Adult Swim in a Box
Aqua Teen Hunger Force Volume 2 | Space Ghost Season 3 | Moral Oral Season 1 | Robot Chicken Season 2 | Metalocalypse Season 1 | Sealab Season 2
Animated
Cartoon Network
Release date: October 27, 2009

It is true what they say: Good things do come in small packages. Or in the case of Adult Swim in a Box, it comes in a small box. This new collection offers up full seasons of SeaLab 2021, Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, Metalocalypse, Robot Chicken, Moral Orel, and Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The set also comes with a nice bonus disc full of Adult Swim pilots never before seen until now. And with a price tag of $69.95 (and that’s the list price; Amazon has it now for $50.49), it is hard to find anything wrong with a set like this but not impossible.

Like it is written on the DVD, this set is indeed a cash grab. The fine folks at Adult Swim have packed in six seasons’ worth (around 20 hours) of content. This, along with the price tag, is a definite steal for any fan of Adult Swim who has not gotten the DVD sets for themselves or as a gift for a person who has not been properly introduced to the lunacy that is Adult Swim. My only big issue with the set is the lack of fluidity among the seasons.

Other than Metalocalpyse, none of the other seasons offered are season one sets. Now, if you have watched any of the Adult Swim cartoons, you would know that most of the shows are not exactly following any linear storyline. Viewers can essentially jump onto any of the shows at any point and enjoy it. Though, it would have been nice to have a seen how all the shows started and see how far (or not) the shows have come along.

Despite the screwy seasons, the bonus disc makes up for it. Rather than include any behind the scenes footage or deleted scenes, Adult Swim opted to include 5 Adult Swim pilots into the mix. Viewers can take a look at these once potential new shows and wonder what may or may not have come from them. The pilots, much like any Adult Swim cartoon, are hit or miss. You either fine humor amusing and hilariously random or it falls flat.

The Best of Totally for Teens is a live-action teen variety show hosted by adults. Think one part Mickey Mouse Club and one part Osmond Variety show and you pretty much get an idea of the show. Cheyenne Cinnamon and the Fantabulous Unicorn of Sugar Town Candy Fudge featured a teen pop singer using her songs and voice to tackle hot button issues like racism and teen pregnancy in Detroit. Oh, and she happens to live in a literal fantasy world where volcanoes spew out cocaine. Perfect Hair Forever is a send up of Japanese Anime like Pokémon and Korgoth of Barbaria follows a Conan-like brute in a futuristic apocalyptic world.

My personal favorite of the pilots is Welcome to Etingville, based on Evan Dorkin’s comic strip Dork. I am a fan of Dorkin and just a big comic fan in general so the whole show about comic nerds was really entertaining for me. From the opening scene where the foursome participate in a roleplaying game to their fight for a Boba Fett action figure, the cartoon has the look, feel, and humor any comic fan can enjoy. It is a shame that nothing ever came from this pilot. I would have loved to see more episodes but at least this pilot is now on DVD.

Adult Swim in a Box is a great gift for anyone with an odd sense of humor for any time of year. With its discounted price and boatload of content, I doubt anyone with a wicked sense of humor can resist.