‘Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics’ Blu-Ray Review – Not Groundbreaking But Very Entertaining

Executive producer Robert Kirkman (“The Walking Dead”) is, first and foremost, a comic creator. His love for the craft knows no bounds, he says, and he shares that passion in this documentary series. The six hourlong episodes deep-dive into the stories, people and events that have transformed the world of comic books. Among those featured in interviews are Stan Lee, Patty Jenkins, Lynda Carter, Kevin Smith, Famke Janssen, J.K. Simmons, Michelle Rodriguez, and Todd McFarlane, among many others.

For in-depth thoughts on Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics, please see my previous piece here. 

Video Quality

Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics arrives on Blu-Ray featuring a gorgeous transfer with a variety of material rendered with great care. RLJE Entertainment spreads these six episodes over two discs which allows the content ample room to breathe where we can avoid any compression artifacts. The movie clips, panel artwork and other archival material presented seem to be the best versions that were available when the episodes were produced, with most of them looking pretty excellent. Interview segments and reenactments are very well shot and look incredibly crisp and clear with natural skin tones and subtle facial features on display. Every aspect of this transferlooks as technically superb as you would hope for in high definition. You will not find much to complain about here. 

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray disc comes with a rock solid DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that provides this show with a lovely presentation. This is mostly an interview show with numerous talking heads, along with some reenactments thrown in for good measure, and dialogue is the focus right up front in the center channel. Environmental sounds from some of the footage and the score make the soundscape feel a bit more open, but overall the show is not striving for an ambitious soundscape. This audio track is not pushing any boundaries, but all of the information flows through flawlessly. There are optional English SDH subtitles provided. 

Special Features

• Extended Interviews: Additional moments are spent with a few subjects as they relay interesting anecdotes that could not fit into the traditional episodes. There is some great material here, especially from Method Man discussing what comics mean to him, his prized possessions in his collection and more. 

• • Famke Janssen (2:37)

• • Robert Kirkman (3:10)

• • Method Man (2:28)

• • Patty Jenkins (3:11)

• • Richard Donner (1:16)

• • Stan Lee (2:00)

• A Closer Look: Additional footage is provided on some specific topics that could not be explored as thoroughly in the main show. Once again, there are some gems in here you will not want to miss. 

• • Black Panther (3:44)

• • Frank Miller (2:56)

• • Jack Kirby (2:25)

• • Lois Lane (2:28)

• • Seduction Of The Innocent (2:44)

• • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2:00)

Final Thoughts

Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics is not going to be unveiling any earth-shattering revelations for those who have a deep knowledge already, but it provides an easily digestible overview of a variety of different topics always ripe for discussion. The real gift of this show is the star power of the subjects they get to contribute both in the world of comics and Hollywood. It is comforting to hear about a subject you love discussed by charismatic, fascinating people. Go in with your expectations in check and you should have a great time. RLJE Entertainment has provided a Blu-Ray set with an excellent A/V presentation along with some great additional footage. If you generally like this format of entertainment-focused documentaries, this will probably treat you well. Recommended 

Robert Kirkman’s Secret History of Comics is currently available to purchase on Blu-Ray and DVD. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: RLJE Entertainment has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.