DVD Reviews: Birdman and the Galaxy Trio and Space Ghost and Dino Boy
Reviewed by Craig Byrne
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This week, Warner Home Video released two special sets featuring classic super-heroes created by the legendary Hanna-Barbera company. While not as popular today as characters created by Marvel or DC, these characters have endured and have proven popular in later series.

We've had the opportunity to review them, which you can read below.

Birdman and the Galaxy Trio: The Complete Series
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Of the two sets released this week, this one is my favorite. Part of it is because I LOVE Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. But even more impressive is the realization of how unintentionally FUNNY this show is.

When I was 15 or so, TNT would air the original Birdman in the mornings. I'd never heard of the show before but I really liked this character who looked like a cross between Wolverine, Hawkeye of the Avengers, and Hawkman. And he had solar powers!

But now... especially after seeing Harvey Birdman and the "re-invented" versions of characters like Spyro, X the Eliminator, and Peanut - err, Birdboy, it makes it all even better. I laughed when seeing some of these characters as competent villains or characters. But Phil Ken Sebben Falcon Seven and Birdman are as deadpan as ever. I love it. Any show where your lead character bellows his name loudly multiple times is worth it. BIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRDMAN!

It's sad that although Space Ghost has been treated seriously in a comic book miniseries, Birdman has yet to get the attention he deserves. Maybe soon?

Either way, this is my favorite of the Hanna Barbera Classic Collection sets thus far. If you love Harvey Birdman, and already have all the Harvey DVD's, this is your perfect chance.

The DVD set includes a bonus feature about Birdman including some interviews with one of the Harvey Birdman creators. In addition to 40 short Birdman episodes (about 8 minutes apiece), there are 20 adventures of the Galaxy Trio. ("Gigi" from Harvey Birdman shows up here). This quasi-Fantastic Four is cool, and again, it makes me wonder how they may have endured if they had successful comic book incarnations back in the day.

My only complaint here? Unfortunately, all of the episodes are put onto two 2-sided discs. It probably saves Warner some money, but I generally hate the two-sided thing. It's not enough to keep me from loving this and giving it a 9 out of 10.

Also keep in mind that a third volume of Harvey Birdman is on its way next week, and if you don't like that, well.. you just have no sense of humor. :)

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Space Ghost and Dino Boy: The Complete Series
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I have always felt like Space Ghost had one of the best character designs ever in comics. The design came from a master, Alex Toth. The color scheme and foreboding mask... it was cool. And then there were his sidekicks, Jan and Jace, who as a kid I would have sworn stole their costume designs from Jean Grey. They also had a space monkey, before anyone had even heard of "Gleek."

Despite the cool design and fun animation, this series doesn't have the same appeal to me as Birdman does. Maybe it's because I was never much of a Space Ghost: Coast to Coast fan; but this is one where it's more fun to look at the pictures rather than get engrossed in the story. I will admit I haven't watched many of the episodes yet, so maybe it's a matter of just watching more.

I still feel Warner Home Video did an excellent job in collecting this series for all to enjoy, and I think for a younger viewer, this series and DVD collection might hit the spot.

The less that is said about Dino Boy, the better. I'll leave it at that. The DVD, like Birdman, is two 2-sided discs. The episodes are oddly split up, and the second side of Disc Two is a documentary on the late artist Alex Toth. For a comic book fan, this Toth documentary is wonderful and a great look at one of the masters from those who worked with him and loved him. For a child, they might be bored, preferring instead to have more cartoons. Either way, I appreciated having one of comics' legends being given the attention he deserves. For this extra alone, and what seems to be good preservation of the material, I bump Space Ghost up to 5 out of 10. That means it's "not bad." But if you can afford only one, my money's on the man with the purple bird for a sidekick.

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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 3Smallville: Season 4 Smallville: Season 5

Wonder Woman: Season 2 Wonder Woman: Season 3 Lois & Clark: Season 1 Lois & Clark: Season 2 Lois & Clark: Season 3Lois & Clark: Season 4 Teen Titans: Trouble In Tokyo The New Adventures of Superman DC Comics Animated DVD Offerings - September 2006 DC Comics Animated DVD Offerings - October 2006 DC Comics Animated DVD Offerings - February 2007 Superman DVD Offerings - November 2006 The Ultimate Superman DVD Movie Collection Veronica Mars : Season 2