Transformers: Season 2, Volume 1

Part one of the second season is finally here! Alright, its been out for a few weeks, but I haven't been posting. The amazing part is that Shout! Factory is really coming through and working to re-release the entire series. This second DVD box set is another great collection, even if it does lack any bonus material.

This set is composed of four discs with 28 episodes total in the collection. This set has the episodes in the original broadcast order rather than the chronological order. It helps ease in the new characters of the second season rather than there being the huge shock of everyone appearing out of no where all at once. However, if you are like me and used to the old order, it can take a little getting used to. The episodes look awesome, but these are exactly the same as the Rhino releases with virtually no changes. The packaging is awesome once again with the Dinobots taking on the mighty Devastator, and each indiviudal disc case features awesome Transformers artwork for the characters Jazz, Starscream, Soundwave, Bumblebee, Megatron, and of course...Optimus Prime. As before, Shout! Factory stripped out the awful Dolby 5.1 track, and remixed the original mono audio into a new stereo soundtrack free of any of the stock sound effects from the Rhino release.

Overall, this is an awesome set. It is crammed full of episodes from the first half of season two. The only downer is that this collection contains no bonus features of any kind. However, one could think of the high number of episodes as a bonus. The next volume will include the rest of season two as well as new featurettes and commercials from the 80's. If you have the Rhino release, I say stick with it. Where the Rhino release of season one was terrible and Shout! Factory's was near perfect, this release is virtually identical to the original Rhino release. The only real differences are that the Rhino release came in a metal looking box, it had interviews from voice actors from the Robots in Disguise series, and it had a BotCon 2002 documentary. This is not a bad thing that the sets are similar because both featured exceptional video quality and both are selling for low prices. Now that Shout Factory! is re-releasing the series, the price gouging of the Rhino releases is stopping. If you haven't already got the Rhino release, don't wait...pick up the Shout Factory! release now! The next set is due out in January of 2010 with the Shout! Factory complete series box set hitting stores next week.