Well, I did what I said I couldn't do, in spite of myself - rushed out and got the Darkwing Volume 1 set today. Even at only $25, my wallet doth weep (times are tough), but I personally weep tears of joy.

First, the bad news, the pilot is included, but it's the episode version as opposed to the special version, meaning that it was edited for time (mostly small cuts, but the entire opening sequence with DW vs the street punks is absent), its soundtrack reworked to fit, and the whole thing sped up ever so slightly. Not the end of the world (especially since a work buddy will be lending me his copy of the uncut version, released on VHS years ago, to copy for myself), but a minor disappointment.
Also, the people producing it went by syndication airdate. This means two things: the Saturday morning episodes count as extra seasons for syndication purposes, meaning we won't get classic episodes like Brush With Oblivion or the Brainteasers entries until Volume 3 or maybe (if they stretch this out) 4. It also means that, just as they did 15 years ago, the episodes don't follow strict chronological order. Days of Blunder, featuring Quackerjack, aired long before his official first appearance in Whiffle While You Work. Paraducks aired before Dr. Sara Bellum was introduced officially in Heavy Mental, which aired much later. The Justice Ducks two-parter aired and featured Liquidator before he was introduced in Dry Hard, which aired much later. In all those examples, the former episodes are part of Volume 1 while the latter ones are not. Naturally, fans are used to this (it IS how they were originally shown, after all), but how much effort would it have taken to re-order them properly?

Now, the good news: These are NOT the Toon Disney edits. That is to say, outside of the pilot (whose editing was for time, not content), each of these is the full episode as it originally aired. This became evident while watching You Sweat Your Life, wherein Herb tries to leave aerobics class early. In the Toon Disney edit, the instructor jumps on his chest and informs him schedules and procedures are strictly enforced, then QuickCut to the next scene. In the full version, she does the same, but at the end of the scene, points a gun in his face and adds, "...and I do mean STRICTLY." I can't tell you how awesome it was when I came to realize this. It was like Christmas. This renews hope for proper restoration to episodes like Heavy Mental and Time & Punishment.

One final note: Disney courted Gargoyles fans with uncut Volume sets before and then yanked the dream away after poor sales. What I'm saying is, if you like Darkwing even a little bit, and don't support this release, I will hunt you down and bite you as hard as I can.

So, please. Buy it.

This thread had good timing...I just got done with both episodes of the "Justice Ducks". That second episode...I knew every line by heart from years ago (my tape got eaten), but it was still great seeing it all play out again. Honestly, one of my favorite cartoon/animation episodes ever (if not flat-out #1). It's just gold because you have so many different characters from the series getting JUST the right amount of spotlight, plus the awesome fight scene/sight gags/lines. Actually made a lot of the other episodes seem tame by comparison. Every so often the "Someone fell into Devil's Gorge and has a compound fracture of the lower mandible" line pops into my head at random...I imagine this one got the edit job from Toon Disney, because of the elaborate torture set-up. They couldn't have left that intact, once "the switch" went off...Dunno if they would have let the classic "Let's KILL Nega-Duck" thing in either.

I REALLY feel bad for kids growing up with the junk they have on TV nowadays afterschool...No Disney Afternoon, no Toonami, no Tiny Toons. I didn't appreciate Darkwing enough when he was on every afternoon, but I can't wait to see all of those episodes I missed.

Just a note: Best Buy is having a deal, where if you get the Darkwing and Tailspin sets, you save $10 instantly ($25 apiece, both for $40). While I don't think Tailspin can hold Darkwing's gas gun, it did have some episodes I remember quite well, so I picked that up too. The last part of the pilot (where the pirates are blowing up the city) is actually pretty uncomfortable to watch...Or at least it was several years ago.

Edit: To be fair about sales, I haven't seen the Ducktales or Rescue Rangers sets at Best Buy for a LONG time. I know they're available online, but it's not like Disney was giving them the hard sell. Also Gargoyles...I think I've seen it in at least 3 different sections at Best Buy. It's not under the "Disney" section, but rather with the rest of the TV boxsets. And while it's definitely worth the money, $31 for 13 episodes (the season 2 set) does seem a little steep, especially compared to the other Disney Afternoon sets. That's getting into the anime set price range...

Just checked, and I thought I'd add: The "Double Darkwings" on the set is the B version, but it was by the show's creators, not PC censorhounds. Long story short, the original A version had Jumbalaya Jake causing the blackout by getting Gumbo to bite down on powerlines, and the B version completely supplants this with a scene in which the two put "Granny's Stew" into a phone receiver to achieve the same effect. The A version was only ever shown twice, and has probably been destroyed.

Only one edit I remember (highlight to read): no Morgana head-squishy

Actually, they did, if I remember right.

Consider this a Viewer's Choice list; my personal Top 12 (alphabetically):

A Brush With Oblivion
Adopt-A-Con
Battle of the Brainteasers
Calm A Chameleon
The Haunting of Mr. Banana Brain
In Like Blunt
Inside Binkie's Brain
Just Us Justice Ducks (I mean, come on)
Life, the Negaverse, and Everything
Stressed to Kill
Tiff of the Titans (home to best Pelican's Island joke ever)
Twitching Channels

I decided to hold off on TaleSpin until I know if it's edited or not, because the only show Toon Disney hobbled worse was Chip 'n Dale. Tell me this: in part 1 of the pilot arc, does Karnage say, "This is no time for a Chinese fire drill"?

Yes indeed...11:27 into the first episode, those words left Karnage's mouth. You know, I can see why that would be cut, but...Geez, two thumbs down to a paranoid society.

Anything else you want me to check? I'm actually interested in finding out what exactly was cut/altered from these shows, since I never considered a single thing from them offensive back in the Disney Afternoon era.

What I can't believe: After 911, the scenes of the city being blown up are intact, skyscrapers and falling debris and all. Maybe I'm just becoming a member/victim of paranoid society, but that does immediately bring 911 to mind, seeing it now. Hopefully, no one willing to complain to Disney about it will feel the same way. Great music cue in the section though. I had forgotten what a good villain Karnage was...

OK, here's one more to check: in Spy in the Ointment, does Rebecca still try to threaten the oncoming shadow with a gun, while erroneously pointing it at herself?

What's really ridiculous about some of the edits made to the series, is some of them were for change in tone. In Baloo Switcheroo, for instance, the archaeologist swears to Karnage he'll never give in and reveal where the idol has gone, but presented with (I believe) a sword toward his nose, spills his guts like a wuss. The Toon Disney edit uses the "gut-spilling" animation part, but QuickEdits the "swearing never to tell bit" over it, and skips to the next scene.