Defenders Of The Earth - The Complete Series, Vol. 1 Review
I loved the Defnders of the Earth when I was a kid. I remember rushing home to see it every day after school. I've been looking for it for the past twenty years, convinced that I was the only one that still remembered the series with any fondness. Yes, the animation is terrible (not bad for the time though) and the stories are sometimes a little hacknied but I still love it.
The extra features on the DVD are a little disappointing. The one commentary track is great and I wish they'd done another. They tended to repeat a lot of what they said in the commentary in the interviews. It's also missing the advertised Flash Gordon animated episode. Not a great loss, IMHO, but it makes the set look unfinished.
Defenders Of The Earth - The Complete Series, Vol. 1 Overview
Tyrant Ming the Merciless and his vast army of evil accomplices are working overtime to eliminate the human race. But the Defenders of Earth led by legendary crime-fighters The Phantom Flash Gordon Mandrake and his trusted confidant and bodyguard Lothar join forces with their uniquely talented teenage children to challenge Ming and his evil followers in a series of great adventures. Both sides employ powerful computers and space age technology in their arsenals of weapons.They are our last best hope. For a frightened but determined planet they are the Defenders of the Earth.Features:Interviews with the Creator of Defenders of the EarthFull Episode Commentary Track for Episode #101 Escape From MongoFull Length Animated Storyboard for Episode #126 Terror in TimeOriginal Presentation Pilot for Defenders of the Earth featuring alternate characters and animationsImage GalleriesDVD ROM Features: Scripts storyboards and the complete series Bibles (PC/Mac readable)Comic Strip Champions Art Cards: 2 collectible 4"x6" exclusive Defenders of the Earth art cards by acclaimed artists Mike Allred and Rafael KayananDetailed Characters ProfilesTrivia and Fun FactsBonus Episode: Flash Gordon Ep #1 A Planet in Peril Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 787364698790
Defenders Of The Earth - The Complete Series, Vol. 1 Specifications
Marvel Productions gave an invigorating update to a trio of venerable comic strip heroes in the '80s animated series
Defenders of the Earth; though the teaming of Flash Gordon, Mandrake the Magician, and The Phantom did not prove as popular with young viewers as they did some fifty years before (the show lasted just one season, and the Marvel tie-in comic only ran for four issues), the concept clearly had a following, as evidenced by this impressive five-disc set. The series' premise, which takes place in the year 2015, pits space adventurer Flash Gordon against his longtime foe Ming the Merciless, who is again bent on dominating the Earth; to thwart Ming's plans, Flash teams with jungle king The Phantom and spellcaster Mandrake the Magician (whose henchman, Lothar, has been here promoted to fulltime hero status), as well as their respective offspring, to protect the planet. Though to most kid viewers-–both in 1986 and today–-these classic King Features Syndicate characters don't carry the same level of freight as in their parents' (or grandparents') day, the partnership does makes for some exciting adventures, and the superheroes-and-super-offspring angle plays a lot better than it sounds. The
Defenders set contains the first 33 episodes of the series and provides a wealth of supplemental material and background information that should please longtime fans of the show; featurettes include interviews with the voice talent and series producers, an image gallery of sketches and model sheets, and character profiles, and the producers and several voice actors are reunited to provide commentary for the pilot episode, "Escape from Mongo." But perhaps the most intriguing extra is the original presentation pilot, which offers very different characters and animation than in "Escape from Mongo." DVD-ROM owners can also view complete episodic scripts and storyboards in PDF format.
-- Paul Gaita
Related Products
Customer Reviews
Missing Special Features. >:( - Christopher Walker -
The DVDs themselves are great and the show is highly entertaining, but the set I got (and according to the one review I could find online that talked about the special features) has the DVD-Rom and Bonus Episode features missing from the discs. Every single solitary listing of features on the set (which I bought new and still in shrink wrap) lists the missing features, and with no manufacturer's note about them included, you are left to discover it for yourself.
Likely not a big deal to most, but it was the series bible PDF that really sold me on getting this set. The worst part is that the original manufacturer is out of business, so there's no one to complain to.
Defenders - Traven J. Terzich - usa
It seems tradinonal for most comic companys to have their heros forme a group. DC has JLA, as well as JSA, Teen Titans, etc. Marvel has the Avengers and so on. Thus it only seems natural for King Features to have their comic book heros team up. Fan boys like to see their heros in the same world team up and fight evil, they also like to see heros fight eachother to see whos better. Its a natural thing in the comic book world. thus its no surpise for these heros to join up to forme a team. I dont understand why so many complain about that aspect of this cartoon.
First off this was a great cartoon. Allthough admitdly of the main chartures, Flash Gordon is more well known. (Intrestingly this series was my first introduction to The Phantom). Secondly this series last for at least 65 episodes, long enough to maintain interest in the charture. In regards of Flash Gordon this series is my third favorit incarnation of the chartur. The first is the 80s movie, and the second the filmation series.
Now for a bit of background. Flash Gordon was a top althlet who was rocketed to Mongo to fight the evil tyrant Ming the Merciless. The Phantom is a hero who lives in the jungels and fights crime. (Hes like a cross between Tarzan and Zorro, but has his own special storyline). Mandrake the Magican is an illusionist who poses as a stage magigian and fights crime. His companion is Lothar (a rather uninteresting charture in the comics). what I liked with this series is that Lothar is upgraded to hero states. sure ok hes the token black guy, but he is such a great charture. its good to have him in this series. these three main chartures have previously had their own seprat comic strip adventures. for this cartoon all three join up to fight evil. Each brings something to the team, as the credits proclaim. Flash the pilot, Mandrak with his illusions, Phantom with his cunning, and Lothar brings strength. added to this are the young companions. first there is Flash's son, Rick. there is Lothar's son LJ (Lothar JR). The Phantom's daughter, Jeda, who can camunicat with the animals. finaly there is Mandrake's ward, Kashin. together they forme the Defenders fighting none other then Ming himself. (Ming seems the only big enough villain the heros could face, as Gordon has the only worth while reacuring villain on his roster.).
Flash has lost his wife to Ming's crulety (one of the few times a death is depicted in comics). she is never named on screan. allthough it would be hard to imagine Gordon marrying anyone other then Dale Arden. (I think in the four comic book series based on this cartoon she is even given that name.) However her memory lives on in the computer Dynac. Dynac is an artifial intelligence that at Ming's side are his computor Octon, his Ice warriors, and his treacherous son Kro-Tan. Ming also has a duaghter, but she is NOT named Aura. there are other villains as well. Interestingly there is the Phantoms evil brother, Kurt Walker, who becomes the Weather Demon. the Sky Band, old foes of the Phantom, the episode even retells the orginal storyline of that comic allthough breifly. the Defenders face many challenges along the way.
the setting is in the future, here Mongo is a desolat planet which Ming has used up its resourses, and he wants to claim the earth. the Defenders attempt to stop his plans. there are some interesting episodes, such as when Jedda thinks her father is dead and she must take on his mantel. Krotan would later betray his father and attempt to take over Mongo, only to face a bigger threat. there is even an episode featuring someone I call the the 10th Defender, Prince Valiant of the Hal Foster comics. Valiant's son even makes an apperance. (allthough Valiant would get his own cartoon series much later on). its still nice to see him make an apperance here.through out this series there are many surpises and interesting episodes. some so so storys, but some good episodes.
(I wonder if the story Root of Evil was an early pilot since the art is so different.)
Again this is a rather good series I felt.
a unique cartoon series. well worth watching.
Good Series - Brenden McDaniel - Milwaukee,Wi USA
Nice series. Graphics good for the 80's. Nice to see another universe besides Marvel and DC. The last 5 episodes in this set are the best.
Classic - Al-duha Moore -
One of my favorite cartoons as a child. This cartoons brings back so many memories. My children even love it. Thank you for the condition of it and the delivery time.
*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 14, 2010 03:03:04
