Customer Reviews

Darkwing Duck, Volume 1

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

And it's about time, too! This was definitely one of Disney's better shows in the early/mid-90s. Both kids and adults can get a good laugh out of this show and the humor should hold up well over the years, nothing too dated.

I hear that there won't be any extras in this set, but for the chance to finally get hold of this series, I'm more than willing to forgive that. Especially when there's also supposed to be captioning, surround sound and decent artwork on the packaging. Disney also apparently learned their lesson with previous DVD series releases and this time they're including the pilot. Only the first 25 eps of season 1, though, so hopefully the second half will be along soon.

The first 25 eps (and pilot) as follows:

Darkly Dawns the Duck 1&2
Beauty and the Beat
Getting Antsy
Night of the Living Spud
Apes of Wrath
Dirty Money
Duck Blind
Comic Book Capers
Waterway to Go
Paraducks
Easy Come, Easy Grows
A Revolution in Home Appliances
Trading Faces
Hush, Hush Sweet Charlatan
Can't Bayou Love
Bearskin Thug
You Sweat Your Life
Days of Blunder
Just Us Justice Ducks 1&2
Double Darkwings
Aduckyphobia
When Aliens Collide
Jurassic Jumble
Cleanliness Is Next to Badliness
Smarter Than a Speeding Bullet

There's always hope that the next half of the season will have the extras this one is lacking, but even without that, it's still more than worth the money to finally have Darkwing on DVD.

Recent conversation I had with a friend -

Me: It really was the best show ever. Sadly, I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the rest of that DVD I got of the first season. I was so angry that they had put the edited version of the first episode on the DVD. I mean sheesh! I have the unedited version on the original video release. What were they thinking of? Don't they think that people who buy the show do so because they actually want to see it as it was?
Friend: What the hell? Why do they edit all the shows on DVDs these days? ... Way to promote illegal distribution by driving people to P2P networks for the original versions.


I love this show, I really do. I was on the list to be informed when it came out on DVD, and the minute Amazon e-mailed re: its availability I placed my order. I was so excited when it came. The minute it arrived I popped it in and watched the two-part pilot episode.

I haven't touched it since. I was so disheartened at the cuts that had been made (the entire opening chase sequence and assorted gags and dialogue throughout), I didn't have the heart to go back to it and be disappointed again.

I don't know *why* the cuts were made. I doubt it was to tone down any cartoon violence as other equally "violent" moments were left in. I suspect these were edits that were made when the show was actually still on the air, edits made due to time considerations and for more commercial space. However, the full footage should have been restored and included when Disney decided to release the show on DVD.

I don't want to be negative. I wouldn't have reviewed except that, looking at what people have written, I see that no one has mentioned the edits. Younger viewers, people who didn't see the show when it first came out or who didn't watch it on video, many not even be aware. Still, fans should know that the show has been tampered with before they buy it.

5 stars for the original television show, but 3 stars for the DVD release.

Darkwing Duck has come to DVD at last. These last few years as Disney releases its great Disney Afternoon shows has been a wonderful time for me. I feel like a kid again! If you like this I definately suggest Gumi Bears, Duck Tales, Rescue Rangers, or Tale Spin.

This collection features 25 episodes and the pilot though I don't see how they can be the first 25 when the introduction episodes for several characters are missing. I was disapointed that there was no The Liquidator episodes until the last disc when you get to the "Justice Ducks" episodes which was not in the first season but which is included here. I am not complaining about its inclusion, it has been my favorite Darkwing Duck episode since I was fifteen years old.

The quality of the DVD's is good, with good audio as well. There are no features at all which has been a disapointment with all of the old Disney Afeternoon releases. The episodes could have at least been released in chronological order to make up for the lack of commentary, or animators and writers talking about the series, as was done with Gargoyales

The cartoons are great, maybe the last great cartoons ever done by Disney. But Disney can't make good DVD's that aren't first run. I really wish they cared enough to do a fitting tribute to this collection

The streets of St. Canard are filled with danger. Villains lurk behind every corner. But thanks to Darkwing Duck, criminals of all stripes are arrested every day. By day, he's Drake Mallard, suburban Dad raising his adopted daughter, Gosalyn. But by night, he's the costumed crime fighter who, assisted by his sidekick Launchpad McQuack, taking on such super villains as Bushroot, Megavolt, and Steelbeak in an effort to keep his city safe.

Of course, Darkwing has his weaknesses. He has no real super powers, but does have lots of nifty gadgets that help him fight crime. His real problem is his ego. He loves to make flashy entrances and is shocked each time a villain outsmarts him. Flattery will distract him in a second. And he even narrates his adventures - as they are happening.

There is certainly plenty of danger in these episodes. Darkwing looses his sight and must rely on the help of others to fight crime. An evil alien lands on Earth, and Gosalyn thinks it's a pet. Home appliances start coming to life and terrorizing the city. Someone is knocking over banks, literally. And the evil Quackerjack tries to convince Darkwing that he was born to serve tea, not be a crime fighter.

The series is obviously a spoof on superheroes and owes much of its form to Batman. Still, there are other comic influences here, and I'm sure someone with a better knowledge of that genre could identify them. Between the villains and the occasional alien, there's also a strong science fiction element. I got into the show for the humor. Not only are there the normal cartoon hits, whacks, and smashes, but there are lots of great puns in everything from the titles to the dialog.

This set includes the pilot and the first 25 regular episodes of the show aired. Unfortunately, they aired in a different order from the order completed so all continuity is lost. There are no extras on the set. The picture looks good but not outstanding. The stereo soundtrack is wonderful, however.

This set will appeal to kids for the cartoon antics and adults for the puns. A great show that anyone can enjoy.

I would like to start by saying that I love this show and that I look forward to the day when I can shear it with my children. So understand that it breaks my heart when I say that I was highly disapointed with this set.
Now I can understand the Set not having special features and crappy artwork on the menues and the dvd cases, but what really gets my goat (other than the pilot missing it's original opening sequence)is that the episodes are out of order!!!!!!!!

Insted of collecting the episodes in the order that they were made they are in the order that the negligent programing staff at disney aired them. So it's realy hard to fallow the continuty of the show in it's current state which is verry anoying.
I know this show has'nt aired in nearly a decade, but you wold assume that the marketing staff that pakaged this set could of atleast done a little reaserch. Is that to mutch to ask?

Let me start off by saying that I didn't get to watch nearly enough of this show. I did see some, though, and it was AMAZING. Easily one of my most missed shows of all time (Way up there with Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog and Chip&Dale's Rescue Rangers), the comedy was great, the characters were great, and I know that I will get and love this DVD. Great show for fans of classic Disney cartoons, those too young to have seen or remember them, and anybody looking for some good, clean, super hero-related comedy and zaniness. I highly recomend it.

...or rather, missing scenes. The "pilot" episode isn't the original that aired; this is the version that has been aired practically ever since, with the clipped opening chase, and a few other shorter scenes. A huge disappointment to say the least, seeing as they managed to put the uncut pilot on VHS. So though we've been told the pilot is included, it's not in its entirety.

The artwork on the box and thinpaks is strange, as some of the clips are from episodes not included (disc three's inclusion of a scene from "Brush With Oblivion" comes to mind), and the menus are rather odd pastiche of various characters clipped from different episodes. Still, A for effort.

What would be nice for the next release is the choice of the original extended Saturday morning opening or the current opening for seasons two and three. I haven't seen it since the original airing in '91, and I doubt many people even remember it. As well, let's hope they include "Hot Spells!"

Caped crime fighter Darkwing Duck is Disney's version of Batman with the Shadow's cape and hat thrown in. St. Canard is really a disney version of Gotham City. Sidekick Launchpad (from Ducktale) is Darkwing's Robin. His daughter Gosalyn is like ward Dick Greyson...Think niece Penny of Gadget fame

However REMEMBER this is Disney, so the hero blunders. Think Inspector Gadget with a cape...Think Batman with an over cute superhero.

However, this animated Duck is funny stuff for kids and adults alike. Think campy Batman of the 1960's with Disney-ness throw in. It has satire that the adults can watch with a kids viewpoint.

The 27 episodes three disk set (including its two episode) pilot is fine TV animation

It is worth it alone for the great satire. It is something both kids and adults can enjoy

Bennet Pomerantz, Audioworld

I was thrilled to see that Disney finally came out with Darkwing Duck on DVD. It is a childhood favorite of mine that I would recomend to anyone of any age.
A definate spoof on all things superhero but...if you have ever watched the old Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes you will recognize a lot of spoofed moments from those as well. As a matter of fact the famous long winded Darkwing self intro is loosley based on Rathbones depiction of Sherlock Holmes running off at the mouth.

Enjoy!

A throwback to my childhood, Darkwing Duck is has its perks the second time around. While the plots aren't exactly clever or conniving (remember, it is a kids show) I found this to be a perfect solution as something fun and light-hearted to watch almost at any time whether I am cooking, crafting, reading, taking a nap/going to sleep, or feeling kind like I want to watch something but not commit myself to a movie.

My little cousins (age ranges from 6-13) love it, as well!