Superman: The Animated Series: Volume One is out and it?s a treat to watch. The box set of the first season of episodes is complete, packaged well, and contains enough extras to keep even the most hard-edged fan of the Man of Steel satisfied (though craving for more with Season Two?s debut, of course).
The core of the pack is the first 18 episodes of the 54 that are currently available. The first two chronicle the destruction of planet Krypton with all the resulting drama (if only Orange County could go away so spectacularly, leaving the rest of California behind, of course). Baby Kal El rockets away through a black hole or wormhole or cosmic disturbance, only to wind up in the arms of the Kents, a very cuddly couple of adoptive Earthling parents. No questions asked; out goes Kal El, in comes Clark (it was a simpler world then, and very rural).
This nifty 2-DVD package (the second is double-sided) features commentary on four episodes by the series creators, the same group that popped out Batman: The Animated Series to the boobulicious tube. The single episode, ?A Little Piece of Home,? also includes a Pop Up Video trivia track. Most of what you get here is about Sup?s origins and history, along with some wee bitties about the general scope of the animated series.
Then there are two featurettes about the series, though they?re with the same group that we heard from on the audio commentaries. Of course, since that included five artists and directors, who was left?? One featurette explores how the series was jump started. It demonstrates how the look of each character was massaged right up until final animation began. The other provides a behind-the-scenes look at supporting characters like Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen, although it doesn?t talk at all about villains. Whassup with that?!!
Naturally, the video format is full screen only. The artists and animators would have stampeded to the National Labor Relations Board if they?d been asked to go widescreen for the full screen price, but that?s probably more behind the scenes than we really need to see, isn?t it?
All in all, Superman: The Animated Series: Volume One is an eminently super (read super duper, in fact) DVD collection, one that will grace your library for as many years as Earth has chunks of kryptonite (apparently there?s that much!). Fly on out to the store for a copy, or Lex Luthor might just beat you to it, the creep!
