AVENGERS BLU-RAY
Breaking news: North American fans of The Avengers may finally want to open that bottle of John Steed champagne. A&E has announced the release of Season 5 on Blu-ray! I wish I could report the imminent release of the entire series, but this is still great news. A&E is starting with the color Mrs Peel episodes, which I hope is just the tip of the iceberg. Cover art is ported over from their last Emma Peel Megaset (matching Optimum's UK box design), but it is not clear yet if A&E will be sourcing from Optimum's celebrated Hi-def transfers. Reports are also speculating the absence of special features. I join my fellow fans in hoping the set will use the best prints possible and include bonus extras. Season 5 will be amazing to see on Blu-ray, especially fave episodes like From Venus With Love, The Winged Avenger, The Living Dead, Epic, The Joker, and Return of the Cybernauts. Street date is November 11th.
I investigated the Optimum UK set last spring on my all-region player, and though the episodes looked stunning, the PAL-NTSC speed-up issues made everyone sound like they were on helium. See my test-comparison video here. I'm thrilled to see this new NTSC Blu-ray release, which should offer us the best visual quality played at the correct speed. Spy Vibers can now pre-order the A&E set from Amazon for a low $20.99 here. Blu-ray page. I'll update with further details as they are announced. Read Spy Vibe's feature interview about The Avengers production history with Michael Richardson here.
Selected Spy Vibe posts: Avengers Interview: Michael Richardson, Ian Fleming: Wicked Grin, Jane Bond Hong Kong Records, Ryan Heshka Interview, Comics Week: Man From R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E., Comics Week: Archie, Comics Week: Robots, Comics Week: Cold War Atomic, Comics Week: SPYMAN, Comics Week: Jimmy Olsen, Diana Rigg at 76, Gerry Anderson Doc, Mr. Hulot's Box Set, Rare Avengers Scripts, Man From Uncle UK Comics, Mattel X-15, Thunderbirds Comics, Shakespeare Spies: Diana Rigg, Shakespeare Spies I, Batman News, Monty Python Fathom Spies, Rodney Marshall Avengers Interview, Avengers Book: Bowler Hats & Kinky Boots, George Lois Design & Mad Men, Richard Sala: Super-Enigmatix, Big Fun Toys, Danger Diabolik Soundtrack, Mod Fashion Dolls, Cold War Archie, Playboy Bunny Interview, The 10th Victim Japanese and Kindle, U.N.C.L.E. Japanese Books, The 10th Victim German Edition, The Saint books return, Trina Robbins Interview, Catsuits, Batman '66 Green Hornet Interview: Ralph Garman Ty Templeton.
