This ninth 4-disc boxed set of the classic cult TV show is one of the better MST3K collections Rhino has assembled. Not that any of the others have been bad, but this one contains 4 solid episodes (not a weak one in the bunch), as well as an interesting bonus on two discs previous sets have lacked. Of course, it goes without saying that long-time fans will absolutely love this one.

Volume 9 features 3 episodes from the Joel Hodgson era, going WAY back this time to include an early episode, "Women of the Prehistoric Planet," which is easily the best one in the set. "Wild Rebels," about an undercover race car driver, also has some great one-liners and amusing sketches. The weakest episode is "The Sinister Urge," a film originally directed by Ed Wood (along with the short, "Keeping Clean & Neat"). While it's very funny, Ed Wood is such a historically inept director that his films don't really need ribbing by the MST3K boys to be enjoyed, in addition to the fact that the preceding short has been previously included in an earlier boxed set. "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living And Became Mixed-Up Zombies," is one of the better Mike Nelson-era episodes, though the linking sketches (featuring the Pearl Forrester character) are sort of weak. Of course, any "MST3K" on disc is a good thing, and Volume 9 benefits from a great selection of episodes. But, as with my general criticism of the entire "MST3K Collection" series in general, this set is needlessly spread out over four discs. There's no real reason to feature only one episode per disc, when these sets would be more enticing to buyers as either 4 episode/2 disc sets, or 8 episode/4 disc sets. Then again, maybe Rhino is well-aware of the fervent cult following this long-since-cancelled program has, who happily will shell out the cash regardless of how illogically packaged these sets are.

Given the bargain-basement quality that gave the show its charm, commenting on the transfer quality of these sets is almost redundant. All I can really say is the picture and sound rendering on these discs is typical of the episodes when they first aired. Hell, no one buys a boxed set like this for the video/audio quality, anyway.

Discs 1 & 3 feature introductions by Irene Tsu & Conrad Brooks, whom appeared in the original films, which is sort of a cool extra previous collections don't have. It's nice to see the two have a sense of humor about their inclusion in this set.

At the rate they are going, Rhino can probably put out boxed sets of "MST3K" well into the next decade, and die-hard fans will scoop them up as soon as they are released (perhaps making this review a bit redundant). Volume 9 is great collection of choice episodes, easily worth repeated viewings. Highly recommended.