Review: ‘Reaper Season One’ DVD
2007 was a pretty big year for television, bringing us great shows such as [[[Pushing Daisies]]], [[[Californication]]], and [[[Chuck]]], and some duds like [[[Cavemen]]], [[[Bionic Woman]]], and [[[Aliens in America]]]. One gem that seemed to slip through the cracks you can now catch on DVD, in the ABC Studios and The CW’s [[[Reaper]]].
The show followed ne’er-do-well Sam Oliver (Bret Harrison) on his 18th birthday when he is told by his parents that they sold his soul when he was born and now must suffer the wrath of The Devil (Ray Wise). Turns out that the Devil actually likes Sam and proposes that, rather than go to hell for eternity, he takes the role as the Reaper, a bounty hunter capturing escaped souls and returning them to hell. Sam reluctantly agrees, tries to fight it, but eventually comes to the realization that this may just be the first thing he’s actually good at. Alongside Sam are his faithful companions Sock (Tyler Labine) and Ben (Rick Gonzalez), his girlfriend Andi (Missy Peregrym) and along the way they come across a cavalcade of TV favorites, including names like Patton Oswalt, Michael Ian Black, and Angel‘s Mercedes McNab. The show may be about demons and the different levels of hell, but at it’s core; the show is about the birth of a hero, and what it takes to balance the live of fighting evil, with a part time job at a home improvement store.
The show was bounced around more than once on the schedule, finally finding a home right after [[[Smallville]]] on Thursdays. Once the writers’ strike hit, the show suffered like many others, and went into a several week hiatus, but returned strong and finished off season one with a bang. Finally, you can catch all of the laughs and thrills of the season at your leisure as Lionsgate Home Video released Reaper Season One on DVD.
Along with all 18 episodes on 5 discs, you get a great collections of extras including audio commentary on the pilot episode from series creators Tara Butter, Michele Fazekas, and Debra Spera. Also included is a gag reel that shows just how much laughs go into making us laugh (running at 4:30) and a collection of deleted and extended scenes from the past season, which runs at 7:22. The packaging of the box comes together pretty nicely, with a lenticular cover and a plastic slipcover, it would be a nice addition to your DVD collection.
Overall, Reaper is easily one of the better things produced on TV over the past 2 years, and with another 13 episodes picked up for 2009, you are going to want to be caught up on this Network TV Gem, and you won’t be disappointed.
Overall Rating: 8/10
DC Executive Editor Dan DiDio told Geoff Boucher of the 
Adult-only website 
Tor Books has announced the release of Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card. After twenty-three years, this is the first true, direct sequel to the award-winning Ender’s Game.
Marvel sent along the variant cxovers to two of the mutan ttitles tying in with the Bring On The Bad Guys company-wide event. The covers are to Uncanny X-Men #505 by series artist Greg Land, and Young X-Men #9, by Adi Granov.
The Wall Street Journal notes that comic strip characters are increasingly being hired in India as spokesmen for products such as Dilbert shilling for cell phone manufacturer Nokia.
Max Allan Collins will be writing a third Quarry novel for Hard Case Crime. On the heels of the recent The First Quarry, Collins will be authoring Quarry in the Middle which the celebrated publisher will release in time for Christmas 2009.
Top Cow sent along the cover to Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein illustrated by Wizard Fan Award-winning artist Greg Horn (Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk). This one-shot issue kicks off the move of superstar creator Paul Dini’s line of characters in the Dinicartoons universe to Top Cow.
IDW Publishing is holding its first ever sale of comic books and graphic novels at its San Diego headquarters on Saturday, December 6, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. This is a fantastic opportunity for comic book collectors to scoop up some real bargains and hunt down some rare titles they may have missed, including some limited editions and signed copies – all at bargain prices. There will be surprises and giveaways with every purchase.
One of the most important and successful garage bands of all time, the Archies return for the Christmas season with The Archies Christmas Album featuring Betty & Veronica! The Riverdale High quintet scored several top 40 hits, with "Sugar, Sugar" becoming the No. 1 song of the year. The Archies have been named one of the top ten Coolest Cartoon Rockers by AOL Music. Just in time for the Holiday season, band members Archie Andrews, Reggie Mantle, Betty Cooper, Veronica Lodge & Jughead Jones are pleased to release their new album. The Archies Christmas Party combines the best of their trademark sound with the radio sensibilities of today.
