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Film Title: The Super Hero Squad Show: Vol. 1

 Best for ages: 3 and up.

Movie Website:  Click Here

Year Released: 2010

Rated: G (US)

The Review

     I have been a fan of comic book super hero’s since I was a young kid.  The Hulk was always a favorite of mine, as was Captain American and Spider-man.  The cartoons we had back in the day were a bit more extreme and violent, and for a three or four year old they were not a suitable watch, however, back then. Our parents didn’t really think of them as problematic. Yet, times do change and some of the things that were looked over when I was kid, have been cleaned up a bit for a new generation.  Marvel, knowing that the times have changed has taken their greatest of heroes and teamed them up against their greatest of villains and has made them more kid friendly with The Super Hero Squad Show. The show has been such a hit among younger kids, including my daughter, and now it is finally available on DVD for the first time.

   If you have never seen the show, the heroes are made to look kid friendly while not losing their great look and appeal. There attitudes are more comical than serious, yet the battle of good vs. evil is still the premise of each show.  Lead by Iron Man, the super hero Squad team of good guys includes, Captain America, Thor, Wolverine, The Hulk, Falcon, Reptile, Ms. Marvel, and Silver Surfer with certain feature characters in the marvel universe making appearances throughout the episodes to help the Squadies.  The villainous clan is headed by Doctor Doom, with Modok, Abomination and Moleman by his side, with others villains as well showing their heads from time to time in different episodes. I really like how the creators of the show introduce new characters from show to show and include them in the storylines. It gives kids a sense of all the heroes and villains in the super hero universe and although there is a lot of pointless humor and action, there are some moral and valuable lesions to be learned throughout each episode.

    The storyline is fairly simple for kids to follow. The heroes are trying their best to defend Super Hero City, from Doctor Doom and his gang. Doom wants one thing; Fractals! He needs all these fractals in order to put together the infinity sword which will give him the power to rule the world. The Super Hero Squad however will not put up with Doom, and they try to beat him to the punch and collect the fractals and keep them safe so Doom and any other villain will not use them for greed and power. However, each fractal is very dangerous and as we learn throughout the episodes they can sometimes do more harm than good if handled improperly.

   The Show has a TV-7 rating. However, although the show has some cartoon violence, it’s not as over the top as say Looney Toons or Tom & Jerry violence. Sure there is fighting and objects are thrown around and super heroes thrown from the sky and so on. Yet it is done in such a manner that it’s not to over the top where the heroes are extremely hurt. Yet, I don’t want parents to think this is a cartoon where you can leave your young child in front of the television set and not expect them to imitate what they are viewing.  There are some scenes in certain episodes that I myself don’t find to be appropriate for children under the age of seven to watch. But; as a parent who’s child loves super heroes, this is the most non-violent super hero show on the television.  Every time my daughter watches the show, I watch it with her. I myself have always been a fan of super hero’s and I really enjoy the show. So whenever a certain scene pops up that raises a potential problem, I am there to reinforce it, and tell my young one that silly acts like this only happen in cartoon and are not appropriate actions for child to do. Words such as dumb and stupid are used from time to time as well, but all in comical ways.  The trio of Doctor Doom, Modok, and Abomination use these words most of the time, but there time on screen together is a lot like watching the three stooges.  It’s a show that you really have to be careful of how your younger ones handle it. My daughter likes the music and the characters, more than the storyline and action. However as a parent you should be the judge if you think your young one will be able to handle the show, before introducing it to them.

     The DVD features the first 7 episodes from Season One plus all-new bonus features. The shows feature guest voices of some well known talent such as Adrian Pasdar (Heroes), Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica), Greg Grunberg (Heroes), James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Lena Headey (Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) and creator Stan Lee!

    Overall, I am a big fan of the show and so is my young daughter, It’s a DVD that upon its arrival I have viewed more than a dozen times.  The Super Hero Squad Show song is very catchy and kids just seem to love to dance to it and sing it out loud. It’s a catch song parents, so watch it; it will get stuck in your head and you will find yourself singing it all the time. However, like I mentioned above the show does have some animated violence and may not be suitable for younger viewers, however it is the safer alterative to the other, more mature super hero cartoons that are shown on television.  The DVD will be released on July 13^th and  is well worth the buy for young boys and girls who really like their super heroes.

BUY THIS MOVIE.