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DVD Reviews: October 2006 DC Comics Animated Releases
Reviewed by Craig Byrne
Want us to review a new TV-show related DVD at KryptonSite? E-mail us!

On Tuesday, October 24, Warner Home Video is releasing two more DC Comics-related animated DVD sets. The first features Superman (of course!) alongside such Smallville companions as the Flash and Green Arrow, in Justice League. Then, it's Batman of the Future with Batman Beyond. Read the reviews below!

Justice League Unlimited: The Complete First Season
Website: superheroesdvd.com
Click here to order a copy

One of the only bad things about moving to California a few years ago was that I was so scattered that I could never remember to tape things. Unfortunately, that meant that a lot of really good programming was missed. Thanks to DVD, of course, I can catch up.

When Justice League Unlimited premiered, I was impressed in ways that its predecessor, Justice League, couldn't have come close to. I've been collecting DC Comics for over 15 years now... and how cool was it that some of my favorite DC characters might show up? The first episode alone had Captain Atom, Supergirl, and Green Arrow. Another one of the few episodes I was able to see was entirely devoted to Booster Gold... and this was at a time before 52 made Booster Gold "cool." And then, another episode reunited Wonder Years brothers Jason Hervey and Fred Savage as Hawk and Dove. How cool is that? I loved it. But alas, I fell behind.

Now I'm watching these on DVD, and wow. It's quite cool. The first 26 episodes of Justice League Unlimited are on this set, and the first thing I'll have to say is it's much better in a half-hour form than the hour-long stuff from the previous show. Also, Warner Home Video wisely chose to do this release in widescreen for the full and very awesome viewing experience.

The DVD contains commentaries and other special features. One of the special features comprises of interviews with the show's creators who talk about the show's transition between Justice League and Unlimited.

This is a DVD I recommend to watch from start to finish. You never know which characters will show up, and I know in some cases (like when I'd see Terry McGinnis from Batman Beyond) I was very pleasantly surprised. I've only had time to watch a few episodes thus far, but so far, every one has been a treat.

Warner Home Video's attention to the fan pleas in releasing this in widescreen combined with the obvious love and effort by the show's creative team gives this one a 5 out of 5. Whether you're 10 years old or 30, I think there's something for everyone here.

Click here to order Justice League Unlimited Season 1 through Amazon.com and support this site!

Batman Beyond: The Complete Second Season
Website: superheroesdvd.com
Click here to order a copy

I really wish Batman Beyond was a part of official DC Comics continuity and canon. I love the Terry McGinnis character and I think the design and mythology are some of the best additions to Batman lore of the past fifteen years.

Terry is not Dick Grayson. He's not Tim Drake (though Return of the Joker will tell you all about his fate). And most importantly, he's not Bruce Wayne.

Batman Beyond reinvented Batman for a new generation in ways The Batman only wishes it could.

The second season DVD set of Terry's adventures features 26 episodes and further examines the world of a Batman from the future. And it has a grumpy, crothety old Bruce Wayne - how can you go wrong there? In Season Two, Terry also gets a confidante in a new friend named Max.

Smallville fans, look for guest voice work from Lex Luthor himself, Michael Rosenbaum, in his days before he took on the roles of Lex Luthor on TV and the Flash on Justice League. Michael McKean (Smallville's Perry White) also provides a voice in an episode.

The only bad part about this set? The episode "The Call," featuring a futuristic Justice League, doesn't arrive until Season Three! More to look forward to in the future, I guess.

The packaging for this set looks good and shiny, as does the disc art. The "Batman Beyond" logo is a bit hard to read on the spine, but such is the design of that logo. Warner Home Video put this one on single-sided discs, and for that I am grateful. I'm also glad they even bothered doing season sets for Batman Beyond, after we had to settle for 4-or-5-episode releases for a while there. (I should know: Batman Beyond: The Movie was one of my first-ever DVD purchases!)

I think folks who are wanting to give Batman Beyond a chance will be impressed. Newcomers might want to start with the first set, but once you're through with that, you'll probably want this second set too because it's a great deal. My verdict: 4 out of 5.

(And for anyone who e-mails to point out to me that Batman Beyond did appear in a recent Superman/Batman arc - so much of that story appeared "imaginary" that you'll never really know!)

Click here to order Batman Beyond Season 2 through Amazon.com and support this site!

Visit the official SuperheroesDVD.com site

Read some of our other DVD reviews! The Adventures of Superman: Season 2 The Adventures of Superman: Seasons 3 & 4 The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 1 The Dukes of Hazzard: Season 2 Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law: Volume 1 Space Ghost: Coast To Coast: Volume 3 Smallville: Season 1 Smallville: Season 2 Smallville: Season 3

Smallville: Season 4 Smallville: Season 5 Wonder Woman: Season 2 Wonder Woman: Season 3 Lois & Clark: Season 1 Lois & Clark: Season 2 Lois & Clark: Season 3 DC Comics Animated DVD Offerings - September 2006 Veronica Mars : Season 2