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DVD Shopping Bag: Herculoids and Comic Con
Plus the Walking Dead, Doctor Who, and Torchwood By
Robert T. Trate
July 26, 2011
The Herculoids a Comic Con pick up
© Warner Archive/Robert Trate
Another Comic Con has come and gone. One of my favorite things to do at Comic Con is hear and see what people get excited for. Comic Con is a pretty diverse crowd of people; each with their own likes and dislikes. When many of them like the same thing, it can make it hard to get into a panel. Several times last week, I was shut out of seeing new footage. One would think that showing up two if not three panels early you would get a seat. It didn’t and this is something that Comic Con is going to have to reconsider. Many times last week, events that should have been held in Hall H (which seats 7,000 people) were in smaller screening rooms. The Walking Dead, Doctor Who, and Torchwood have a following that needs a bigger space. Don’t believe me? Search the message boards or talk to anyone that wanted to get into those panels.
My other favorite to-do at Comic Con is checking out the DVD releases. Sure most, if not all, can be bought on Amazon or the distributor’s site. At Comic Con, however, you don’t have to pay shipping and they usually have “Con” prices with crazy incentives. This week, the DVD Shopping Bag is packed with more than one featured title. It is a collection of San Diego Comic Con favorites, titles I picked up, and a look at Comic Con if you have never experienced it.
San Diego Comic Con Favorites:
1. Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series [Blu-ray]: Here is Russell T Davies complete series of the Doctor Who spin off; a spin off that has become a monster of a show in its own right. Upon looking at this beautiful hard case edition of the series, I was worried it didn’t come with Children of Earth. Fear not, it does. Sadly, the current Starz series will have to be collected in another edition down the road. If you are not a fan of the show and know not where to start, I suggest beginning with Doctor Who’s re-launch. It will not only introduce you to the character of Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman), but many of their villains as well.
2. Doctor Who: Series Six, Part One [Blu-ray]: Matt Smith’s second year (or series) as the Doctor is already shaping up to be a memorable one. If I have to sell this series to you then you are clearly on the wrong web site. Personally, I literally bumped into the Doctor and Amy in the gas lamp district. They were running down the street. I thought about following them, but knew full well that I had to run as far away as I could because what ever was chasing them was probably pretty close.
3. The Walking Dead Special Edition: Season One [Blu-ray]: Anchor Bay and AMC announced at Comic Con that a special edition (packed with tons of extras) will be released this fall. There will be a behind the scenes look for each episode and, more importantly, we will finally get the pilot episode in black and white. When, you say? October 4th!
Titles I picked up:
1. Herculoids: The Complete Series: I picked up this classic series by Hanna-Barbera that a dealer was selling. No, it was not a bootleg but an official release through the Warner Archive. In all my line waiting, I had the chance to catch up on a few. It was strange how little character development there actually was in the first few episodes of this Swiss Family Robinson in space. It was all survive-the-alien-invasion type stories. It was not until several episodes in that Dorno actually called Zandor father. I knew that was how their relationship was, but I was hoping for some sort of a origin story. Regardless, this property is ripe to be adapted into numerous mediums. The Jack Kirby iconic close ups were enough to want to see it on the big screen.
2. Damnation Alley [Blu-Ray]: Shout Factory always has a booth set up at Comic Con. This is a brilliant move on their part as they have a great library of films as well as the added bonus of bringing in actors from those films for autographs. I for one just missed getting my copy of Battle Beyond the Stars autographed, but I did see Joe Dante and picked up Jack Smight’s retro classic Damantion Alley.
The Con Experience:
1. Paul [Blu-ray]. Every year, I encounter people who have never heard of Comic Con or haven’t experienced it. It is very difficult to describe. Nerdvana and Geek Christmas are two of my favorite expressions. The movie Paul (released August 9) with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost has some great Comic Con moments. It is half as close as being hip deep in it, but is more than just one big giant Star Trek Convention.
Top 5 Picks of the Week:
ACTION / ADVENTURE / KUNG FU/ THRILLERS / WESTERNS
ANIME
CARTOONS
CLASSICS
COMEDY AND LOVE Mania Style
Criterion Collection
HORROR
Bio-Dead Starring Matthew Norton, Derek Long and Tony Williams
Dylan Dog Starring Brandon Routh, Taye Diggs, Sam Huntington and Anita Briem
Goblin Starring Gil Bellows, Tracy Spiridakos, Camille Sullivan
SCIENCE FICTION / FANTASY
Soldier [Blu-ray] Starring Kurt Russell, Jason Scott Lee, Gary Busey and Jared Thorne
Zokkomon Starring Anupam Kher and Akhil Mishra
TV LAND
Robert Trate writes two weekly columns for Mania the DVD Shopping Bag and the Toy Maniac. Robert also participates in a pod cast that reviews movies, comics and celebrates all things geek. Check it out at You’ve Got Geek on You.com. Follow Robert on Twitter for his for Geek ramblings and criticisms.
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Alright. Animal House and The Blue Brothers on Blu Ray. John Belushi rules.