A long-awaited first of three volumes of The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones finally arrives on DVD in a spectacular 12-disc set with more special features then you can crack a whip at. With the first seven feature-length episodes of the critically acclaimed show, this box set also contains a whopping 38 companion documentaries, historical overviews, and an interactive game and timeline.

Lucasfilm's documentary unit, headed by CBS news veteran David Schneider, created the 38 all-new companion featurettes specifically for this DVD release. With insights from scholars and historians, the documentaries perfectly complement all of the adventures of young Indy. Martin Scorsese, James Earl Jones, Colin Powell, Henry Kissinger, Gloria Steinem and many more offer their opinions and commentary to this definitive collection.

Shot in 35 countries and employing the talents of the industry's most distinguished filmmakers, the series won 11 Emmy Awards and 26 nominations during its two-year run. Sean Patrick Flanery stars as a teenage Indy, and Corey Carrier stars as the nine-year-old Jones. Guest stars include Christopher Lee, Vanessa Redgrave, Anne Heche, Elizabeth Hurley, Catherine Zeta Jones, Daniel Craig and more. Directors such as Joe Johnston (The Rocketeer), Nicholas Roeg (The Man Who Fell to Earth) and Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) worked on the series, as well as writers Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption) and Jon Hensleigh (Die Hard With a Vengeance).

Volume 2 was announced for a December 18th release and Volume 3 in Spring 2008. Paramount also mentioned that the complete series will be released shortly thereafter, which will be unfortunate for those who can't wait.

During Indy's extensive travels and high-stakes adventures, he meets many great historical figures and the screenwriters found a way to include much of the same adventure from the movies into the show, as well as to educate about such notable historical events.

“My First Adventure” takes Indy into Egypt and around North Africa, aided by the legendary T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). “Passion for Life” sees Indy hanging out with Teddy Roosevelt and then Norman Rockwell, Pablo Picasso and Edgar Degas. In “Perils of Cupid” Indy falls for the daughter of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and must consult Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung.

“Travels With Father” sees our favorite adventurer running away from home and traveling with the novelist Leo Tolstoy while “Journey of Radiance” finds Indy learning about faith with Jiddu Krishnamurti. In “Spring Break Adventure” young Jones and his girlfriend visit the Thomas Edison laboratory, and later he is swept up in the Mexican Revolution after being kidnapped by Pancho Villa. “Loves Sweet Song” finds Indy mixed up in several love affairs, ending in an explosive Zeppelin raid and dinner with Winston Churchill.

While most of these episodes contain quite a bit of educational elements, they make certain to entertain above all else. Nostalgic, historical and always exciting, The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones have long been demanded on DVD and now that wish has been granted.

- Mike Massie