainly not a deal breaker. And don't get me wrong, SOME episodes look really good. I know Liberation had to make use of the copies that they were given. That may have limited them severely here. But try to avoid the Wolverine & the X-Men preview at the beginning; it's so stunningly clear that it's hard not to be disappointed when you see the picture quality of this 27 year old cartoon. Audio Sounds clear to me! Stunningly clear at times. I noticed a 5.1 option on the menu but haven't had a chance to play with it. After years of watching old VHS copies of the show, this was pleasantly surprising. Extras There is only a "restoration" video like the other Marvel/Liberation videos have had. Package This a pretty nice package for such an inexpensive release. The DVD case slips into a cardboard sleeve. There's a nice booklet with an episode guide. I love that Liberation used the exact logo for the show on the cover instead of using something else. Personally I think the artwork and the color scheme are misfires. It's a nice tip of the hat to the show that they used the green background of the show's title card on the back of the box...but that's one dingy, unappealing green! It just doesn't suit superheroes very well. And I think it is little to ask that the artist draw Firestar's hair, mask and aura correctly. Menus Nice work. I loved the web transitions and especially love the use of the background music on the sub-menu screens. Fantastic job. The Bad News - (Differences from the original airings)
Also, the show originally aired with a "cold open", meaning ACT ONE was shown, THEN the intro aired. I don't think I even informed Liberation of the fact. I feel that the large majority of people who watch TV shows on DVD skip the intro of a show, especially after the first few episodes. I would have found it annoying to sit through or pick the remote up to skip the intro at that point into the episode. Feel free to blame me if you'd like to have seen it that way. If you're asking where the Stan
Lee narrations are...there weren't any when this season originally aired.
Narrations were later added to the first season episodes when they were re-run
in the second season. The choice was made to keep the episodes original, and I
feel like it was the right one. Though, one day, I would like to see a release
that makes it an option to have the Stan Lee narrations in the first season. Summary |
