The Get Backers are a pair of young guys, Ban and Ginji, who run a business retrieving stolen or lost objects.  Business isn't very good right now.  They live in their car, and have run up a huge tab at a local restaurant.  Even giving their lowly standing, they are quite good at their job.  Once they take on a job, these goofy guys always recover the object they are sent after.

Part of the reason for this amazing success rate is that both members of the team have superpowers.  Ginji is a human electric eel, who can generate a powerful electric charge with his hands, and Ban has a 'jag-on' the ability to create a powerful illusion for up to a minute.  With these powers, and a stubborn streak that doesn't allow them to give up, the Get Backers are able to recover just about anything.

This program has a good mixture of humor and action.  Ban and Ginji are always bickering and getting into ridiculous situations.  They never have any money, and if they do happen to get some cash, it's not too long before they lose it.  There are a couple of running gags that become more humorous the more times they are shown, and each episode has a good share of laughs.

Being at least partially a superhero show, there is a good amount of action too.  Just about every episode ends with a fight scene with the Get Backers using their powers to overcome superior forces.  The fights are entertaining and don't get repetitive, at least in this first volume.

I really liked this show.  The shows were at times funny and touching and exciting, but more than that it didn't fall into the trap of becoming a formula show.  Just when you think that each episode is going to follow the same basic outline, they break things up with a multipart story, and add some interesting supporting characters and villains.  Both main characters have a mysterious background that is slowly being revealed, and this mystery about their past adds a lot to the show.  Overall a fun show that's well worth checking out.

The first five episodes of this series are presented on a single DVD that comes in an Amaray case with an insert listing the titles of the episodes and the extras.

Audio:

This DVD offers the choice of the original Japanese in stereo, or a 5.1 English dub.  I viewed the show with both soundtracks, and they were both very good, sounding clear and having good range.  While I liked the original audio track, the 5.1 dub was more dynamic with a little more strength to the bass.  Good use was made of the rear speakers too.  The English voice actors did a good job, putting feeling into the characters without making them sound goofy like some dubs.  Whichever audio track you end up listneing to, you'll be pleased.

Video:

The anamorphic widescreen image looked very good.  The colors were bright and the image was sharp.  Digital defects were at a minimum, with just a little aliasing in the background being noticeable.  All around a good looking DVD.

Extras:

There were a good number of extras included with this DVD.  In addition to clean opening and closing animation and some production sketches, there was also an 18 minute interview with English Voice Actors J. Shanon Weaver (Ginji), Kelly Dealyn (Natsumi), Corey Gagne (Paul), Ellie McBride (Hven), and Shannon McCormick (Akabane,) which were a little standard but still pretty interesting.

There were commentaries for episode one with Lowell Bartholomee (English ADR director,) Dan Deitz (English ADR script writer,) and J Shanon Weaver (Ginji) and on episode 5 with Lowell Bartholomee; Dan Deitz; J Shanon Weaver and Shannon McCormick (Akabane.)  The commentaries are sedate, which is a good thing.  I really get tired of the 'party' atmosphere that many group commentaries have.  In both episodes the creators talk about how they chose the voices for the characters, adapting the script from the Japanese, and how working with anime is different than acting or directing plays on the stage.  There are a lot of jokes and amusing moments that make the commentaries fun to listen to.

Final Thoughts:

With an ample five shows on the disc, two commentaries and an interview reel, this disc offers a lot of value.  Even more importantly, this is a fun show that manages to mix the right amount of action and humor.  I had a great time watching it, and look forward to the next volume.  Highly Recommended.