The Brak Show, Vol. 2
The Brak Show Volume 2compiles the final 14 episodes of this truly offbeat Cartoon Network series (2000-2004), which spun the dim-witted space pirate Brak fromCartoon PlanetandSpace Ghost: Coast to Coastinto a very skewed sort of family sitcom, albeit one with aliens, killer robots, dissolute magicians, and an insectoid best friend who wants nothing more than to kill the star of the show. As in the first volume ofThe Brak Show, our hero (voiced by Andy Merrill) lives with his mom (Joanna Daniel, who replaced Marsha Crenshaw) and miniature dad (George Lowe) in a picture-perfect suburban town somewhere in deep space; this time around, Brak's adventures include entering a rap contest to win a trip to a spa resort ("Brak Street," with guest star Cee-Lo of Danger Mouse), discovering exactly what Dad does with his time ("We Ski in Peace"), and winning his own TV show in Japan ("Sexy New Brak Show Go"). It goes without saying thatThe Brak Showis an acquired taste for those that aren't already fanatical about Adult Swim titles, but for those that can roll with the surreal stories and humor, there are a lot of quirky laughs to be found here, especially from Merrill's performance as the slow-witted but eager Brak. Note to fans: the two-disc Volume 2 set includes no supplemental features (unlike the previous set), and also excludes the second-to-last episode, "New Year's Eve Party at Brak's House," which not only explained the future of the show's characters, but included guest appearances by the casts ofAqua Teen Hunger Force,Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, andSealab 2021.--Paul Gaita