Plot: What’s it about?
While a lot of villains have dreamed of world domination, none have chased that fantasy with the kind of dedicated shown by Baron von Butcher. Baron plans to rule the entire world with an iron fist, with help from an underworld league of crooks, thugs, and maniacs. The Underworld Master Plan is what Baron calls his rogues gallery of evil doers, which is filled with skilled villains who share his vision of a world under their control. While Baron is indeed a driven leader, he finds himself thwarted in his efforts time and again, thanks to the work of the Agency to Prevent Evil. With Commander Darwin at the lead, APE fights back against baddies like Baron, with elite agents like Lancelot Link. Link and his partner Mata Hairi have spoiled Baron’s plots each time, but Baron remains focused and hatches new plans all the time. Can Link and the rest of APE keep Baron’s evil plots on ice forever, or will Baron finally realize his goal and have the world under his opposable thumb?
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The series looks quite good here, given the age of the material. The visual presentation here was taken from the original masters, which probably has a lot to do with how solid the images are. The colors have held up well, while black levels are a touch soft, but this is a product of the time more than anything else. Some signs of age and general wear are evident, but overall the episodes look terrific.
Audio: How does it sound?
The soundtrack is in the same boat as the visuals, more than solid, but with some minor age related concerns. The track is on the thin side, but then no one should expect explosive audio here. I didn’t pick up on much hiss or harshness, which is great news, while the dialogue is clear and always easy to hear. The wild music also sounds good, so fans of the Evolution Revolution should be thrilled.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The supplements here include interviews with producer Allan Sandler and musical director Bob Emenegger, as well as all of the Evolution Revolution vignettes. You’ll also find the I Created Lancelot Link featurette, a slideshow of still photos, and 2011 footage of the chimp who played Lancelot Link. I found this last extra to be awesome, as you can see the chimp in his retirement, enjoying life at the Wildlife Waystation in Los Angeles.