Digital Joe #44

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Media companies love synergy. Universal has slated a "special" edition of the 1980 "Flash Gordon" film for August, the same month that company´s Sci-Fi Channel premieres a new TV series starring character. Warner Brothers makes sure to package their animated superhero releases together. Remember last year´s "Superman" blitz? Or how about this year´s "Batman Beyond" and "Justice League Unlimited" sets?

So it´s perplexing to understand why Buena Vista staunchly refuses to release perhaps the two hottest animated comic book properties in their library: "X-Men" and "Spider-Man." Yeah, we have compilation discs out there for each series, but nothing in season sets or chronological volumes. Wouldn´t it be smart to have put together a season or so of "X-Men" to coincide with "The Last Stand" last summer? Or "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends"-there are only 24 episodes-when this year´s Spidey juggernaut came barreling out of the gate? Are the folks over at BV that clueless?

Chances are the same thing holding up the release of the Adam West "Batman" on DVD is preventing these other programs from hitting the street: money. I won´t pretend to understand the economics; hell, I won´t even pretend to care because, frankly, I don´t. When companies start arguing over percentages, I tune out. It all sounds very narcissistic to me. Warner wants more money because they are corporate siblings of DC Comics; Fox wants more because they received the rights to the series from ABC, the channel the show ran on. (This is terribly simplistic, I understand.) So, instead of the minds coming together to work out an equitable arrangement where everyone can make money, the show sits on the shelf making zero money…and depriving the fans of the series.

Terribly greedy, I think we´d all agree.

BV was able to release a complete box set of the 1994 "Fantastic Four" cartoon in 2005, proving they can do season (and series) releases. They´ve also released Disney-owned cartoons, such as "Rescue Rangers" and "Gargoyles," though the latter is the subject of much heart break among fans since the series won´t be completed.

Again, I ask, what in the world is the hold up? It is M-O-N-E-Y in your pocket if you do just a half-assed job. Remaster the series, include some extras, do a better than half assed job and you will be LOVED by legions of fans. And you´ll make money hand over fist. Until recently, "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" aired on Jetix, a block of programming on ABC Family. Take those masters, run them through a little clean up and BAM! Six DVD´s, some cover art and you have a release to ride on the coattails of "Spider-Man 3" this fall.

The problem here, as is the problem with the much-lambasted "music rights" issue, is money. It´s what held the preview trailers and special advertising from being included on any of the modern "Star Trek" series DVD sets. Look what it did to the release of "WKRP in Cincinnati." Guys, DVD is not a new medium. It´s been ten years. Ten bleeding years. We have two new formats all the studios are shoving down our throats. They want us to buy into the advertising they´re throwing at us when they clearly haven´t figured out how to do standard DVD right yet.

What gives any of us the idea they can do high def or high high def or whatever comes next correctly? Whatever happened to perfecting one product before trying something new? Did everyone fail Algebra and then get moved on to Calculus? How many releases of the "Farscape" series have there been on DVD? I´d venture to say another is on the way; Sony recently snapped up rights to at least the first season.

And Hollywood wonders why fans go to illegal means to procure the content they want. What other choice do any of us have? Wait for them to get their sorry asses in gear only to do a half-assed job on the release, using that as "evidence" there is no audience for it? (Yes, I´m looking at you, Mr. George Lucas.) Screw that. You guys created this consumer monster by wrangling over money…and now you´re crying people are going around you to get what they want? You have got to be kidding me. We´re supposed to feel bad you lost a billion dollars or whatever the amount is last year to pirates when you quibble amongst yourselves over profits?

Release the damn product and maybe people won´t have to buy from bootleggers or illegal download sites. How long did it take Paramount to release "Star Trek: The Animated Series?" Until they had exhausted every other "Trek" property, that´s how long. After two separate releases of "The Original Series," "The Next Generation," "Deep Space Nine," "Voyager," "Enterprise," two releases of every movie (except the first)…not to mention "series" packaging for each show. Now other countries are getting new packaging to entice fans to buy again.

Buena Vista, Fox, Warner…all of you guys: sit down and hammer out a deal where everyone gets a fair piece of the pie. Content isn´t helping anyone by sitting on the shelf.

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