In the overall scheme of things, the merger of Marvel Entertainment Group (creator of Fantastic Four, the Hulk and Spiderman among others) and Walt Disney Studios (creator of Mickey what’s-his-name) is not going to cure world hunger or solve the country’s indecision on healthcare. It might however give the entertainment industry a much-needed kick in the pants in addition to giving Disney control of one of the preeminent comic book publisher in North America.

According to Robert A. Iger, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company the transaction “…combines Marvel’s strong global brand and world-renowned library of characters with Disney’s creative skills, unparalleled global portfolio of entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximizes the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories..”

The merger seems to favor Disney more than perhaps Marvel. Whether comic book fans will support comic books that have Spider-Man and Mickey Mouse in the same comic book universe remains to be seen. Having said that, it seems logical that kids who enjoy the adventures of Goofy will have the opportunity to get turned on to the Avengers or the Hulk. There are potential cross-over opportunites. Marvel has recently released their own Iron Man cartoon, Iron Man Armored Adventures.

Commented Ike Perlmutter, Marvel’s Chief Executive Officer, “…Disney is the perfect home for Marvel’s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses.” At the same time, Despite Marvel’s familiar brand name, it can’t hurt to be partnered with Walt Disney. A name so ingrained in the public consciousness that you have to wonder if there remains a location somewhere in the world where Mickey Mouse and friends aren’t known.

Little House On The Prairie follows the lives of the Ingalls family as they settle on the banks of Plum Creek in the township of Walnut Grove, Kansas during the 1870’s. A true pioneer family, the story is seen through the eyes of the Ingalls’ middle-daughter, Laura (Melissa Gilbert), who experiences all the normal growing pains and emotions of a young girl growing up on the prairie. Carpenter Charles Ingalls (Michael Landon) and his former school teacher wife, Caroline (Karen Grassle), head up a family of three that includes two additional daughters, Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Carrie (Lindsay & Sidney Greenbush). The town also includes a loveable cast of supporting characters, such as Walnut Grove School teacher Eva Beadle (Charlotte Stewart), town doctor Hiram Baker (Kevin Hagen), pastor Robert Alden (Dabbs Greer), family friend Isaiah Edwards (Victor French), the wealthy Oleson family, and a host of other characters…

The Little House On The Prairie (Season 6) DVD features a number of dramatic episodes including the season premiere “Back to School” in which Walnut Grove gets a new schoolteacher named Eliza Wilder. Laura falls in love with her brother Almanzo, but is devastated when Nellie invites him over for dinner. Desperate, Laura volunteers to cook the dinner, adding extra spices, and when Nellie takes credit for cooking the dinner, Almanzo ignores her from then on… Other notable episodes from Season 6 include “The Preacher Takes a Wife” in which Mrs. Craig and Reverend Alden get married despite the protests of Mrs. Oleson, and “Sweet Sixteen” in which Laura and Almanzo strike up a romance when Almanzo drives her to a nearby town where she is temporarily teaching school…

Below is a list of episodes included on the Little House On The Prairie (Season 6) DVD:

Episode 113 (Back to School: Part 1) Air Date: 09-17-1979
Episode 114 (Back to School: Part 2) Air Date: 09-24-1979
Episode 115 (The Family Tree) Air Date: 10-01-1979
Episode 116 (The Third Miracle) Air Date: 10-08-1979
Episode 117 (Annabelle) Air Date: 10-15-1979
Episode 118 (The Preacher Takes a Wife) Air Date: 10-22-1979
Episode 119 (The Halloween Dream) Air Date: 10-29-1979
Episode 120 (The Little House Years: Part 1) Air Date: 11-15-1979
Episode 121 (The Little House Years: Part 2) Air Date: 11-15-1979
Episode 122 (The Little House Years: Part 3) Air Date: 11-15-1979
Episode 123 (The Return of Mr. Edwards) Air Date: 11-05-1979
Episode 124 (The King is Dead) Air Date: 11-12-1979
Episode 125 (The Faith Healer) Air Date: 11-19-1979
Episode 126 (Author, Author) Air Date: 11-26-1979
Episode 127 (Crossed Connections) Air Date: 12-10-1979
Episode 128 (The Angry Heart) Air Date: 12-17-1979
Episode 129 (The Werewolf of Walnut Grove) Air Date: 01-07-1980
Episode 130 (What Ever Happened to the Class of ‘56?) Air Date: 01-14-1980
Episode 131 (Darkness is My Friend) Air Date: 01-21-1980
Episode 132 (Silent Promises) Air Date: 01-28-1980
Episode 133 (May We Make Them Proud) Air Date: 02-04-1980
Episode 134 (Wilder and Wilder) Air Date: 02-11-1980
Episode 135 (Second Spring) Air Date: 02-18-1980
Episode 136 (Sweet Sixteen) Air Date: 02-25-1980
Episode 137 (He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: Part 1) Air Date: 05-05-1980
Episode 138 (He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not: Part 2) Air Date: 05-12-1980

About the Author

Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Little House On The Prairie (Season 6) DVD.