BEST. DVD COLLECTION. EVER.

One night in April of 1987, my brother Dan insisted that the whole family stop whatever we were doing to watch some show I’d never even heard of called The Tracey Ullman Show.  One of us must have grumbled about it, because he launched into a defensive explanation immediately. 
“Remember the guy I worked for at the Comic-Con a few years back, Matt Groening?” he asked, and was met with blank stares.  “You know the guy who sent me the autographed Life in Hell book? Well tonight he’s going to have a cartoon on The Tracy Ulman Show!” His tone made it clear that we were missing just how exciting this was.  None the less, we all patiently sat waiting to see this “amazing” cartoon, much more I suspect because of my brother’s awe of the man who’d remembered the 12-year-old boy volunteer enough to mail him an autographed book, than because we actually expected anything amazing.  Little did we all know we were actually watching history being made.

Twenty-two years later The Simpsons TV show is in its 21^st season.  For years I watched it religiously, and still catch episodes whenever I can,  yet I’d never bought any of the seasons on DVD.  After reviewing the season 12 DVDs I can tell you that will definitely be changing.  With five days at the San Diego Comic-Con fresh in my mind I spent at least half an hour just enjoying the details of the packaging artwork, consisting of scene after scene of Simpsons characters attending the “BI-MON-SCI-FI-CON”, which could only have been created by artists who’d seen more than a few conventions in their time.

The attention to detail given to the makeup of the DVD’s was also fantastic.  The unique menus, the animations on the main menu screens, and the sheer wealth of special features were amazing.  More than that, I found I really enjoyed watching the full season of episodes again, seeing where the never-aging characters were nine years ago, and marveling at how I could still be surprised by them.  Catching episodes that somehow I’d managed never to see originally, and remembering my favorite bits and favorite episodes from the season. 

By far my favorite of the special features was the "Comic Book Guy: Best. Moments. Ever." Featurette.  Like myself, I suspect that every real Simpsons fan not only knows a “Comic Book Guy” but has more than a bit of him in them.  I laughed through the entire featurette.  I’ve always enjoy deleted scenes because its great insight into what goes into the process of deciding the balance between “just enough” and “too much” in the given time period of a show, and this season included a ton of them.  It’s also a great chance to showcase what might have been a really great scene if only time had allowed for it, giving the viewer a chance to appreciate writing and performances they would otherwise have missed.
Seeing this season of The Simpsons again, and getting to appreciate all of the extra work and attention that went into the smallest details and the biggest extra features, has convinced me that I need to start my Simpsons DVD collection now.  That way someday I’ll not only be able to tell my grandchildren the story of how I saw it live when the whole thing started, but show them with 21+ seasons of fantastic entertainment why that was such an amazing thing.  I suggest you all do the same.
Thanks Dan for making us all watch, and thanks Mr. Groening for inspiring a 12-year-old Comic-Con volunteer enough for him to give me the chance of becoming such a big fan!

  
The Simpsons: The Twelfth SeasonSpecial Features:
All episodes are compiled on four discs (full frame, aspect ratio 1.33:1).  Each episode is presented with English 5.1 Dolby Surround, Spanish and French Stereo and English, French and Spanish subtitles.  The following is a breakdown of each disc:
 
Disc One:

• Treehouse of Horror XI
• A Tale of Two Springfields
• Insane Clown Poppy
• Lisa the Tree Hugger
• Homer vs. Dignity
• Additional Bonus Features Include:

§         Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
§         Illustrated Commentary: Lisa the Tree Hugger
§         Animation Showcase: Treehouse of Horror XI
§         Deleted Scenes
§         Special Language Feature: Homer Vs. Dignity
 
Disc Two:

• The Computer Wore Menace Shoes
• The Great Money Caper
• Skinner’s Sense of Snow
• HOMR
• Pokey Mom
• Worst Episode Ever
• Additional Bonus Features Include:

§         Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
§         Deleted Scenes
§         Comic Book Guy: Best. Moments. Ever. featurette
§         Illustrated Commentary: HOMR
 
Disc Three:

• Tennis the Menace
• Day of the Jackanapes
• New Kids on the Blecch
• Hungry, Hungry Homer
• Bye Bye Nerdie
• Simpsons Safari
• Additional Bonus Features Include:

§         Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
§         Deleted Scenes
§         Animation Showcase: Day of the Jackanapes
 
Disc Four:

• Trilogy of Error
• I’m Goin’ to Praiseland
• Children of a Lesser Clod
• Simpson Tall Tales
• Additional Bonus Features Include:

§         Commentaries featuring Executives Producers, Writers, Directors, Cast and many more
§         Deleted Scenes with optional commentary by Executive Producer Mike Scully
§         Global Fanfest
§         Sketch Gallery
§         Illustrated Commentary: I’m Goin’ to Praiseland
§         The Commercials

 ComicsOnline gives The Simpsons: The Twelfth Season 4 out of 5 mint copies of Radioactive Man #1!