Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Singles Collection DVD Retrospective

Release Date:  May 22, 2018

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Episodes Featured:
The Crawling Hand
The Hellcats
Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
Eegah
I Accuse My Parents

Also Featured:
Shorts Volume 3

Mystery Science Theater 3000 has always had a flirtation with home video, way back in the day when video recording every episode and trading them with other fans was our version of catching different Pokemon or whatever-the-fuck kids do now.  MST officially released on home video markets just made sense, starting with Rhino Home Video VHS tapes in 1996 which eventually evolved into DVD versions of those tapes.  At the height of DVD, the market shifted into seasonal box sets for television shows, which for various reasons wasn't feasible for MST.  So they did compilation volumes of random episodes, but that wasn't before Rhino had already released ten episodes as single discs.

Years later, Shout Factory began their campaign to release as much of the series as possible on home media.  They did pretty well too, even re-releasing out of print Rhino volumes in their own editions (ignoring Rhino's home video rights clusterfucks of Amazing Colossal Man and Godzilla vs. Megalon, though properly releasing Women of the Prehistoric Planet, which Rhino never did).  But that left Rhino's single DVDs out of print and without a home.  Early on, Shout tried a single disc strategy with previously released episodes that didn't quite catch on, then decided to concentrate on re-releases of box sets.  Shout wound up releasing a good amount of the previously available Rhino library through one means or another, but in the end there were still five episodes left in the library that were still unavailable (not including the afore mentioned rights nightmare episodes), which included a few fan favorites.

So, here they are, in a multi-episode package Shout cheekily titled The Singles Collection, using a "singles bar" theme.  But if you're unfamiliar with the history of these episodes, the joke here is entirely lost on you.  This isn't just a set for bachelors.  "I can't buy that one!  I'm happily married!"

Okay, so the downside is that this isn't a complete collection of the previous singles (neveryoumind that Santa Claus Conquers the Martians was never a true "single").  Ideally, as many episodes as possible would be gathered up in group sets.  Mitchell and The Brain that Wouldn't Die were released on the 25th Anniversary Edition set and "Manos" The Hands of Fate had a very special two-disc single by Shout, which celebrates what is unquestionably the most popular episode of the series.  Then there is The Wild Wild World of Batwoman, Beginning of the End, and Red Zone Cuba, which were all released as online exclusive singles.  While technically Shout released discs of those episodes, their exclusion of these for more pricey, close to chest releases is very disappointing.

But what of the episodes that are here?  Joel-heavy, but pretty great selection.  Eegah and I Accuse My Parents are worth the price of admission, while Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is also a solid inclusion.  The Crawling Hand and The Hellcats are okay bonus episodes (though Hellcats does seem to be disliked), but I doubt many people will be buying this set for them.  Also, we have Shorts Volume 3 for some reason.  Some good shorts, some not-so-good shorts.

Average Rating (out of 4):  3

The packaging is in a slim case similar to that of the re-release volumes, with artwork that depicts Crow and Servo presumably mingling at a singles bar with a pair of drinks, while the Crawling Hand reaches for Servo's (or Servo's neck, one or the other).  In the backdrop, there are drawings of characters featured in the films socializing behind them, including Santa Claus, a Martian, Linda from Hellcats, and Charles Blake from I Accuse My Parents.  Transfers and audio are pretty great across the board.

Bonus features are heavy.  Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Eegah, and I Accuse My Parents each feature introductions by Joel Hodgson, who reflects on the trio of fan favorites.  There are also a pair of great documentaries, Don't Knock the Strock (which chronicles Crawling Hand director Herbert L. Strock) and The Man on Poverty Row (the story of I Accuse My Parents/Mad Monster/Lost Continent/Radar Secret Service director Sam Newfeld).  Rounding out the set are MST Hour wraps for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and I Accuse My Parents, and trailers for The Crawling Hand, The Hellcats, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, and Eegah.

Disc art is Shout's traditional starry backdrop with title logos.  Interestingly, the title logos are more elaborate than that of the ones seen on other re-release sets, which leads me to believe that maybe some artwork for these episodes might have been commissioned that we haven't seen, but maybe the logos were made when the artwork for the box set was made.  But that's insider stuff that I don't know the slightest thing about.  Episode menus are standard theater seats against a starry backdrop with an episode title.

The bottom line about this set is that it's a better value than seeking out the Rhino singles, and the presentation is mostly just better.  Santa Claus Conquers the Martians has better video and Eegah doesn't have an obnoxious icon cluttering up the screen upon every viewing.  Plus there are more bonus features, unless one absolutely has to have unriffed versions of The Crawling Hand, Hellcats, and Eegah (though the blu-ray of Eegah would probably be the preferable option, honestly).  The lack of Mike episodes is a downer, but three of the episodes are can't-miss, and with five episodes total and a shorts compilation with a few heavy hitters, this set is a must own for every MSTie, while Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, Eegah, and I Accuse My Parents would be a great starter kit for new fans.  The Singles Collection is for everyone, not just the bachelors.