The New Adventures of Superman - (DC Comics Classic Collection) (1966) Review

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(More customer reviews)"Superman! Rocketed to Earth as an infant when the distant planet Krypton exploded. And who disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for the Daily Planet fights a neverending battle for truth, justice and freedom with super powers far beyond those of ordinary mortals!"
That's how announcer Jackson Beck opened this classic show from 1966. The opening scene showing Superman smashing meteorites to the show's very '60s jazz main title theme still looks cool.
Following the '40s Fleischer Superman (made for theaters) and the '50s Adventures of Superman (first done as a movie then a TV series), Filmation's New Adventures of Superman (1966) was the first Superman done specifically for television. Paid a sum of $36,000 per completed half-hour by CBS (who struck a deal with DC Comics to create the show), Superman also was the then-little studio's first major TV deal.
The legacy of the more revered Fleischer Superman shorts was not lost on Filmation. "The Fleischers did, as far as I'm concerned, the definitive one. So much so that we actually managed to hire some of them to work for us," producer Lou Scheimer said.
In additon to comics faithful character designs, and effective yet limited [compared to today] animation, The New Adventures of Superman also featured the voices of Fleischer Superman's Bud Collyer and Joan Alexander (alternating with Julie Bennett) as the animated Superman/Clark Kent and Lois Lane.
As a result, the series was a breakout hit. So much so Filmation was given a bonus and a 2nd season where the show expanded to "The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure" adding heroes Green Lantern, Hawkman, the Flash, the Atom, Teen Titans, and Justice League to the lineup.
Due to the ongoing Siegel/DC/Time Warner battle for Superboy copyrights, the Superboy episodes originally sandwiched between the Superman episodes are not included in this set. Despite this, I still recommend the set solely on the strength of the thirty-six 6 min. Superman eps that are included.
The New Adventures of Superman is a 2-disc set featuring all 36 Superman episodes from the show's first season; Full Frame (1.33:1) video; Dolby Surround Stereo English audio; Closed Captioning; plus the following Special Feature: "Superman in '66" - Featurette explores how the '60s era influenced the character of Superman and led to his Filmation debut on this groundbreaking show.
Episodes:
1. The Force Phantom
2. Mermen Of Emor
3. The Prehistoric Pterodactyls
4. Merlin's Magic Marbles
5. The Threat of the Thrutans
6. The Wicked Warlock
7. The Chimp Who Made It Big
8. The Deadly Icebergs
9. Robot of Riga
10. The Invisible Raiders
11. Neolithic Nightmare
12. The Return of Brainiac
13. The Magnetic Monster
14. The Toys of Doom
15. The Iron Eater
16. The Ape Army of the Amazon
17. The Fire Phantom
18. The Deadly Dish
19. Insect Raiders
20. Return of Warlock
21. The Abominable Ice-Man
22. The Men from A.P.E.
23. The Tree Man of Arbora
24. The Image Maker
25. Superman's Double Trouble
26. The Deadly Super-Doll
27. Lava Men
28. Luthor Strikes Again
29. Mission to Planet Peril
30. The Pernicious Parasite
31. The Two Faces of Superman
32. The Imp-Practical Joker
33. Superman Meets Brainiac
34. Seeds of Disaster
35. The Malevolent Mummy
36. The Bird-Men From Lost Valley
Highly Recommended!

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These adventures were the first time that Superman (and his alter ego Clark Kent), Lois Lane and Perry White had been seen in animated form since they were immortalized in the iconic Superman short films of the 1940s. In addition, this series marked the animation debut of Jimmy Olsen and classic Superman villains like Lex Luthor and Brainiac. This animated Superman was forerunner show that lead to all the subsequent animated superhero programming.

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Justice League - Season Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)Justice League season 1 was good, but flawed. Characters lacked depth, dialogue was occasionally cliche, plot holes were everywhere, stories felt padded to fill the running time. With season 2, the creative staff went back and did some major tweaking. The end result is not only a much better season all around, but one that almost feels like a brand new series.
Where to begin? Superman is finally back to his super-powered self, and the season opener pits him against his long-time nemesis Darkseid in an epic-yet-personal space opera. Green Lantern begins to get more imaginative with his energy ring, and Wonder Woman is less a powerhouse barbie and more a rounded character. Continuity has a heavy role this season, with plot threads from both season 1 and the prematurely cancelled Superman series finding continuation here.
The stories themselves are an interesting yet strong mix. You have your standard action stories, but also some downright creepy moments (Only a Dream, Wild Card) and others that are just randomly bizzare (Hereafter). A holiday-themed episode lightens the mood just before everything hits the fan with the season finale "Starcrossed," which if you've bought the previous dvd already know what it means for a certain Justice Leaguer. Overall there's definitely some stories fans will prefer more than others, but there's really not a dud in the bunch. It helps that strong character moments really hold everything together and give the stories a more personal edge. That and the tons of unexpected cameos and nods to the source material.
Animation is much improved over season 1, and the distracting CG elements are better implemented. It helps that the season is animated in true widescreen, and if Warner Bros. keeps its promise, that's what we'll be seeing on this set. Beyond all that, this is really a show that appeals to both kids and adults. Cartoon Network had a great hands-off policy, and season 2 pulls no punches. Kids will love the action and costumed characters, adults will do double-takes at the implied deaths, veiled innuendo, and all-around maturity. Bravo.
Below is a list of the 26 episodes for those interested. If you have any interest in superhero-related material, you will not be disappointed with this set. By far the best of American animation.
Twilight (2 parts)
Tabula Rasa (2 parts)
Only a Dream (2 parts)
Maid of Honor (2 parts)
Hearts and Minds (2 parts)
A Better World (2 parts)
The Terror Beyond (2 parts)
Eclipsed (2 parts)
Secret Society (2 parts)
Hereafter (2 parts)
Comfort and Joy
Wild Card (2 parts)
Starcrossed (3 parts)

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Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter and Hawkgirl - they have all used their unique powers to fight evil across the galaxy. These 7 super heroes unite to become the Justice League. Dangers across the galaxy threaten Deep-rooted feelings of mistrust and insecurity surface and plauge the Justice League, causing internal strife and leaving them vulnerable to attacks from their enemies. But when one of their own commits the ultimate betrayal, it could be the end of the Justice League and Earth forever. Don't' miss one second of suspense or one iota of excitement with this 4-disc, 26 episode collection. DVD Features:Additional Scenes:Justice League Declassified Phil LaMarr (The Voice of Green Lantern) Takes You Behind the Scenes with the Show?s Creative Team. Audio Commentary:Audio Commentaries on 3 select episodes with the creators and directors of the series.Easter Eggs:Easter Egg ?Not to Savage?, A Never Seen Before Deleted Scene with an Introduction by Producer Bruce Timm

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Superman - The Animated Series, Volume One (DC Comics Classic Collection) (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)Knuckle up, and join the Man of Steel in his fight for truth, justice, and the American way in Superman: The Animated Series - Volume One! From the producers of Batman: The Animated Series, Superman featured fun, intelligent, and action-packed stories; a magnificent main title theme by Shirley Walker; and the phenomenal voice talents of Tim Daly, Dana Delany, Clancy Brown, Corey Burton, Malcolm McDowell, Lori Petty, Brad Garrett, Brion James, and many, many others. This 2-disc set contains the show's first 18 episodes (all 13 Season One episodes, plus the first 5 Season Two episodes) which includes the 3-part pilot "The Last Son of Krypton", and the Superman II homage "Blasts From the Past" Parts I & II. Another highlight is the Superman vs. The Flash charity race in the classic "Speed Demons", the first episode of the animated series to feature a guest-star superhero from DC Comics, and no doubt influenced the creation of the Justice League series. This collection features Full-Frame video, English Dolby Surround Stereo 2.0 audio, along with English, French and Spanish subtitles. Here are the contents of this super-set:
Disc 1:
The Last Son Of Krypton Part 1
The Last Son Of Krypton Part 2
The Last Son Of Krypton Part 3
Fun And Games
A Little Piece Of Home
Feeding Time
Disc 2:
The Way Of All Flesh
Stolen Memories
The Main Man Part 1
The Main Man Part 2
My Girl
Tools Of The Trade
Two's A Crowd
The Prometheon
Blasts From The Past Part 1
Blasts From The Past Part 2
Livewire
Speed Demons
Special Features:
Commentary: "The Last Son Of Krypton Part 1", "Stolen Memories", "The Main Man" and "Tools of the Trade" by Bruce Timm (Producer), Paul Dini (Producer), Alan Burnett (Producer), Dan Riba (Director), Curt Geda (Director), and Glen Murakami (Art Director)

Featurette: Superman: Learning to Fly: Explores the creation of Superman: The Animated Series, including interviews with talent, creators and DC Comics (10:00)

Featurette: Building the Mythology: Superman's Supporting Cast: Focuses on the supporting cast of Superman including Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, Perry White, and Jonathan and Martha Kent (10:00)

Bonus: A Little Piece of Trivia - Pop up trivia over the "A Little Piece of Home" episode (22:00)

Worth the wait, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Your spirits will soar with this 2-disc/18-episode set from the popular TV series! Portraying the man and hero as human while keeping the comic-book action at full speed, each animated adventure isa fast-paced spellbinder. Beginning with his arrival on Earth, Superman finds his place in his adopted home and accepts his role as its champion - facing mortal enemy Lex Luthor and countless other criminals like the Weather Wizard and the Toyman. High-flying excitement, boundless thrills and revealing Exclusive Extras collide in this superior collection about the dynamic hero that inspires us all to strive for truth and justice.

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The Batman - The Complete First Season (DC Comics Kids Collection) (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)This set collects the first 13 episodes of The Batman, the newest incarnation of the Dark Knight. Warner Home Video has finally wised up, ditched the meager single discs and given fans and collectors an affordable way to get this series on dvd.
But wait...are there any fans and collectors? The general bat-fan will tell you this show sucks, while the small but vocal die-hards will pump The Batman for all its worth. This is a very difficult show to rate. Not only does it feel like Batman as envisioned by corporate focus groups, but the general writing is way below par compared to the classic Batman: Animated series.
In my opinion, these problems are mostly confined to the first season. This is definitely the show at its worst, and the newer seasons have been much more kinetic and entertaining. It's painful here to watch Bruce eat nachos and cast opera aside for bubblegum pop. It's painful to watch him resort to an endless array of bat-gadgets to take down foes. But the show has occasional moments of brilliance. When Batman slips into a coma after being thrashed by Bane, there's a very poignant look at the night of his parents' murder. The villain designs, wacky and grotesque as they may be, are fiercely original and fun if you go in with the right expectations. And the season finale, written by Gargoyles creator Greg Weisman, brings the show to a near-BTAS level with a brand new interpretation of Clayface. It's really worth checking out.
Again, this is a difficult recommendation. Season 1 is mostly weak, and I can't blame anyone for shunning it. However, the second season onwards is definitely worth looking into. I at least give kudos to WB for giving us The Batman in a season set that has more appeal to adult collectors. For those on the fence, check out season 2 when/if it is eventually released, then go back and see if you'd like season 1 for completion purposes. In the meanwhile, rent for the Clayface finale.

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The Batman is an action-packed animated series that chronicles the life of Bruce Wayne and his alter-ego Batman who lands him in a variety of precarious situations. The newly anointed Caped Crusader of Gotham City confronts updated versions of familiar foes such as The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, Mr. Freeze and The Riddler. In this series, the Dark Knight takes his war on crime to the next level utilizing brand new Bat-gadgets and a 21st Century-styled Batmobile operated by his remote-controlled invention the "Batwave." The Batman currently airs on Cartoon Network and Kids WB.

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Batman: The Animated Series, Volume Two (DC Comics Classic Collection) (1992) Review

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(More customer reviews)Get ready for more dark justice as the Dark Knight prowls the streets and skies of Gotham City for the criminal element which infests it in Batman, the Animated Series: Volume Two. This 4-disc set features 28 episodes of animated bliss, which includes the first appearances of Ra's Al Ghul ("Tron's" David Warner), and his beautiful daughter Talia ("Supergirl's" Helen Slater) in "Off Balance"; and The Riddler ("Smallville's" John Glover) in "If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?" The set also includes the Emmy-winning "Robin's Reckoning" with corresponding commentary by Bruce Timm and Eric Radomski. As always, the voice talents never ceases to amaze. The brilliant thought and care put into the series' voice casting is a tradition that continued with the later DC Comics superhero shows, Teen Titans and Justice League Unlimited. Here are the contents of this set:
Disc 1:
Eternal Youth
Perchance To Dream
The Cape And Cowl Conspiracy
Robin's Reckoning Part One
Robin's Reckoning Part Two
The Laughing Fish
Night Of The Ninja

Disc 2:
Cat Scratch Fever
The Strange Secret Of Bruce Wayne
Heart Of Steel Part One
Heart Of Steel Part Two
If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?
Joker's Wild
Tyger, Tyger

Disc 3:
Moon Of The Wolf
Day Of The Samurai
Terror In The Sky
Almost Got 'im
Birds Of A Feather
What Is Reality?
I Am The Night

Disc 4:
Off Balance
The Man Who Killed Batman
Mudslide
Paging The Crime Doctor
Zatanna
The Mechanic
Harley & Ivy

Special Features:
Commentary: "Robin's Reckoning" by Bruce Timm (Producer) and Eric Radomski (Producer)
Commentary: "Heart of Steel" by Bruce Timm (Producer), Eric Radomski (Producer), Kevin Altieri (Director)

Commentary: "Almost Got 'im" by Bruce Timm (Producer), Eric Radomski (Producer), and Paul Dini (Producer)

Commentary: "Harley and Ivy" by Bruce Timm (Producer), Eric Radomski (Producer), and Boyd Kirkland (Producer)

Featurette: "Robin Rising": Detailing the evolution of Robin's character in the series (10:00)

Featurette: "Gotham's Guardians": About the supporting cast of The Batman Animated Series - Includes Commissioner Gordon, Alfred Pennyworth, Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman), Harvey Bullock, Rene Montoya. (10:00)
Featurette: "Voices of the Knight": About the voices behind the characters (10:00)
Well worth the wait, and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

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Fight crime day and night alongside the Dark Knight with this deluxe 4-disc set packed with 28 heroic adventures from the acclaimed series! Filled with gripping plots, multidimensional characters and superb voice talent, this Emmy-winning series has defined Batman for legions of fans. Enjoy amazing encounters with Catwoman, duels with the Penguin, contests with the Riddler and of course, battles of wit with the Joker - plus Exclusive Extras from the minds that conceived this cutting-edge version of the classic hero! Grab your cape and swing into action with this quintessential Batman compilation!

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The Greatest American Hero - Season One (1981) Review

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(More customer reviews)Although it's now fashionable to watch a superhero struggle with his or her abilities in movies and TV, it wasn't always the case. William Katt played Ralph Hinkley an ordinary guy who is left a gift from aliens from outer space-a suit that gives its wearer the ability to fly, super strength, invisibility and much more. Suddenly, he had all these super powers but lost the owner's manual to tell him how to use it correctly. Ralph ends up flying into walls and generally having as many mishaps as a superhero could possibly have. Befriended by FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp) Hinkley partners with him and decides to fight for good. These first eight episodes (including the two hour pilot ) made up the first season of the series. The two hour pilot soars with nice comedic touches by Katt, Connie Selleca and the perfect straight man in Culp. In fact, Culp plays it so seriously that it comes off almost as a parody of a government agent.
With an exceptionally good transfer, "The Greatest American Hero" looks almost as if it was invulnerable to the ravages of time. The transfers look very nice with solid blacks and color reproduction. Considering the show is twenty five years old, there are few of the flaws that one might expect. The image is occasionally soft but and has some minor analog imperfections (such as dust, dirt particularly during the effects shots) on the whole, Anchor Bay has done a meticulous job in transferring this series to DVD. The sound while limited by the technology of the time (it was broadcast in mono) has good presence with the dialogue very clear. Some minor background hiss crops up from time to time. Although the box says this is in stereo it sounds like mono to me.
We get a pilot for a spin off entitled "The Greatest American Heroine". While only one episode was shot, what we have is quite good and promising. Sadly, no network picked up the spin-off so, until recently, it has sat on the shelf. In the spin off Hinkley hands off the suit to a young woman and she takes up where he left off. We also get interviews with stars William Katt, Robert Culp, Connie Selleca and writer/producer/creator Stephen J. Cannell. Culp provides some interesting tidbits in his interview. For example, the reason Bill Maxwell comes across so intense and humorless is because Culp decided to play the role that way. He figured that there with others playing for laughs, presenting his character as serious would provide an anchor to reality and prevent the show from becoming too tongue-in-cheek. With over an hour of interviews, this portion of the set is extremely generous. No commentary tracks from anyone but, really, the interviews do make up for that. Hopefully in future sets we can have commentary tracks on key episodes by the actors and Cannell.

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Believe it or not, he's walking on air! William Katt is back as reluctant flying crime fighter Ralph Hinkley, who would know exactly how to use the red superpower suit given to him by aliens if he hadn't lost its instruction manual. In this season, Ralph pitches in the World Series, prevents World War III, suffers amnesia, joins the circus, battles bad bikers, voodoo vengeance, a fast-food mascot and much more, all with the help of his attorney girlfriend Pam Davidson (Connie Selleca) and FBI agent Bill Maxwell (Robert Culp). Who could it be? Believe it or not, he's THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO!This collection features all 22 Second Season episodes with such guest stars as Markie Post, Joe Mantegna, Barbara Hale, Keenan Wynn, Dixie Carter, Don Drysdale and more, plus all-new Extras that include revealing and fun career-retrospective interviews with creator Stephen J. Cannell and music composer Mike Post.

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X-Men Evolution - Season 1 Collection (UnXpected Changes / Xplosive Days / X Marks the Spot / Xposing the Truth) (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)This 4-DVD collection consists the following four DVDs: 1. UnXpected Changes, 2. Xplosive Days, 3. X Marks the Spot and 4. Xposing the Truth. All 13 episodes from the first season of the X-MEN: EVOLUTION anmiation series were included. Many of these episodes were done with the aim of establishing the foundation for the X-Men story. Of course, the origins of different mutants are altered slightly from the comics, yet they're acceptable changes needed to be done for a primarily kids-oriented show.

The first few episodes introduced the core of PROFESSOR X's X-Men team. While CYCLOPS, JEAN GREY, STORM and WOLVERINE were already members of the team, the early episodes brought in the likes of NIGHTCRAWLER, SHADOW CAT, ROGUE and SPYKE. Spyke was never a comic character, but coincidentally, he has the powers of the comic character MARROW. The bad guys, like TOAD, AVALANCHE, THE BLOB and QUICKSILVER were also quickly introduced, with MYSTIQUE and MAGNETO secretly forming the BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS to counter Xavier's team.
There're plenty of comic references in the show. The creators of X-Men: Evolution took time to explain the various technical jargons associated with the X-Men. For example, in the episode STRATEGY X, viewers were introduced to the DANGER ROOM and the CEREBRO. In GRIM REMINDER, Wolverine gets a blast from his WEAPON X past. In THE CAULDRON, Magneto's base, known to many as the ASTEROID M, was mentioned. Also, several mutants who do not regularly appear in the show also get their first taste of action, for example, FORGE and HAVOK.

The special features of these DVDs are also interesting. The producers have took pains to include EPISODE INTRODUCTIONS for every single episode found in the DVDs. That means 13 whopping interviews detailing the "whys" and "hows" of the shows. Also included are the trailer to the DVDs, and the following documentaries: 1. The Evolution of X-Men, 2. The Art of X-Men, 3. Tales of X-Men and 4. The X-Men Unmasked.

All in all, this 4-DVDs pack will be a nice addition for X-Men lovers. If you've been following the show in Season 2 and 3, you should already know that the plot will thicken in the later episodes. This 4-pack will allow you to start collecting all the episodes sequentially. Apart from great story-telling and awesome artwork on the animation, the special features on the DVDs also make this 4-pack a worthwhile purchase. A+

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This collection includes all 4 of the following titles X-Men Revolution titles: 1) UnXpected Changes: Volume 1 includes episodes 1-3. "Strategy X" - Cyclops has an "Accident" with his optical beams while trying to defend Toad at a school football game. "T

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Heroes - Season One (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)What if you discovered that you had a superpower -- great strength, flight, teleportation, or amazing healing? And what if you could use it to save the world?
Superheroes are everywhere in entertainment, from comic books to movies. But few manage to be as intelligent, geeky and well-written as "Heroes," a solid comic-book style TV series that explores the repercussions of several "ordinary" people who discover that they have strange -- and sometimes dangerous -- powers.
It opens with Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) reflecting on the human quest for knowledge -- even knowledge that we shouldn't have -- right before learning that his father has been killed, possibly murdered. Suresh's dad believed that "special" people were cropping up, much like in X-Men.
And we are introduced to the "heroes": stripper Niki (Ali Larter) harbors a secret dark side, cheerleader Claire (Hayden Panettiere) heals from any injury, Japanese Dilbert Hiro (Masi Oka) can bend time and space, Senatorial candidate Nathan (Adrian Pasdar) is able to fly, his brother Peter (Milo Ventimiglia) can copy others' powers, a cop Matt (Greg Grunberg) can read minds, and junkie artist Isaac (Santiago Cabrera) sees the future. There are plenty of others that show up, but these start the ball rolling.
While Claire and Hiro explore the potential of their new powers, Niki and her son try to elude some hired thugs --and end up overwhelmed by her dark side, and framed. And Suresh searches for the answer to his father's death, only to find that his genetics research is involved with the "special people," and that a superpowered serial killer is targeting them.
Even worse, Hiro takes a trip to New York (five weeks in the future), and sees the city destroyed by a massive blast -- as does Isaac, through his paintings. How to stop it? As a future Hiro tells them, "save the cheerleader, save the world." The Heroes begin slowly coming into contact, in a haze of dreams, visions, murder, swords and death -- and to stop the serial killer and save New York, more sacrifices may be made...
Unlike most shows about people with superpowers, "Heroes" isn't really about the action or flashy battles. It's half epic save-the-world-as-a-team story, and half exploration of how real, ordinary people would react if they suddenly found out that they had superpowers, and how this would change -- or NOT change -- their lives.
The storylines are incredibly intricate and complex, since there are a dozen subplots and a lot of time travel, and plenty of hints at future events. The careful painting of all these storylines even further in two episodes, one of which shows the pre-Heroic lies of the characters (and how Syler became a murderous terror), and another that shows what the future will be like if they don't change it. It's not a pretty picture.
These complex storylines are enhanced by lots of suspense and tightly directed action, and the makers always know how to throw in a shocking twist, such as a sword-carrying future Hiro showing up.. But there is also some poignancy, and very dark humor from time to time (Claire waking up in mid-autopsy, or twisting her broken neck around). Not to mention some great, sometimes geeky dialogue ("Where did you learn all this?" "X-men No. 143 when Kitty Pryde time travels!").
The actors are pretty much all good -- Larter gives a great double performance, Zachary Quinto is a wonderfully twisted villain, and Panettiere gives a good performance as a teen whose adolescence has a lot more than hormones in store. Masi Oka is the standout, though -- his Hiro is sweet, endearing, geeky, heroic, sad, kindly, funny and thoroughly lovable. The scene where he arrives in New York is adorable.
The "Heroes" are only starting their journey, and the first season of this geeky hit is a must-see for fans of intelligent sci-fi drama. And I doubt their journey is over...

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Discover the phenomenon that is sweeping audiences everywhere as Heroes: Season 1 comes to DVD! Experience the suspense, mystery, and electrifying twists as this astonishing series follows seemingly unconnected, ordinary people around the globe who discover they have extraordinary powers. As they come to terms with their unique abilities, their risky decisions will affect the futures of everyone around them …and the world. Join their epic journey in this seven-disc set packed with hours of fascinating and revealing bonus features, including the never-before-aired series premiere from show creator Tim Kring.

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Iron Man - The Complete Animated Series (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)don't waste your money on this bootleg there has finally been an official release which will be MAY 4TH. Wait for that release do not buy this, you'll waist your money like i did.

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Tony Stark, billionare, and technological genius, wages a war against his arch rival The Mandarin. In his secret identity as the armoured avenger Iron Man, Stark has a vast range of armour and weapons at his disposal, and is aided by his trusted teamates Force Works. Together, they prove more than worthy opponents for the Mandarin's own army of henchmen. 3 Disc Set

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Spectacular Spider-Man: Complete First Season (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)This 2-Disc DVD set will collect the complete first season of The Spectacular Spider-Man. Episodes will be in Widescreen Anamorphic Video with Dolby Digital 5.1 Sound. The first season is made up of the following 13 episodes:
Episode 1 - Aired: 3/8/2008
Survival of the Fittest
An elderly scientist named Adrian Toomes plans his revenge against Norman Osborn after accusing him of stealing his flying technology. Donning his own flying suit, Toomes takes to the skies to enact his revenge and it's up to Spider-Man to stop him. Peter is concerned that Aunt May is running out of money. He tries to make money for the two by making a deal with J. Jonas Jameson that if Peter can get pictures of Spider-Man in action, Jameson will pay Peter money.
Episode 2 - Aired: 3/8/2008
Interactions
An electrician named Max Dillon becomes the supervillain known as Electro after a freak accident and it's up to the Spectacular Spider-Man to stop his rampage. Meanwhile, Peter tries to tutor the popular Liz Allen.
Episode 3 - Aired: 3/15/2008
Natural Selection
Peter Parker and Spider-Man both must learn to own their choices when decisions made by Dr. Curt Connors transforms Pete's mentor into The Lizard.
Episode 4 - Aired: 3/22/2008
Market Forces
Peter Parker has to choose between helping Aunt May pay the bills or buying a camera to further his career. Meanwhile, Montana (the Big Man's Enforcer) becomes the stunning Shocker to fulfill his responsibility: eliminating the Spectacular Spider-Man.
Episode 5 - Aired: 3/29/2008
Competition
Peter Parker and Harry Osborn try out for the football team and become a little obsessed with going for the glory. Flint Marko, newly transformed into the Sandman, is out for glory too- at the expense of our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man!
Episode 6 - Aired: 4/12/2008
The Invisible Hand
Flint Marko's former partner, Alex O'Hirn, becomes the Rhino.
Episode 7 - Aired: 4/26/2008
Catalysts
Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson go to the Midtown High Fall Formal. Meanwhile, the Green Goblin tries to take down L. Thompson Lincoln.
Episode 8 - Aired: 5/3/2008
Reaction
Tired of constantly being pushed around by others, the timid Otto Octavius has his robotic arms permanently attached to his back and becomes the deadly Doctor Octopus.
Episode 9 - Aired: 5/10/2008
The Uncertainty Principle
Spider-Man is pitted against the Green Goblin and Tombstone, while Colonel John Jameson attempts to land a damaged space shuttle.
Episode 10 - Aired: 5/17/2008
Persona
The Chameleon is out to blacken Spider-Man's name. The master of disguise loots the city while borrowing Spidey's look, forcing Peter Parker to get help from Black Cat.
Episode 11 - Aired: 5/31/2008
Group Therapy
Six of Spidey's toughest enemies band together to get revenge, as the Sinister Six!
Episode 12 - Aired: 6/7/2008
Intervention
Spider-Man realizes the alien suit is ruining his life and tries to get rid of it. Unfortunately, it has grown too attached to Peter, and doesn't plan on leaving him.
Episode 13 - Aired: 6/14/2008
Nature vs. Nurture
With Aunt May out of the hospital, Thanksgiving coming and the alien suit gone, Peter's life is finally getting better. However, the Symbiote has survived and found a host within the vengeful Eddie Brock. Now Spider-Man must face this monster, named Venom, a creature that knows everything about him and will stop at nothing to get revenge.
Special Features said to be included in this set are so far two featurette's,
Spider-man: Reanimated
Stylizing Spidey
This is a very interesting and well done animated series take on Spider-man, my only personal issues with it were already mentioned by another reviewer who noted the mishandling of the character Eddie Brock. Previously he had been in competition with Peter Parker to get photo's of Spider-man which lead to his eventual hatred of the two when he continually failed. Here they try to make him a friend to Peter and rather than have them share the commonality of being young photographers they make him a lab assistant. In the end this first season works well overall though and should please any spidey fans.

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This adventure finds our hero tackling more Super Villains both old and new, including Chameleon, Venom and the Sinister Six: Electro, Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Sandman, Rhino and Shocker. While these criminals are almost more than Spidey can handle, his real struggle becomes an internal one. The stress is enough to drive a high school Super Hero over the edge, but making mistakes and learning lessons is all in a days work for the Spectacular Spider-Man!

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Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Season One, Part One Review

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(More customer reviews)My review will cover two parts. First let's talk about the show. When I first heard about it, I had my doubts. I grew up on the great "Batman: The Animated Series" and loved "The Batman," especially at the end. But when this came out I first thought they had ran out of ideas for Batman. I was wrong, it mixes action like from the last two shows and adds in humor in such a perfect amount for Batman that it comes off as enjoyable instead of cheesy.
Now as for the release. I agree with everyone else here, this should be the FULL season one. I hate when the studio release half a season of a show. Disney did it with "Gargoyles: Season Two," and Warner has done it with "The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest: Season One, both of which may never see the rest of their season on DVD. Warner has also done it with other shows like "Tiny Toons"and "Smurfs." Is it a cheep underhand move to try and force the consumer to fork over more money then they would for releasing these seasons whole? Sure is. Is it right? Nope, in fact it turns consumers off. But that fact is the way these studios think, if this set does not sell, good luck seeing much more of this show on DVD, even if it is Batman. "Gargoyles" and "Real Adventures of Johnny Quest" have shown that already.
Bottom line, despite how wrong it may be, if you love this show and want to see more of it on DVD, buy this release.

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RISE OF THE BLUE BEETLE,TERROR ON DINOSAUR ISLAND,EVIL UNDER THE SEA,INVASION OF THE SECRET SANTAS,DAY OF THE DARK KNIGHT,ENTER THE OUTSIDERS,DAWN OF THE DEAD MAN,FALL OF THE BLUE BEETLE, JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE BAT,EYES OF DESPERO,RETURN OF THE FEARSOME FANGS,DEEP COVER FOR BATMAN,GAME OVER FOR OWLMAN

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X-Men Evolution - Season 2, Volume 3: Enemies Unveiled (2000) Review

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(More customer reviews)This DVD features the Season Two episodes:
Joyride - When Lance (Avalanche) decides to join the X-men, he finds it hard to fit in and to make matters worse, he gets the blame for trashing the "X-cars". When the real culprets: Iceman, Jubilee, and Cannonball decide to take the X-Jet out for a "spin", Lance and Kitty (Shadowcat) stow away to stop them, but, when the controls are damaged and they're being followed, can they get out alive?
Walk on the Wild Side - When Amara (Magma) and Jean feel like the boys think they're better than the girls, Tabitha (Boom Boom) gets Kitty (Shadowcat) and Rogue to join them in a girls' crime fighting group, the Bayville Sirens! When they go looking for trouble, they find it, and are followed by a couple of friendly faces, and one not so.
Operation: Rebirth - When Magneto steals the remnants of the top secret "Rebirth" project, which Wolverine helped shut down way back in World War II, Logan has no choice but to try and stop him when S.H.I.E.L.D. and its top agent, Nick Fury, alert him to Magneto's plan.
Guest Stars: Nick Fury and Captain America.
Mindbender - After visiting the circus, Jean starts acting strangely and disappears. The X-men find out that she's being controlled by a mysterious man named Mesmero, and collecting artifacts for him, but when Jean isn't enough, Mesmero decides that the only way to get the rest of what he needs is to control more of the X-men!
Guest Stars: Mesmero
All great, the last episode has the first reference in the series to Apocalypse, the villain featured in the series finale, so, in a way, this DVD is the beginning of the end for the X-men.

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With old friends, new foes and an emerging generation of teenage mutants massing awesome powers, both the X-Men and The Brotherhood recruit some new faces. Even Avalanche gives the X-Men team a try! And Wolverine's secret past brings another key superhero to the X-Men legacy: Captain America! It's the ultimate hook-up of good guys as they rally to battle against Magneto and his quest for mutant domination! This Volume 7 release in the overall franchise is the 3rd of four episodic releases from Season 2 of the animated TV series.Running Time: 85 min.

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Wolverine and the X-Men: The Complete Series Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the BEST X-Men animated show EVER. I wish this show would've been on network television, because I think it'd have reached a more broad audience. Even though the show premiered with over 4 million viewers in the US alone, behind the scenes the show got into some financial problems, and this show has been prematurely cancelled after its first and only season. The season finale promised a second season full of Age of Apocalypse, one of the most popular X-Men storylines ever. If you're like me, and you love this show, let's get this show back! Family Guy was brought back due to high ratings on Adult Swim, and DVD sales. Why not do the same thing with Wolverine and the X-Men. Please purchase this copy, and help get this show back on the air where it belongs!
[...]

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Wolverine and the X-Men 3-disc set features all 26 episodes of the hit TV series. After a mysterious explosion at the Xavier mansion, and the resulting disappearances of Professor Xavier and Jean Grey, the distraught X-Men disband. But soon Wolverine, Storm, Beast and the others must join together again to not only battle the increasingly powerful Mutant Response Division, but also to prevent a catastrophic future that Xavier has warned Wolverine must never come to pass. With help from their allies, the heroic X-Men wage war against formidable foes as the present and future collide. But who will win? Discover for yourself as this extraordinary series is presented together in one complete collection like never before.

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Spectacular Spider-Man, Vol. 4 Review

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(More customer reviews)My four year old granddaughter Grace loves Spider-Man so I rented this DVD for her. She was mad when she came to my house and I didn't have it so I bought it. Now she watches it everytime she visits. I find myself watching it with her. The characters are nicely portrayed with pleasant voices and even though there is some violence it is not dark and menacing. This DVD has only four episodes of the first season so I have ordered the DVD with the whole first season. I will definitely get the 2nd season when it comes out, hopefully on one DVD!

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Witness the original web-slinger's mythology from the beginning! Peter Parker is a not so typical high school junior, fresh off an exciting summer engaging common criminals with his new found powers. But now he must conceal his secret identity as "Spider-Man", while engaging a new level of terror: the multi-leveled pressures of teenage life at home/school with combating bigger, badder super villains in the real world!

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Spider-Man - The Venom Saga (Animated Series) (1994) Review

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(More customer reviews)After buying the Doc Ock installment of Fox's Spider-Man cartoon on DVD, I noticed it contained a promo for "The Venom Saga" coming in Winter 2004. I had been looking forward to it as the three-part "Alien Costume" story arc was what got me interested in the show (and Spider-Man in general) back when I was a lad in 1994. But, Winter 2004 came and went leaving no Venom in its wake. I had completely forgotten about it until just yesterday when I saw it on the impulse-buy shelf at the checkout counter at my local supermarket. I have no idea what caused the delay; at first I wondered if the distributor wanted to hold the release until the next movie (see my review of the Essential Spectacular Spider-Man for a similar gripe). Regardless, the Venom Saga is here now and it includes probably the best episodes of the series currently on DVD.
The "Alien Costume" series features some of the finest supervillains and super-anxieties that you're likely to see Spider-Man face, in this cartoon or any other media. In it, Spidey rescues J.J. Jameson's astronaut son from a downed space shuttle, hoping to receive some real accolades from his alter ego's boss for a change. However, due to some serious yellow journalism from Parker's rival photog, Eddie Brock, Spidey is framed for stealing the highly fissionable alien material Prometheum X from the shuttle and ol' sourpuss puts out a million dollar pricetag on him instead. The Prometheum is actually in the big, meaty hands of the Kingpin who, along with his science advisor Alistair Smythe and his two costumed gunnies, Rhino and the Shocker, is hoping to sell the extraterrestrial WMD to some ski-mask wearing terrorists (seriously). Meanwhile, Peter has unknowingly gained something else than grief from his latest mission: an amorphous alien symbiont that chooses Peter as its new host. Assuming the shape of a svelte black and white "costume", the creature greatly augments Spider-Man's powers, giving him increased strength and speed, natural organic webbing, and the ability to look like Aerosmith lead guitarist Joe Perry whenever he wants. Before too long, Spidey is swatting bounty hunters aside left and right and bearing down on the Kingpin's little racket with the greatest of ease, although a gradual shift in his personality towards ruthlessness, nay, murderousness starts to occur. Realizing that the symbiont will eventually turn him into a bloodthirsty monster, Peter manages to shake it off for good, although it goes on to find Eddie Brock and that's were this disc's title character enters the picture. Venom is like Spider-Man's spurned friend turned mortal enemy. He has all of Spidey's powers and knows his true identity, and he can even slide under his previously infallable spider sense. How will Spider-Man be able to halt this new deadly (and evenly-matched) menace before Venom spills the beans to Mary Jane and Aunt May? You know he will, of course, but how?
It would be two more seasons before Venom showed his Gene Simmons-esque tongue again in the "Venom and Carnage" two-parter, and "The Venom Saga" has that covered as well. In this one, Spidey recruits Iron Man and War Machine to combat the two symbionts on the loose. That's right. During its time apart from Eddie, the Venom symbiont asexually spawned a "son" which later bonded with grade-A looney tune Cletus Kasady to create the razor-handed blood-red terror known as Carnage. Venom and Carnage's jailbreaks are spearheaded by Dr. Strange's nemesis Baron Mordo who needs the symbionts' help in bringing his hot-headed master Dormammu into our dimension. However, when Mordo prepares to sacrifice the soul of Brock's psychiatrist/girlfriend Dr. Ashley Kafka in the process, Venom becomes convinced to try playing the hero for a change. It's all quite a lot of conflict and characters to fit into two Saturday morning cartoons, and I'd say it works very well.
It's a good buy overall, however I have to say that all of these selected-episode discs are really starting to make me wish for the release of complete seasons on DVD. The stories on this disc would have been more fleshed out if I could have seen the episodes about Baron Mordo's original scheme and the pre-Venom Eddie Brock sooner than nine years ago. Marvel's "Distinguished Competition" is already doing that with Batman, Superman, and the Super Friends. Fortunately, I understand that the complete series of the Fantastic Four cartoon from the 90's is coming soon. Maybe we'll see a season set for Spider-Man once the next movie comes out (Am I starting to sound bitter from saying that so often?).

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The Spider-Man(TM) legend continues with an epic battle against one of Spidey's greatest foes. When an alien element falls into the wrong hands, a lethal new criminal is unleashed. Experience all the high-flying animated action and spine-tingling excitement of this spectacular clash in SPIDER-MAN: THE VENOM(TM) SAGA. After rescuing the pilot of a space shuttle carrying two strange meteors, Spider-Man notices a black stain on his costume and a disturbing change in his behavior. Soon, the evil stain consumes his entire costume, and America's favorite Super Hero(TM) awakens to find himself on the run from both the authorities and his arch-enemies. Will Venom(TM) be the one to finally ground the Webslinger, or will Spider-Man be able to defeat this powerful new force?

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He-Man and the Masters of the Universe - Season One, Vol. 1 (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)Season 1 - Volume 1: He-man & the Masters of the Universe! The classic 80s cartoon FINALLY arrives with all its memorable characters, stories & fantasy, digitally remastered with extras! This fall - mark the date! October 18th! Part 1 of 2, Season 1, this set is chock-a-block with amazing extras. The hit cartoon adventure series brought to life the adventures of Prince Adam & his alter-ego, the mighty He-Man battling the evil Skeletor to protect the secrets of Castle Grayskull. Son of King Randor and Queen Marlena of Eternia, his faithful sidekick was the cowardly green & orange pet tiger, Cringer. "By the power of Grayskull!" Adam's cry in times of danger, together with his magical 'Sword Of Power' transformed them into the mighty He-Man and the ferocious tiger, Battle Cat. Aided by Man-At-Arms, Duncan (the slightly older scientist and Adam's mentor), his adopted daughter Teela (Captain of the Guards and Prince Adam's aide), the quirky & comic Orko (the little floating magician) & Ram Man (kind hearted, but slow "human battering ram") with his winged ally Stratos, the team faced the forces of evil. The Sorceress of Castle Grayskull entrusted Prince Adam with the Sword of Power to defend the magnificent kingdom of Eternia and Grayskull - said to hold the powers to rule the entire universe.
Heading the forces of darkness was Skeletor, the evil hooded skull face, residing on the dark side of the planet in his powerful fortress, Snake Mountain. While the savage, dim-witted Beast Man, who possessed telepathic control over many animals was his right hand; it was Evil-Lyn, the incredibly shrewd witch who played on Skeletor's troop for sheer convenience, only to assume power for herself at the right moment. The cyborg-like Trap Jaw, aquatic warlord Mer-Man, and the three-eyed, pan-visioned Tri-Klops completed Skeletors army.
The show ran for two seasons, of 65 episodes each - hence the DVD release of each season has been split into 2 Volumes each, over the next 2 years. Initially, many of the stories put our heroes against Skeletor, revolving around Castle Grayskull. As the series grew the adventures took them to many different locations and foes, often putting characters on both sides of the battle. Sometimes criticized for being too dark & violent for its time, this claim seems a little redundant in today's age of children's graphic animation. Particularly note-worthy is that each episode ended with one or two of the characters presenting a moral from that episode's tale - the consequences of thoughts & actions, which makes the series particularly relevant given the times we live in. For fans of the show - its a great chance to relive those golden moments of childhood, & hopefully it will open the door to a whole new generation of fans, adults & kids. Get ready to feel the power of Grayskull!
DVD contents:
-33 digitally remastered episodes
-6 DVD box set
-2 NEW documentary features
-2 collectible art cards (this is an ongoing set starting with the Best Of release)
-More special features like Character Bios, Story Boards, Scripts, etc.
Complete 33 episode listing:
01 - "The Cosmic Comet"
02 - "The Shaping Staff"
03 - "Disappearing Act"
04 - "Diamond Ray of Disappearance"
05 - "She-Demon of Phantos"
06 - "Teela's Quest"
07 - "The Curse of the Spellstone"
08 - "The Time Corridor"
09 - "The Dragon Invasion"
10 - "A Friend in Need"
11 - "Masks of Power"
12 - "Evil-Lyn's Plot"
13 - "Like Father, Like Daughter"
14 - "Colossor Awakes"
15 - "A Beastly Sideshow"
16 - "Reign of the Monster"
17 - "Daimar the Demon"
18 - "Creatures From The Tar Swamp"
19 - "Quest for He-man"
20 - "Dawn of Dragoon"
21 - "The Royal Cousin"
22 - "Song of Celice"
23 - "The Return of Orko's Uncle"
24 - "Wizard of Stone Mountain"
25 - "Evilseed"
26 - "Ordeal in the Darklands"
27 - "Orko's Favorite Uncle"
28 - "The Defection"
29 - "Prince Adam No More"
30 - "The Taking of Grayskull"
31 - "A Tale of Two Cities"
32 - "Search for the VHO"
33- "The Starchild"

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Excitement and adventure a wait those who enter the magical land of Eternia!Join He-Man and the Masters of the Universe as they battle against Skeletor and his crew of dastardly villains in the greatest adventures ever told!These first 33 episodes are only the beginning of the most phenomenal stories ever created in animation!Relive the excitement as you enjoy the adventures of the universe s greatest warriors.The power has returned!System Requirements: Running Time 710 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre:CHILDREN/FAMILY Rating:NR UPC:787364649495

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X-Men - The Legend of Wolverine (1992) Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this DVD, it generally was good, however it's sopposed to be about the history of WOLVERINE, not his "currrent" adventures... the WWII episode would have been better & some of the other Weapon X and Sabretooth oriented episodes would have been welcomed, personally I WOULD KILL(literally) for a boxed set of all 76(or so) episodes, in their entirety on DVD... that would make the greatest Chirstmas gift ever, now that's an X-FANS dream come true!!

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The most popular Super Hero team in history is ready for action in a spectacular series of thrilling animated adventures. When a familiar face from Wolverine's former life resurfaces, he must wage a war he never intended. Ultimately, the X-Men must join forces with Magneto in a fight to save all mutants from annihilation. Discover the truth of Wolverine's secret past and watch his decisive battle as he is forced to make a choice that will forever affect the fate of the X-Men.

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