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  1. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
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    Past Tense


    [An earlier version of this PT was originally posted on July 26th, 2015 on JoBlo's "DVD, Blu-Ray & Home Theater Discussion" forum.]

    The adventures of Agents K and J continued on the small screen on "Men In Black: The Series"...



    "Men In Black: The Animated Series - Season One" was released on home video on May 1st, 2012.

    It streeted against "Suits: Season One", "Happiness Is... Peanuts: Team Snoopy" and "Emily's Reasons Why Not: The Complete Series" (MOD).

    There was no slipcover issued nor was there any kind of foil wraparound. And did not come with any insert. The back of the case lists the episodes on each disc, but no air dates or synopses given.

    Did however come with a theater voucher attached to the wrapping; see the then upcoming "MIB3" (2012) for free, up to ten dollars. Or if you so chose - five dollars for use at the theater's concession stand. This offer expired on July 5th, 2012. It did have a limit; only five per house hold. I never used mine, it's in the case.

    I apologize for the promo pix above. This was the best I could do. I'm fortunate to have found it. All my net searches were poor to abysmal. The text on the promo is legible and imagery is easy to understand. I suppose that's a win.

    - - -



    This is one of those rare exclusives that is singular. Somewhat hard to find now.

    Usually with a TV series exclusive, their special release is limited for a few weeks or a couple of months - then becomes available to all retailers, nationwide.

    This did not happen here.

    Below is Target's ad for the week.



    Notice something? As it turns out, the exclusive was an unadvertised item. I'm real lucky to have my copy. I found out on a different message board on May 13th. The following day I went to my local store and found one; same price as street, $14.99.

    Let me take a quick step back.

    The series aired on "Kids WB" from 1997 - 2001; four seasons, fifty-three half hour episodes.

    Target's exclusive marks the first time the entire first season has come to home video. Select episodes of from season one were released on VHS (1999; two shows per tape, three volumes) back in the day. And they didn't even release all thirteen of them.

    So far only season one can be officially bought, the rest remains as wants.

    It's a rather rare occurrence to have a single retailer as the solitary outlet for a title. But it has happened before. What pops to mind is the exclusive release for "My One And Only" (2009); Target again - which was a 2016 Past Tense entry, click here for Part I and Part II.

    Another example is "Looker" (1981); Amazon was the only place to buy the DVD ($19.97). I could do a Past Tense for it, but that sentence pretty much wraps it up. It streeted as it were on January 30th, 2007.



    As to be expected, the episodes are presented in their original aspect ratios; full screen and in stereo. Both discs menus are identical. It's a static image with no music.

    - - - - - - - - - -

    Footnotes.

    There were two video games released for the series. I did my homework.



    The first, "Men In Black" from Crave Entertainment was released in December of 1998 for Nintendo's "Game Boy Advance" and "Game Boy Color" systems.

    The game received poor ratings.



    The next happened in November 20th, 2001 from Infogrames Studios. "Men in Black: The Series - Crashdown" came after the show was canceled. The video game was for the Sony Playstation. Unlike the pervious. This received positive reviews.

    - - -

    With the major success of the first film, "Men In Black" (1997), there were various knockoffs, especially in the comic book world. One such title was "Exposure", published by Image Comics in 1999 and later by Avatar Press. And a trade paperback, collecting all the comics; January 2014 from Red Giant Entertainment.



    This was the exploits of Shawna Diaz (brunette) and Lisa Shannon; childhood friends who formed their own agency, Paratech. An organization that investigates the paranormal and the pair's own secret origins.

    Best known for the girls wearing revealing, quite impractical spandex outfits while sleuthing and trying to keep their clothes on; practically soft-core porn. The tag line is "Revealing What Lies Beyond the Truth!" Sometimes in high heels, because they're classy.

    The comic was created by David Campiti (writer) and Al Rio (artist; May 19th, 1962 - January 31st, 2012; suicide [hanging]). During the 2013 San Diego (CA), Comic Con; Red Giant Entertainment announced that producer Kevin VanHook was working to bring the ladies to life as a television series.

    Not much news to report on that project. Please let this be on HBO or Showtime, that would be sway. Boobies!



    Above is the 192 page graphic novel (volume one) which came to be through a Kickstarter campaign started by Campiti. Three grand was needed to publish, it was a success - they raised $9,630 with ninety-three backers in 2012.

    There is a hardcover edition (signed by Campiti), but that was only available to backers who donated fifty dollars or more; five did.

    It is exactly what you imagine the comic to look like. Rio was renown in the comic world for his pinup artwork. The man had the talent and eye. Hot girls, super silly situations with action = fried gold. The same can be said for fellow artist, J. Scott Campbell. Sexy ladies on paper.

    And yeah, I would like to own that collection.

    - - -

    *sigh*

    Two episodes from the MIB were been pulled from U.S. syndication; "The Neuralyzer Syndrome" (season one, November 15th, 1997) and "The Breaking News Syndrome" (season four; May 12th, 2001). Why?

    9/11.

    In "The Neuralyzer Syndrome" there is an exchange between Agents J and K. K was neutralized by accident; he now believes he's sixteen. J is trying to get a reference point to his missing memories...

    J: Look; what is the tallest building in Manhattan?
    K: Empire State.
    J: Nah, the World Trade Center - two big towers.
    K: You're a loon.



    The episode also features the Towers and an alien ship nearly crashes into it. The image above is a composite, three stills edited together (it's a pan-up reveal) - K discovering he's in the future (mind wise).

    In "The Breaking News Syndrome" the Twin Towers were also part of the story.

    Man, I was going to go into this long winded rant about about people wanting to erase any images; reminders of the tragedy. I really want to - it upsets me. But such a thing has been talked to death by folks who are better at writing than I.

    "Freedom Fries".

    Frack me.

    Anyhow, the new movie, "Men In Black: International" is coming out on June 14th, 2019. I'm hoping there will be another cross-promotion; Target offering (as an exclusive) season two of the animated show. That would be nice. At one point Mill Creek Entertainment was going to release the complete series. But nothing much has happpened since then.

    Come back here on May 23rd, 2019 for another show on irreverent lawyers.
    Last edited by JohnIan101; 08-27-2019 at 05:29 AM.

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