PRODUCT REVIEW: Marvel’s Phase One Box Set

I am going to try to be as fair and balanced as possible during this review, but you have to understand: When my husband texted me yesterday with “IT’S HERE,” I knew exactly what he was talking about and demanded photographs.

What he was referring to was the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One Avengers Assembled Blu-Ray Box Set, or Phase One Box Set for short. This $150.00 special release from Marvel Studios contains all of the films leading up to Marvel’s The Avengers: Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, and of course, The Avengers. All discs are Blu-Ray format, packaged in cardboard sleeves featuring some amazing Matthew Ferguson art that blows the movie poster covers out of the water. Those alone deserve to be made available to all collectors. Included in the discs is a S.H.I.E.L.D. bonus disc – including special features and Agent Coulson’s film introductions from the AMC theater Phase One special events, as well as deleted scenes from the films.

But we’re not really paying $25 a Blu-Ray for 6 movies, are we now.

The box itself is made to resemble the Tesseract case in the movies, with a light-up S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on the front. Unfortunately it’s not metal, just plastic, but hopefully your Tesseract case won’t be undergoing any abuse at the hands of Loki, and the plastic is sturdy enough for its intended purposes. When opened, the Blu-Ray discs in their sleeves frame the piece de resistance : a plastic replica of the Tesseract that glows and flashes when turned on with a tap.

Fans might remember the initial release of the Phase One Box Set was delayed due to copyright issues. The replica of the original case violated a design copyright held by Rimowa, a German luggage company. Marvel pulled the case production and pre-order ability from Amazon.com, compensating fans that had pre-ordered with a Blu-Ray copy of the Avengers, as well as inserting extra footage, Easter Eggs and teasers.

The inside top of the case is the most detailed feature of the Phase One Box Set – S.H.I.E.L.D. official files on each Avenger. Containing more than just basic data sheets, these files contain blueprints, photographs, notes and items as seen in the films, and – my favorite – an official Stark Industries press release – written on a cocktail napkin. These items are rendered incredibly – nothing contains a glaring MARVEL logo or movie copyright to mar the apparent accuracy. These files are perfect for framed display or cosplay props – even the copyright on Agent Coulson’s Captain America cards is listed as ‘1951.’

For those who don’t mind a hint at a spoiler: The special S.H.I.E.L.D. file comes with a code and card that allows a would-be Agent to log online for a 5 minute preview of Marvel’s Phase Two Cinematic universe.

Is it worth the $150 price tag? For a hardcore fan, certainly. If you’re just interested in owning the movies on Blu-Ray, or getting the case as a toy for a child, I’d say no. The real appeal for me was taking the time to go through each file and read the articles, paperwork, and personal items contained. I definitely plan to frame some of the more interesting pieces – the Arc Reactor blueprint designed by Howard Stark and Anton Vanko is on the top of the list – and the case itself is a great display piece for an entertainment shelf, especially if you’re the sort of fan to have viewing parties and movie nights.

Truthfully, I think the best use of the case would be to get together an awesome Nick Fury, Agent Coulson, or Maria Hill cosplay for your next convention. Find yourself a Loki and have the best photoshoot ever! Either that, or the coolest lunchbox at work.