Carstairs Considers....: TV Show Review: Darkwing Duck Volume 1

Thursday, March 14, 2013

TV Show Review: Darkwing Duck Volume 1

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Funny, action packed shows

Cons: No extras; lack of continuity

The Bottom Line:

Superhero fun

Comedy mixed with action

Great for all ages

"Let's Get Dangerous!"

Darkwing Duck is a Disney cartoon from the 90's. It originally aired on Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons.

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 (a half duck half plant creature who controls plants), Megavolt (a rat with the ability to control electricity), and Steelbeak (a rooster who works for the evil organization F.O.W.L.) 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.

The show also has a strong science fiction element to it. Several of the villains are hybrids that could only happen in science fiction, like Bushroot. Additionally, aliens show up occasionally. One episode finds Darkwing shrunk to the size of an ant, while another finds him growing extra arms after being bitten by a spider.

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. For example, Darkwing occasionally works for the super secret group S.H.U.S.H. In fact, the group is so secret no one knows what the initials stand for. Anyway, the group's director is J. Gander Hooter. And of course, the show is just plan funny with absurd situations in almost every episode.

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. For example, the two part "Just Us Justice Ducks" is included. It features a collection of Darkwing's biggest enemies. But two of them we haven't even seen before. There are no extras on the set. The full frame picture looks good though not outstanding. The stereo soundtrack is wonderful, however.

Darkwing Duck Volume 1 will appeal to kids for the cartoon antics and adults for the puns. A great show that anyone can enjoy.

Episode List:

1. Darkly Dawns the Duck Part 1

2. Darkly Dawns the Duck Part 2

3. Beauty and the Beet

4. Getting Antsy

5. Night of the Living Spud

6. Apes of Wrath

7. Dirty Money

8. Duck Blind

9. Comic Book Capers

10. Water Way to Go