Ultra Q: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

Ultra Q: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie Review

Mill Creek has released a SteelBook packaging variant for 'Ultra Q.' The disc and digital content is identical to that found in the wide release. See the 'Special Features and Extras' section of the review below for more on the SteelBook's look and feel.

Ultra Q: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

For a Blu-ray video review, please click here.

Ultra Q: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

For a Blu-ray audio review, please click here.

Ultra Q: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The SteelBook feels smooth and has a mild gloss and reflectivity about it, but it will not show fingerprints. The front cover features the show's title, debossed, center, the same color as the surrounding background: an off-white which is basically a glob in the center. Around the periphery are depictions of various monsters from the show in a monochromatic blue-gray color against a shiny silver backdrop. The rear panel is much the same in terms of color presentation. One particular creature takes center stage, a worm-like creature with eye stems protruding from its head. Another monster appears rear-right while a few characters appear underneath, moving right to left behind some cover. The spine features the series' title center in black letters against the same off-white background seen on the front. A creature in the blue-gray color makes an appearance at the bottom, as does a Mill Creek logo. At the top is a red banner inside of which is "Series 1" text in white. One of the most interesting points of interest, almost an "Easter egg," is the show's title appearing in Japanese along the side opposite the spine where the set opens.

Inside, the digital copy code floats; there are no tabs to hold it down. The four discs are presented two to a side, stacked directly on top of one another on a single hub. The inner print is a two-panel spread that depicts a pattern of red and green globs against a gray background.

Ultra Q: The Complete Series contains no supplements across any of the four discs. The main menu screens on each disc only offer the opportunity to toggle subtitles on and off in addition to selecting any of the disc's episodes, which are vertically oriented. The set does ship with an impressively assembled booklet that includes glossy pages, numerous black-and-white photographs, and plenty of text. It begins with an introductory essay on Eiji Tsuburaya and Tsuburaya Productions, a broad series introduction, detailed episode synopses, key monster explorations, and character and technology guides. Mill Creek has put together a comprehensive series breakdown in a relatively small space. While it's disappointing that there are no video-biased extras, this compact handbook is a treasure and a necessity for newcomers just getting their feet wet in the universe. The book ships underneath the plastic slipcover, outside of the SteelBook case.

That plastic cover features some baked-on text, including the show's title in black on the front (which sits over the SteelBook's debossed lettering). Above is the text "the series that started it all." In the top left corner is a small vertical banner that says "Series One" in red letters on white background and the Blu-ray logo plus digital in white on red. The rear side includes the usual information, from a UPC to a synopsis, from tech specs to legalese. The spines are transparent and blank.

Ultra Q: The Complete Series Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mill Creek has hit a home run with its Ultra Q SteelBook. The presentation is first-class, from color and debossing to the plastic slip cover and the Easter egg on the side opposite the spine. Some fans might rightly balk at the discs being stacked on top of one another, but the total package is certainly very good, which includes the on-disc content (minus the disappointing lack of video features). The SteelBook does include the booklet, and the plastic slipcover is large enough to hold both it and the SteelBook. All of that and it's only a few dollars more than the standard version. Highly recommended.