Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Season One

Odds are if you're a Batman: The Brave and the Bold fan you've long ago picked up the episodes on DVD. Tired of waiting years for a complete set (or even separate full season sets) I eventually picked up the heavily discounted the previously half-season releases. However for those who have been holding out, or those unfamiliar with the show until now, the Complete First Season has finally arrived on both Blu-ray and DVD.

The set-up was relatively simple. Borrowing both its premise and its title from DC's long-running team-up book which ran from 1955-1983, the show teamed Batman (Diedrich Bader) up with a revolving cast of guest-stars heroes (from both the Silver Age and pre-New 52 Mondern Age) to take on various threats and super-villains over the show's three-year run. Collecting the first 26 episodes of the series on 4 discs (or 2 Blu-rays), which is arguably the weakest of the bunch as you can tell the show was struggling to find the right mix of Bat-tastic adventure and Silver Age campiness which became its trademark style.

The early episodes have a few too many appearances of Plastic Man (Tom Kenny), Etrigan (Dee Bradley Baker), and the modern Blue Beetle (Will Friedle) for my tastes, and too much of Equinox (Oded Fehr) during the second-half of the season, but there are certainly gems in this collection such as "Fall of the Blue Beetle!" showcasing the fate of the previous Blue Beetle Ted Kord (Wil Wheaton), appearances by G'Nort and Mogo in "The Eyes of Despero!," the first appearance of Booster Gold (Tom Everett Scott) in "Menace of the Conqueror Caveman!," the musical episode "Mayhem of the Music Meister!," and "Legends of the Dark Mite!" (which also features the awesomeness that is Catman).

Those expecting any additional extras on either set are going to be disappointed as there's nothing new here for those who have already purchased the previously-released DVDs. Whatever collection or format you choose to pick-up (or already own) it's an easy recommendation to make as the show offers fun Batman adventures for all ages. Bat-fans should definitely make sure they've got Batman: The Brave and the Bold on their DVD shelf.

[Warner Home Video, DVD $26.99 / Blu-ray $29.99]