Ben 10 Alien Force, Vol. 8
DVD
Featuring the voices of Wil Wheaton, John Dimaggio, Yuri Lowenthal
Cartoon Network
Release Date: August 24, 2010

If I could name this volume of Ben 10: Alien Force, I would call it “The Rogue Gallery,” since the five episodes in this volume featured villains from Ben Tennyson’s past. For those not familiar with the cartoon, Ben Tennyson is no ordinary teenager. Not only is he a part of a secret intergalactic police group known as the Plumbers, but he is also the sole bearer of the Omnitrix, a device that allows him to transform into various alien beings. With Gwen, his cousin and fellow Plumber, and her love interest Kevin, they embark on adventures filled with aliens, bounty hunters, and spell casters.

I have reviewed my fair share of Ben 10 episodes and I am happy to report that these episodes are just as good as the previous. The quality of the writing and story is top notch for a kid’s program. I am always surprised by how snappy and quick the dialogue is for a kid’s cartoon, but I expect nothing less from creators of the show, the collection of comic artist and writers known as Man of Action. Along with great writing, the episodes always throw in some entertaining fight scenes, which are sure to dazzle the kids who watch the show.

Now even though I am not a hardcore fan of the series, I am a fan of continuity. So, I was very pleased to see that the writers of the show had decided to bring back some of the villains from the previous Ben 10 series. Characters like Spellcaster, The Vreedle Bros., and Darkstar all show up to give Ben a headache, which I am sure will thrill fans who have been following the character since the first series.

While most of the episodes were amusing, I think I enjoyed the bonus episode the most. Titled “The Con of Rath,” it marks the first appearance of Rath, a new alien that Ben is able to turn into. I do not know if it was because of the time or the lack of food in my stomach, but I really thought that episode was the best of all the episodes I have seen. Rath is angry all the time, picks fights with everyone, and screams every line he utters. It is comedic gold. If you watch any Ben 10 episode from volume 8, you need to watch this one.

Ben 10 Volume 8 offers up what every volume has delivered so far: good solid storytelling, witty dialogue, and great action scenes. It is something any child will love.