SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 4 Hours, 33 Min.
Originally airing on The Cartoon Network in 2009-2010, this double-disc set released in 2011 features twelve 23-minute animated episodes. Notably, some of their pre-credits sequences setting up the two-part Starro invasion storyline leading off Season Two – Part Two’s set. The matted widescreen episodes (and guest heroes) are the following:
Disc 1:
1: Death Race to Oblivion!
Guest Heroes: Captain Marvel/Shazam; Plastic Man; Huntress; & Green Arrow.
2: Long Arm of the Law!
Guest Hero: Plastic Man.
3. Revenge of the Reach!
Guest Heroes: Challengers of the Unknown; Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes); & Green Arrow.
4. Aquaman’s Outrageous Adventure!
Guest Heroes: Aquaman; Mera; Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes); Green Arrow; & Enemy Ace.
5. The Golden Age of Justice!
Guest Heroes: Detective Chimp; Hourman (Rex Tyler); Black Canary I (Dinah Drake); Black Canary II (Dinah Lance); Flash (Jay Garrick); Hawkman; Dr. Mid-Nite (Charles McNider); & Wildcat (Ted Grant).
6. Sidekicks Assemble!
Guest Heroes: The original Teen Titans (Robin, Speedy, & Aqualad); Aquaman; & Green Arrow.
Disc 2:
7: Clash of the Metal Men!
Guest Heroes: Aquaman; Dr. Will Magnus, & The Metal Men.
8: A Bat Divided!
Guest Heroes: Booster Gold; & Firestorm (Jason Rusch/Ronnie Raymond).
9. The Super Batman of Planet X!
Guest Heroes: The Metal Men; and Green Arrow.
10. The Power of Shazam!
Guest Heroes: Captain Marvel/Shazam; and The Wizard/Shazam.
11. Chill of the Night!
Guest Heroes: Zatanna Zatara; Spectre, and The Phantom Stranger.
12. Gorillas in Our Midst!
Guest Heroes: Spectre; Detective Chimp; Vixen; & B’wana Beast.
Note: This set is now included in a Complete Season Two on Blu-ray.
REVIEW:
With a single exception, the scripting and animation style of these dozen episodes remains consistently entertaining in all respects. For fans of the stylish Brave and the Bold TV series, this set is certainly worthwhile. Including Aquaman’s LOL family sitcom, several notable adventures rate among the program’s top-tier episodes, i.e. The Golden Age of Justice!; Sidekicks Assemble!; The Power of Shazam!; and the set’s peculiar dark horse: Chill of the Night!
Here’s the caveat re: Chill of the Night! The unrelated Batman/Zatanna Zatara pre-credits teaser is wonderful; however, the main plot darkly explores Batman’s vendetta against his parents’ cold-blooded killer: Joe Chill. Deceptively utilizing the usual kid-friendly animation, the harsh subject matter ought to have been deemed off-limits for pre-middle school kids.
Though it makes the most sense to acquire the full-season Blu-ray, this half-season is still plenty good by itself.
BONUS FEATURES:
Available languages are English & Spanish, with these subtitles to choose from: English, French, & Spanish.
PACKAGING:
The discs are safely encased on separate pages. The set’s contents are accurately listed on the back outside cover.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
