What a gracious age is this that allows one to own all 52 episodes of the original 1967-68 “Speed Racer” on shiny plastic discs for less than $66. (Less than $47 if you’re willing to buy used.) “Speed” was violent and fast-moving, with exciting multiepisodic plotting and lots of audible gasping.
There’s a giant “M” on the hood of James “Speed” Racer’s car and helmet, but it doesn’t stand for “Mach,” baby. The “M” stands for Mifune. As in Team Mifune and Toshiro Mifune. Because “Speed Racer” is just the retarded American title of Fuji Television’s “Mach Go Go Go,” the tale of young Formula One driver Go Mifune (and yes, he was named for the great Japanese film actor). Go started life as a manga character.
Go has a superhot helicopter-pilot girlfriend named Michi Shimura and a mechanic named Sabu. He is close to his mother, Aya, and father, Daisuke, who was a sumo wrestler before he turned to car-building. Go also has two brothers. Pre-teen Kurio keeps the company of a chimp named Senpei, and enjoys stowing away in trunks. Older brother Kenichi Mifune, by contrast, is estranged and secretly watches over Go as the fearsome Fukumen, a masked racer whose outfit bears a disturbing resemblance to the one worn by Slim Summers of the X-Men. (There’s even a fricking “X” on his forehead.) Kenichi and Daisuke had a falling out after Kenichi crashed one of his father’s cars, and Daisuke told Kenichi his poor driving did not bring honor to Team Mifune.
Kenichi Wah!
So Go has a complex legacy, and so much more. His storied vehicle has automatic jacks that can make it jump short distances, deployable tire grips that allow it to climb the steep mountains, rotary saws that can clear foliage in its path, a transparent envelope that can make the car airtight and bulletproof, miniwings that let the car glide short distances, an oxygen supply and periscope that allow the car to operate underwater, and a bird-like “homing robot” that can deliver messages or distract evildoers.
When the American rights to the series were purchased for syndication by Trans-Lux, a New Yorker named Peter Fernandez not only wrote the English-language dialogue but also personally provided the voices of Speed and estranged older brother Racer X.
Was “Speed Racer” American TV’s first major brush with anime? It was not, as NBC Enterprises had already adapted the animated sci-fi series “Tesuwan Atomu” into “Astro Boy” in the mid-1960s. But “Speed Racer” was the nation’s first major brush with color anime.
This final set of episodes includes “The Great Car Wrestling Match” (The Mach 5 enters a demolition derby), “Motorcycle Apaches” (Speed transports nuclear material through the American Southwest), “The Car With A Brain” (Speed must contend with a driverless “thinking car” that kidnaps a little girl), “Junk Car Grand Prix” (a very rich man holds a race with only of 17-year-old girl drivers), “The Car in the Sky” (the Mach 5 becomes a dirigible), “The Trick Race” (Speed learns his brother is Racer X), and both parts of “Race Around The World” (James “Speed” Racer becomes racing champion of the world).
TV-on-DVD Calendar
Last Week
The Addams Family Vol. 1
Batman Beyond 2.x
Batman Beyond 1.x/2.x
Beavis & Butthead Gift Set: Vols. 1-3 & Do America
Bewitched 4.x
Creature Comforts 2.x
DeGrassi: The Next Generation 4.x
The Facts of Life 3.x
Flavor of Love 2.x
Greg The Bunny: Best of the Film Parodies
Groovie Goolies: The Complete Series
Hamish MacBeth 2.x
Hannah Montana Vol. 1
Jonathan Creek 1.x
Justice League Unlimited 1.x
Krypto The Superdog Vol. 2
The L Word 3.x
The L Word: Three Season Pack
MacGyver 7.x
MacGyver: The Complete Series
Monarch of the Glen 5.x
Nightmares and Dreamscapes 1.x
The OC 3.x
SCTV: Best of the Early Years
Sesame Street: Old School 1969-1974
Slings & Arrows 2.x
SNL: Best of Saturday TV Funhouse
The Swan: The Complete Series
That's My Bush: The Complete Series
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea 2.x Vol. 1
Waking The Dead 1.x
Wings 3.x
This Week
Acapulco H.E.A.T. 2.x
Baywatch Syndicated 1.x
Baywatch Syndicated 2.x
CSI Miami 4.x
The Ghost Whisperer 1.x
Hardcastle & McCormick 1.x <--- NEW!!
The Hitchhiker Vol. 3
Inside The Actors' Studio: Icons
The Kids in the Hall: The Complete Series
Party @ the Palms 1.x
Speed Racer Vol. 5
SpongeBob SquarePants: Whale of a Birthday
Super Mario Bros. Vol. 2
Tales From The Crypt 5.x
A Touch of Frost 11.x/12.x
Next Week
Ark II: The Complete Series
Arrested Development: The Complete Series (50% Off) <--- NEW!!
Beverly Hills 90210 1.x
Clifford: Best Of Gift Set
Doctor Who: The Hand of Fear
Doctor Who: The Mark of Rani
Doctor Who 27.x Vol. 1
Doctor Who 27.x Vol. 2
Doctor Who 27.x Vol. 3
Doctor Who 27.x Vol. 4
The Electric Company: Best Of Vol. 2
Futurama 1.x-4.x <--- NEW!!
Grosse Pointe: The Complete Series
Grounded For Life 4.x
Inside The Actors Studio: Dave Chappelle
JAG 2.x
King of the Hill: 1.x-6.x <--- NEW!!
M*A*S*H 11.x
M*A*S*H: The Complete Series
Melrose Place 1.x
Millennium: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
New Fat Albert
Police Squad! The Complete Series
The Pretender: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
Reading Rainbow Buried Treasures
Reading Rainbow: Everyone Loves A Hero
Reading Rainbow Favorites
Reading Rainbow: From Sea to Shining Sea
Reading Rainbow Math is Everywhere
Roswell: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
The Shield 1.x-4.x <--- NEW!!
She-Ra: Best Of
The Sopranos 6.1-6.12
Ultraman Vol. 2
The West Wing 7.x
The West Wing: The Complete Series
The X-Files: The Complete Series <--- NEW!!
November 14
The Adventures of Superman 5.x/6.x
The Adventures of Superman: The Complete Series
The Adventures of the Gummi Bears 1.x-3.x
Black Books 2.x
Black Books 1.x/2.x
Columbo 6.x/7.x
CSI 6.x
DuckTales Vol. 2
The Family Guy 5.x
Family Guy 1.x-4.x
Friends: The Complete Series Collection
The Golden Girls 6.x
Gunsmoke: The Directors Collection
Home Improvement 5.x
Homicide: Life on the Street: The Complete Series
Little Britain 3.x
Lois & Clark 4.x
Looney Tunes: Golden Collection 4
NCIS 2.x
Northern Exposure 5.x
Quantum Leap 5.x
Reba 4.x
Rescue Rangers Vol. 2
Six Feet Under: The Complete Series
That Girl 2.x
3rd Rock From The Sun 6.x
November 21
Alias 5.x
Alias: The Complete Series Rambaldi Box
Boston Legal 2.x
Da Ali G Show: Da Compleet Seereez
Dark Shadows: Bloopers & Treasures
Dr. Katz: Professional Therapist 2.x
The Ed Sullivan Show: Elvis!
Family Affair 2.x
Girls Behaving Badly Vol. 1
How I Met Your Mother 1.x
Match Game '73: Best Of
Mother & Son 1.x
Perry Mason 1.x Vol. 2
Seinfeld 7.x
So NoTORIous 1.x
Star Trek: The Animated Series
Teddy Ruxpin Vol. 1-4
Voltron Vol. 2
November 28
Angel 1.x ($27.99 slimset)
Angel 2.x ($27.99 slimset)
Angel 3.x ($27.99 slimset)
Angel 4.x ($27.99 slimset)
Angel 5.x ($27.99 slimset)
Bones 1.x
Criminal Minds 1.x
Ellen 5.x
Flavor of Love 2.x
Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up 1.x
Joan of Arcadia 2.x
Little House on the Prairie: The Movies
Power Rangers Mystic Force 2.x
Power Rangers Mystic Force 3.x
7th Heaven 3.x
7th Heaven 1.x-3.x
Smallville 5.x [HD-DVD] <--- NEW!!
St. Elsewhere 1.x
Thundercats 2.x Vol. 2
Touched by an Angel 3.x Vol. 2
December 5
Adventures of the Little Prince Vol. 5
Adventures of the Little Prince Vol. 6
Animaniacs Vol. 2
Animaniacs Vol. 1-2
Cheyenne 1.x <--- NEW!!
The Dukes of Hazzard 7.x
Dungeons & Dragons: The Complete Series
Garfield: Behind the Scenes
Garfield: Behind the Scenes Plus Toy
Happy Tree Friends 1.x <--- NEW!!
Mission: Impossible 1.x
Pinky and the Brain Vol. 2
Pinky and the Brain Vol. 1-2
Roseanne 6.x
Saturday Night Live 1.x
Survivor 9.x: Vanuatu
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vol. 6
24 5.x
What's New, Scooby-Doo Vol. 10
December 12
The Andy Griffith Show 8.x
Full House 5.x
Full House 1.x-5.x
Gomer Pyle USMC 1.x
Law & Order: Criminal Intent 2.x
Stacked: The Complete Series
24 1.x-5.x (47% Off)
Wonder Showzen 1.x/2.x Giftset
December 19
Criss Angel: Mindfreak 2.x
ER 6.x
Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels 1.x
Hogan's Heroes 5.x
Married With Children 6.x
The Simpsons 9.x
December 26
Airwolf 2.x
Dane Cook's Tourgasm: The Complete Series
Davey & Goliath: The Lost Episodes
The New Adventures of He-Man Vol. 1 <--- NEW!!
Simple Life 4.x
Two-A-Days 1.x <--- NEW!!
January 2
Martin 1.x
January 9
MI-5 Vol. 4
A Pup Named Scooby-Doo Vol. 5
SpongeBob SquarePants 4.x Vol. 2
January 16
Allo Allo 6.x
Doctor Who 28.x
Doctor Who 27.x/28.x
My Hero 1.x
The Royle Family 1.x
Run's House 1.x/2.x <--- NEW!!
January 23
Avatar: The Last Airbender 2.x Vol. 1 <--- NEW!!
Walker: Texas Ranger 2.x <--- NEW!!
The Waltons 4.x
The Waltons 1.x-4.x
January 30
Dallas 6.x <--- NEW!!
February 6
Baywatch Syndicated 3.x
Ben 10 1.x <--- NEW!!
Charmed 7.x <--- NEW!!
Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo <--- NEW!!
February 13
Captain N The Game Master <--- NEW!!
Selected season-sets containing
some of Herc’s all-time favorite TV!!
$18.97 Moonlighting 1.x/2.x (25 episodes)
$20.99 ER 1.x (26 episodes)
$20.99 The Mary Tyler Moore Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$20.99Rocky & Bullwinkle 1.x (26 episodes)
$21.99 Soap 1.x (25 episodes)
$21.99 The Bob Newhart Show 1.x (24 episodes)
$22.96 The Venture Bros. 1.x (13 Episodes)
$23.12 The Tick Versus 1.x (12 episodes)
$26.99 The Tick: The Complete Series (9 Episodes)
$27.99 Angel 5.x (22 episodes)
$28.68 Friends 1.x (24 episodes)
$28.99 Taxi 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.46 Columbo 1.x (nine TV-movies)
$29.88 The Simpsons 2.x (22 episodes)
$29.97 Fawlty Towers: The Complete Series (12 episodes)
$29.99 The Rockford Files 1.x (22 episodes)
$29.99 Wonderfalls: The Complete Series (13 episodes)
$29.99 South Park 1.x (13 episodes)
$29.99 Oz 1.x (eight episodes)
$31.77 Curb Your Enthusiasm 1.x (10 episodes)
$31.99 Newsradio 1.x/2.x (29 episodes)
$31.99 Kung Fu 2.x (23 episodes)
$31.99 Cheers 1.x (23 episodes)
$31.99 Buffy The Vampire Slayer 4.x (22 episodes)
$31.99 Hill Street Blues 1.x (17 episodes)
$32.47 Seinfeld 3.x (23 episodes)
$34.99 The Andy Griffith Show 5.x (32 episodes)
$35.35 The Wild Wild West (28 episodes)
$35.95 Firefly: The Complete Series
$36.99 Undeclared: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$37.49 Futurama Vol. 2 (19 episodes)
$42.41 Veronica Mars 1.x (22 episodes)
$43.12 24 1.x (24 episodes)
$44.77 Gilmore Girls 4.x (22 episodes)
$44.77 The West Wing 1.x (22 episodes)
$44.77 Battlestar Galactica 1.x (13 episodes plus 4-hour mini)
$44.88 Lost 1.x (24 episodes)
$45.99 Freaks and Geeks: The Complete Series (18 episodes)
$47.84 The Sopranos 1.x (13 episodes)
$47.84 The Wire 1.x (13 episodes)
$47.99 Northern Exposure 3.x (23 episodes)
$51.55 The OC 1.x (27 episodes)
$51.99 Star Trek: The Next Generation 3.x (26 episodes)
$53.99 Murder One 1.x (23 episodes)
$53.99 Once and Again 1.x (22 episodes)
$53.99 SCTV Network 90 Vol. 1 (Nine 90-minute episodes)
$54.98 Twin Peaks 1.x minus pilot (seven episodes)
$59.98 Six Feet Under 1.x (13 episodes)
$60.47 Carnivale 1.x (12 episodes)
$60.47 Deadwood 1.x (13 episodes)
$62.99 The Dick Van Dyke Show 1.x (31 episodes)
$62.99 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 3.x (26 episodes)
$69.95 The Larry Sanders Show 1.x (13 episodes)
$69.98 Star Trek 2.x (26 episodes)
$71.98 Wiseguy 1.x (24 episodes)
$99.95 Monty Python: The Complete Series (45 episodes)
$103.99 The Twilight Zone 1.x (36 episodes)
$109.99 The Prisoner: The Complete Series (17 episodes)
$295.93 My So-Called Life: The Complete Series (19 episodes)<;;;;;img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=aintitcoolcoa-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />
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