SteelBook Alert: If There’s Something Weird, and It Don’t Look Good…

Collectors take note: A bunch of new Blu-ray SteelBooks for hit movies and popular franchises were announced recently. Unfortunately, some of them are more attractive than others.

‘Captain America: Civil War’

Available at: Best Buy
Release date: Sept. 13, 2016
Price: $29.99

It’s practically a given that every new Marvel movie will get the SteelBook treatment, and Best Buy has locked down the exclusive American distribution rights to most of the recent ones. I like the concept of this case’s artwork, though I’d prefer if the movie’s title was printed on the front cover somewhere. Also, wouldn’t Iron Man’s circular arc reactor have made a better juxtaposition with Cap’s shield than his face mask does?

Captain America Civil War SteelBook

Captain America Civil War SteelBook outside

Captain America Civil War SteelBook inside

Over in the UK, Zavvi has a listing that shows some different artwork. However, the image is clearly marked that the design is not final and is subject to change. I feel pretty confident that it will wind up being identical to the American release (except that the movie’s title won’t be printed anywhere on it, not even the spine).

Captain America Civil War UK SteelBook

‘Ghostbusters’ & ‘Ghostbusters II’

Available at: Best Buy
Release date: July 5, 2016
Price: $17.99

I just can’t get on board with this so-called “pop art” fad that seems to be all the rage on many recent SteelBooks and other Blu-ray cases. This cartoony artwork for the original ‘Ghostbusters’ and its sequel looks hideous to me.

Ghostbusters SteelBook

Available at: Best Buy
Release date: July 5, 2016
Price: $17.99

Ghostbusters II SteelBook

If you’re a big fan of the first film and would like to store it in a better looking case, this older SteelBook from the UK is still available and has a much simpler, more elegant design. Just be aware that the disc inside this case is the old Blu-ray from 2009 with the crappy video transfer. You’ll basically have to throw that out and replace it with a remastered Blu-ray you buy separately. Fortunately, the SteelBook is cheap enough right now to make that a viable option.

Ghostbusters UK SteelBook

‘Daredevil: Season 1’

Available at: Zavvi
Release date: Oct. 3, 2016
Price: £29.99
Region code: Unconfirmed. Listing says Region B.

For a much more effective implementation of the comic book design aesthetic, this UK release of Marvel’s ‘Daredevil’ series feels a lot more appropriate. At present, the Netflix show has only been announced for Blu-ray in the UK. Whether a corresponding American release will follow is unclear at the moment.

Daredevil Season 1 SteelBook

8 comments

    • SugarBear

      Maybe when UHD is mor than a teeny tiny niche market.
      For now, they will probably either replace the DVD copy or 3D copy in the existing steelbook releases.

  1. Chris B

    I’ll buy the Civil War SB day 1, but I’m a little dissapponted by the artwork. The winter soldier’s with cap standing in the dropship was a hell of a lot cooler.

    I’m not a big fan of the SB for Ghostbusters, but the sequel’s is pretty damn cool. The whole river of ooze in the tunnel drawing really created a feeling of depth. However, I already own both movies in the digibook and refuse to double-dip.

  2. EM

    I feel compelled to point out that the older Ghostbusters cover is at least as cartoony a piece of pop art as the new covers. 🙂 But I agree that the older artwork is simpler and more elegant; it’s classic and iconic, and the new artwork is not. (Like Chris, I do like the artwork for II…but I think it makes a better cover for a comic book than for a movie.)

  3. Nick

    The old Ghostbusters steelbook is very nice indeed – shame about the disc!

    The new Ghostbusters steelbooks are an abomination! They just look horrible. How anyone can like these designs is beyond me…

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