The Official Marvel Animation DVD Thread, Part 2

[Spider-Friends]

What a surprise! ANOTHER HEAD SHOT!!!
At least Disney has employed an actual artist for these though. This and the Doc Ock DVD appear to be drawn by the same person...and are drawn well, they could just be a little more exciting.

Regardless, those two are MUCH BETTER than the "Ultimate Villain Showdown" & "VS. Daredevil" DVD covers which have doctored versions of Spider-Man's head from the first Playstation game.

[Playstation game on the left; laziness on the right]

 

[Sketch]

The Venom Saga cover is awesome! Venom even looks like he did in the show rather than being based for off the comics.

 

[Spider-Man]

That's actually pretty nice cover art. Not only does it keep in vein with the regular cover art for these releases, but it just works. It's better than the bland art they'd use for the VHS Spider-Man releases.

Spider-Friends, I have a question on those two images you posted. Is the "doctored heads" cover art the reason Marvel got upset at Disney last year? I remember reading a report about something along those lines sometime last year.

 

[Stu]

Spider-Friends, I have a question on those two images you posted. Is the "doctored heads" cover art the reason Marvel got upset at Disney last year? I remember reading a report about something along those lines sometime last year.

I'm not Spider-Friends, but yeah, that was why they were sued. If you check the inlay (if you got one) of The Ultimate Villiain Showdown DVD, they have the image there too. I believe they also used it for promotional purposes without permission.

If you look at the inside cover of the Daredevil Vs Spider-Man DVD, it has the same shot of Spidey, complete with the Goblin reflection in his eyes.

Very lazy...

However, I for one think the Venom cover is absoloutly bad ass.

With Disney's track record of what episodes they put on these DVDs, what does everyone think the chances of the 2 part Carnage episode being put on the disc are?

 

[Spider-Friends]

Is the "doctored heads" cover art the reason Marvel got upset at Disney last year?

I read an article about it when the first Spider-Man movie came out. I got the idea that Disney was using the entire Playstation image for posters to promote the DVD. I really can't remember specifically but I don't think they would have used the 'doctored head' again on the Spider-Man vs. Daredevil if that is what the lawsuit was about.

There is some grand irony in the fact that a company that was founded on animation resorted to stealing art.

 

[Stu]

TVshowsOnDVD has a few images from a preview of the disc, from some Power Rangers DVD.

What's interesting, is that some of those clips are from The Hobgoblin 2 parter...

 

[Spider-Man]

What's interesting, is that some of those clips are from The Hobgoblin 2 parter...

Loks like we won't be getting "Venom Returns" or "Carnage," but the two-part "Hobgoblin" arc the directly follows the Venom storyline. Shame really but those are two great episodes and is some of the best material this series had to offer.

 

[Dogbert]

TVshowsOnDVD has a few images from a preview of the disc, from some Power Rangers DVD.

What's interesting, is that some of those clips are from The Hobgoblin 2 parter...

OK, so this DVD should include:

The Alien Costume, Part 1
The Alien Costume, Part 2
The Alien Costume, Part 3
The Hobgoblin, Part 1
The Hobgoblin, Part 2

If that is the case, I can logically predict what will be on the next DVD. Just ask yourself, what two episodes were skipped in these two new DVDs. Kraven The Hunter and Partners In Danger, Chapter 4: The Return Of Kraven. So, one of the next few DVDs should include a Kraven themed DVD. They could make it a hunter themed DVD by including Partners In Danger, Chapter 6: The Awakening & Partners In Danger, Chapter 7: The Vampire Queen. Alternatively, they could throw in some vampire episodes from Neogenic Nightmare. So if my wild random theory is correct, the next DVD (or one of the next few) will contain one of the following episode sets:

Kraven The Hunter
Neogenic Nightmare, Chapter 8: Duel Of The Hunters
Neogenic Nightmare, Chapter 9: Blade The Vampire Hunter
Neogenic Nightmare, Chapter 10: The Immortal Vampire
Partners In Danger, Chapter 4: The Return Of Kraven

OR

Kraven The Hunter
Partners In Danger, Chapter 4: The Return Of Kraven
Partners In Danger, Chapter 6: The Awakening
Partners In Danger, Chapter 7: The Vampire Queen
(???) Partners In Danger, Chapter 9: The Haunting Of Mary Jane Watson (???)

Of course, what they plan to do with Venom Returns & Carnage is still a mystery in my random theory.

Edit: They could add Sins Of The Father, Chapter 1: Doctor Strange to Venom Returns & Carnage to make a story arc centered around Morbo (sorry if I spelled that wrong).

 

[Wallopping W S]

Warning: Stay Away From This Buena Vista Release

Jun14'04

Hi-ho:

Greetings from Walloping Web Snappers!

I am new to this forum, but not new to Spider-man.

I will be 35 in Sep. and I grew up with this CLASSIC Spidey cartoon in the 70's.

Whenever we would go for a visit to my grand parents in south west NJ, I would watch this GREAT cartoon on a local Philadelphia chanel. As a result, I couldn't watch it regularly, but only a few times a year (that and Speed Racer!).

Yet, I was captivated. I still am.

Since then, in the early 90's, at the local $ Video, I came across a few videos with various episodes on them. These were poor quality, which seemed to me to be mostly because of many years of viewing. In understand that there have been cable TV revivals of this CLASSIC cartoon, but I've missed out on them.

Anyway, that was it until just recently.

I bought the Battle of The Planets Ultimate DVD Boxed Set and I have enjoyed watching it and sharing it with my 3 young children. I then decided to look around on the web for info on the original Spidey cartoon from my childhood. I discovered this forum (for which I am glad) and I learned that indeed there would be a release by Buena Vista of the CLASSICS Spidey.

To my dismay, I also came across several news articles with mention of this upcoming release by Buena Vista, all of which made it clear that the ORIGINAL cartoon would be "improved" upon. Improve by way of *cleaning up* and *remastering* the picture and sound - OK, but not so here with Buena Vista. It is clear that Buena Vista is doing a RENOVATION of the original cartoon. Here's a quote from one news source: "The episodes’ original English soundtrack, including the memorable title song, will be renovated and a new music & effects track added." See link here

What a crime. This is what happens when fans are not involved with the production. True, the above is an assumption on my part, but I cannot imagine an alternative reason. Look at the images on the box art and the individual discs themselves, would any fan of this GREAT and CLASSIC cartoon have come up with that cheese? Why, it isn't even an image of the Spider-man from the cartoon displayed on the box!

And what about the other 25 episodes as there are exactly 77 of them? Where are they?

No, I really think that this operation is being run by folks who do not understand the value of this classic cartoon. I assert that they are not fans and that they do not know any fans, any original fans of the show, that is. The entire fan-base for this original cartoon is still living - couldn't they have contacted a few of them? If they did, what kind of interaction did they have with them? What was their input like? What is their reaction like now? This product from Buena Vista is cheese-in-a-can. Hold it upside down and press against the nozzle and there you've got Buena Vista's "Spider-Man - The '67 Collection (6 Volume Animated Set)" Put it on a whole-wheat Ritz and try to choke it down!

". . . a new music & effects track added." This, here, is exactly the kind of thing that corporations like Buena Vista does and ALL of the fans hate the finished product. Some fans will pick through the wreckage because they are so glad to have something - anything, but not me. I'm sorry. How Mr. Lee and Marvel condone this project, I don't know.

I warn you, stay away from Buena Vista's rendition of our classic and beloved Spider-man.

Very sadly yours,

Walloping Web Snappers

 

[Stu]

That's not the case I assure you. These episodes have been airing here in the UK, and they are exactly the same, just better. The picture has been remastered, the sound is so much better, it's all the same, nothing has been changed.

 

[Spider-Friends]

"The episodes’ original English soundtrack, including the memorable title song, will be renovated and a new music & effects track added."
What a crime. This is what happens when fans are not involved with the production.

The "renovated" cartoon is now airing on Teletoon in the UK. (It is the same one that will be on the DVD collection.) I haven't heard any complains from anyone AND I have read conflicting reports that a new music & effects track was added. Can any of our UK viewers confirm what has been done to the show? (*Waits for jtalpur to answer*)

Look at the images on the box art and the individual discs themselves, would any fan of this GREAT and CLASSIC cartoon have come up with that cheese? Why, it isn't even an image of the Spider-man from the cartoon displayed on the box!

I feel your pain. The box does look "retro" but the least they could have done would be to take out the weblines in Spidey's shirt to make him have the same costume as the show.

And what about the other 25 episodes as there are exactly 77 of them? Where are they?

All of the episodes are included. There were 77 episodes BUT there were 52 half-hours. (Many episodes were only fifteen minutes.) So you ARE getting the entire series.

The entire fan-base for this original cartoon is still living - couldn't they have contacted a few of them? If they did, what kind of interaction did they have with them? What was their input like? What is their reaction like now? This product from Buena Vista is cheese-in-a-can.

You are correct. Buena Vista needs to have more interaction with the fans to see what they want. Heck all they really have to do is read web sites like this one!

 

[Jon T]

The "renovated" cartoon is now airing on Teletoon in the UK. (It is the same one that will be on the DVD collection.) I haven't heard any complains from anyone AND I have read conflicting reports that a new music & effects track was added. Can any of our UK viewers confirm what has been done to the show? (*Waits for jtalpur to answer*)

I'm here, I'm here! From what I've seen of the eps (which used to come on pretty early in the morning), I didn't notice any particular changes to the soundtrack. However, my TV isn't the best, so if there were any 5.1 sounds added for instance, I may not have noticed them. Sorry about that ambiguity!

Nevertheless, I did notice that the classic music tracks were unaltered, and that the episodes looked crystal clear (in stark comparison to the older prints that had innumerable scratches and other faults all the way through the film). All they did picture wise was strike new prints from the original negatives - the copies shown previously probably all date back to the original airings of the show. Knowing just how good the episodes look, I'll be picking this set up in a heartbeat.

 

[Spider-Man]

I have watched some of the reruns on Teletoon in Canada and it doesn't look like we got the restored versions. I would reall ylike to see what these versions look like. I won't be able to buy that '67 DVD set for quite awhile but I am really curious on how well they restored the episodes.

 

[Spider-Man]

Spider-Man VS Doc Ock has been reviewed:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/dvdreviewsnews.php?id=5167

 

[Stu]

www.play.com shipped mine early, I got it a full 6 days before release!

For those interested, I've reviewed the disc for mySpider-Man: The Animated Series site. The review can be found here

The talkback will be opened on Tuesday.

 

[Spider-Friends]

I got my copy today!

Well boys and girls, I got my copy today. Overall I think anybody who is a fan of this show should be quite satisfied.


1. PICTURE QUALITY: The picture quality is STUNNING! It feels bizarre to be watching this show in such good picture quality since I have never seen it look this good.

2. PACKAGING: Initially this was a disappointment to me. It could have been done a lot better. They did use artwork from the show though, so it COULD have been a lot worse. Inside the package is a cool shot of Peter looking at his radiated hand that looks very appropriate. I'll say it again: COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. For an example, look at the Spider-Man vs. Daredevil DVD.

3. MENUS: They are okay. They used some quick flashes of a very "paused" looking web for the menu intro that doesn't look so good, but the use of the music is pretty great. The menu itself has a nice retro look.

4. EXTRAS: I only had my lunch hour to look at this thing but I haven't found any yet. Didn't I read that Stan Lee and Mark Evanier recorded interviews for this thing?

ALL IN ALL: What more do you really need? All 52 episodes are here in excellent quality. I'll be happy enough if they do the same for Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

EVERYBODY PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BUY THE 67 COLLECTION!!! I WANT MORE MARVEL CARTOONS ON DVD!!! IF this sells well Buena Vista will want to put out more Marvel Cartoons! PLEASE!!!!

 

[dtemplar]

Buena Vista has released a trailer for the 6-DVD set, check it out.

www.video.com

I seem to agree with Spider-Friends, I would like to see Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends as well as the '82 Incredible Hulk on DVD.

 

[Spider-Friends]

Bad news.

I decided to watch the episode with Mary Jane in the third season ("The Big Brainwasher") since I had never seen it. The episode and a few others on the 5th disc are quite obviously NOT remastered. They are blurry and washed out looking like you would expect a show this age to look. Disappointing! There could be more on these later discs.

That also means we've got a little false adverstising going on since the back of the box says "All 52 fully remastered episodes."

 

[Jon T]

I decided to watch the episode with Mary Jane in the third season ("The Big Brainwasher") since I had never seen it. The episode and a few others on the 5th disc are quite obviously NOT remastered. They are blurry and washed out looking like you would expect a show this age to look. Disappointing!

Darn! Since I don't have all of them (and those particular episodes have very dark prints anyway) it was some of the later Bakshi episodes that I actually wanted to see! Maybe since the third season episodes were originally made for syndication, Disney were unable to locate those original prints. Is it only some season 3 episodes that haven't been remastered, or are some second season episodes similarly affected?

I'll be getting the set soon, so I'll eventually be able compare the DVD copies to my copies recorded from Fox Kids a few years ago.

Not having every episode remastered as advertised is disappointing, but it's still impressive to have the entire series in one boxset.

 

[Spider-Friends]

Is it only some season 3 episodes that haven't been remastered, or are some second season episodes similarly affected?

Not having every episode remastered as advertised is disappointing, but it's still impressive to have the entire series in one boxset.

I haven't had time to go through them all yet. The only second season ep that I have watched is the origin. The 5th disc had at least 4 episodes that didn't look so good. Honestly it is a WORLD of difference. I've watched every episode on the first disc and it is truly stunning how good they look. Even those episodes still have dust and film scratches in them...and I think they are intentionally left in.

If I get a chance in the next few days, I'll put up some screen shots.