Cartoon News - Jan 8, 2012

It's been a long time since I've posted anything on Cartoon and Horror - especially cartoon and horror news. Luckily, I've made a bit of time in my schedule to start updating again. Since I've missed out on a TON of new cartoon and horror releases, I've decided to split up the news. I'll begin with the cartoons as there are so many DVDs that have recently been released or are coming out soon that are must-buys.

NOW AVAILABLE

Conan: The Adventurer - Season 2, Part 1

Captain Power - The Complete Series

I got this for Christmas and it is by far one of the best gifts I got this year. It's amazing how adult the story-lines are whiling still retaining some fun elements for kids. I highly recommend anyone pick this up just for the 90 minute documentary. I know this isn't technically an animated series, however, it does have a lot of cg animation. 

Skeleton Warriors - The Complete Series

This show was also created by Gary Goddard (Captain Power, MOTU The Movie) and I highly recommend this DVD set. It comes with commentary tracks, picture galleries, a 45-minute documentary.

Silverhawks - Voume 2 (completes the series) - Warner Archive  MOD

Warner finally released the second volume of Silverhawks. Now fans can finally have every episode on DVD. Too bad this volume didn't get the same love the first volume got. 

Dragon's Lair - The Complete Series - Warner Archive MOD

Jonny Quest vs. The Cyber-Insects - Telefilm - Warner Archive MOD

Thundercats (2011)

COMING SOON!

Archie's Weird Mysteries

This just barely classifies as a 90s cartoon series as it was broadcast from 1999-2000. 

 Centurions - The Original Miniseries - Warner Archive MOD

Bobby's World - Season 1 (Date: TBD) - Amazon MOD

 C.O.P.S. - The Best of C.O.P.S. - Volume 2 (February 21, 2012)

G.I. Joe - SERIES 2 - Season 1 (January 10, 2012)

Heathcliff - 10 Episodes (February 21, 2012)

Heathcliff - Season 1, Volume 1 (February 21, 2012)

 The Best of Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (February 12, 2012)

 Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors - Voume 1 (February 12, 2012)

Jem and the Holograms - Season 2 (February 14, 2012)

Rocko's Modern Life - Season 2 (February 7, 2012)

 Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century - The Complete Series (February 21, 2012)

Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century - The Complete Series (February 21, 2012)

Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? - Best Of (February 12, 2012)

 Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego? - The Complete Series (February 12, 2012)

Thursday Cartoon Intro - THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS

Produced by Columbia Pictures Television and DiC Entertainment, The Real Ghostbusters was based on the live-action Bill Murray/Ivan Reitman movie. They had to attach "The Real" to the title due to a legal dispute with Filmation and their Ghost Busters series. The Real Ghostbusters ran from 1986 to 1991 and 147 episodes were produced. Not bad for a cartoon.  In addition to this series, it also spawned two other series' - Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters (1988) and Extreme Ghostbusters (1997). Fortunately, TimeLife recently released the entire series on DVD in an amazing collectible box set. The set includes every episode of The Real Ghostbusters as well as the 13 episodes of Slimer. Extreme Ghostbusters has yet to see the light of day on DVD. Although, I don't think too many people are dying for it. 

The Real Ghostbusters Cartoon Intro

It's Been a While

Sorry once again for my lack of updates. I've been very busy working on a feature film and it may be a while before updates become consistent again.

I completely flaked out on the cartoon-a-day posts and didn't even make it to the end of the month. I'll probably continue with cartoon episode reviews at a later date, but it won't be a daily thing. Also, expect some new Thursday Cartoon Intros and Fan Art Fridays I've been wanting to post for weeks now.

See you soon.

C-A-D: Avengers: EMH - 107

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Episode 107

Breakout - Part 2

This episode picks up right where we left off with the Avengers in 106. A villain named Graviton is destroying New York and wanting to exact revenge on Nick Fury - the person who made him the way he now is. And as you guessed it, all of the heroes band together to defeat him, even the Hulk. 

This episode was just straight up action. Only this time, I found myself more into it than the previous episodes. Maybe I finally conditioned my brain to just shut off and enjoy the mayhem animated on screen. The only thing that perplexed me a little in this episode was Ant-Man's transformation into Giant Man. How did that happen and why does his costume change when he does that? Maybe I should watch eps 3, 4  and 5. However, now I feel like the series can finally start. 

RATING: 6.5

YOU DECIDE

C-A-D: Avengers: EMH - 106

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

Episode 106

Breakout - Part 1

I got a little out of order and skipped ahead to the sixth episode of the Avengers series. I'll probably go back to the other four a little later.

Thank god I didn't watch this episode first. I think I mentioned this in one of my other reviews, but I hate super villain jail breaks. They spent all that time cleaning the scum off the streets, only to have them break out again. Lame. 

A mass outbreak occurs at all of the super villain prisons and only Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Ant-Man and Wasp can capture them. In order to do that though, they have to band together and become The Avengers... can they do it? Of course they can, Silly! But that doesn't happen until Breakout - Part 2. 

In this episode you get the introduction of a crap load of super villains and also a few other super heroes. Doc Sampson gets his official origin of the series, which is kind of cool. Overall, this episode was a big let down. You get action, action, action and a very thin story. If action is your thing, you will eat this episode up. Even I was pretty captivated by some of the action set-pieces. On a visceral level, this episode kicks ass. But I like my cartoons with more story. Maybe I should just continue watching X-Men TAS. 

RATING: 6

YOU DECIDE

C-A-D: Thundercats (2011) - 105

Thundercats (2011)

Episode 105

Old Friends

The producers of this new Thundercats series are really hitting a few of these episodes out of the park. I am shocked by how much I'm loving it. And I don't think it's a nostalgic thing either. I think the episodes are genuinely really well made with engaging stories.

Episode 5 picks up where we left off... The Cats have now met up with Panthro and if they are going to continue on their journey they're going to need some thundrillium for the Thundertank. Unfortunately, the closest thundrillium source is being mined by Grune's henchmen - the Lizards. This sets Lion-O and Panthro off on a power-struggle. Panthro thinks Lion-O's plans suck and Lion-O thinks Panthro should listen to his orders now that he is king. If only Claudus was there!

Grune is using a villain from the classic series to mine for the thundrillium - Driller. His re-design is so badass, I'm totally in love with it. After a series of flashbacks of how Grune became evil and a number of battles, the Thundercats succeed in getting some thundrillium.

While the last episode was all heartwarming and touching, this episode succeeds in establishing some great back-story for Grune, Panthro and Claudus's army. It also has some kick-ass fights to boot. I highly recommend this one.

RATING: 9

WATCH IT

C-A-D: Silverhawks - 101

Silverhawks

Episode 101

The Origin Story

Silverhawks is one of those cartoons on DVD I've been putting off watching for a while now. My memory of the cartoon isn't as fresh as my memory of the action figures - some of the coolest action figures from the '80s. Love the metallic finish on them! Unfortunately, my expectations for the pilot episode were a little high on this one. This origin story is exactly how not to do a first episode. The story just sucks balls. 

Set in the year 2839, the pilot begins with Mon-Star escaping from prison and a bionic cop named Stargazer has to assemble a team of Silverhawks to stop Mon-Star from destroying the universe. In all honesty, I kind of fell asleep watching this episode. It bored me to tears. It's unfortunate too because it has one of the coolest intro theme songs around. Anyways, the episode is pretty useless. After Mon-Star escapes and re-domesticates his pet squid, we are introduced to the team: Quicksilver, Steelheart, Steelwill, Col. Bluegrass, and the Copper Kid (a bionic kid from the planet of the mimes). 

I really don't remember many of the episodes so I'm curious to see if the show gets any better after episode one. I hope so considering I paid a lot of money for the DVD set. Although many of the other '80s cartoons were  20-minute commercials, this episode was blatantly obvious as being one too. If you're a fan of the Thundercats, you can't go wrong with Silverhawks. I'm just not sure if I can recommend the first episode. I'll let you decide since this introduces the characters, but is lacking any sort of story. 

RATING: 4.5

YOU DECIDE