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by Wayne Markley
DC just revealed plans to introduce an all ages line of comics so I believed it would be a great time to look at their re-imagining of the Hanna-Barbera characters (which were youngsters cartoons, although some were meant for adults at first), in addition to a new collection of the traditional Hanna-Barbera material from the 1990s as well as what I think about the very best DC book, month after month, as well as maybe the very best comic period every month, Scooby Doo Team-Up. DC is currently doing a number of fantastic books for younger readers, such as Scooby-Doo Team-Up as well as the DC Heroes women graphic novels. In addition to the books created for kids, DC made a decision to take traditional Hanna-Barbera characters as well as update them, I presume for adults. They likewise did this in the back-up stories in the recent DC/Hanna-Barbera team-ups. Future Quest/Adam Strange, Booster Gold/Flintstones, eco-friendly Lantern/Space Ghost, as well as suicide Squad/Banana splits all had short back-ups with modernized Hanna-Barbera characters, including Snagglepuss, top Cat, as well as others. I believe DC plans to introduce a lot more of these revised versions of the traditional animation characters down the road, as well as based on my evaluations of what they have done so far, as well as based on the short stories that were featured in these specials, I have mixed feelings about it. But, time will tell, so let’s look as what is already in print.
Future Quest
Future Quest just wrapped up its run of 12 problems written by Jeff Parker as well as drawn by “Doc” Evan Shaner, Steve Rude, Ron Randall, as well as others. The very first six problems are collected into one elegant bit trade as well as a second one with the second half of the story no question coming this autumn or sooner. This books takes nearly all of the Hanna-Barbera experience characters, including Johnny Quest, Birdman, area Ghost, the Impossibles, Galaxy Trio, as well as others, as well as throw, them in one legendary story as all of these characters join forces to fight an intergalactic menace. This book was gorgeous to read, even with the constant art changes. My issue is the book was sluggish to get started, the early problems were set up with a second story introducing the characters of the team to new readers, with generally origin stories. The second half of the series ended up being an all-out action thrill-ride as the heroes join forces to defeat the menace. I need to admit I was dissatisfied general with this series, however I suspect a few of that was my expectations. This book did experience from delays as well as a few problems were late, however having now checked out all twelve problems in one sitting, I can honestly state it was a fun ride, just not as fantastic as I had really hoped it would have been. I am positive that if they do one more series, which is the rumor, the book will checked out much much better as there is not the requirement for all of the explanations as to who these heroes are. Still worth inspecting out as well as reading.
Looney Tunes
Looney Tunes has been running on as well as off for nearly 70 years. DC has been creating a monthly Looney Tunes book for well over twenty years now with new stories of Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian, Porky Pig, as well as the rest of the cast. DC has never truly put much believed into this book; it comes out in a timely manner as well as it is always great for a smile. So I need to state I was delighted to see DC has released two volumes so far of Looney Tunes biggest Hits, which reprints six problems each time in sequence for the DC history of publishing Looney Tunes. Not the traditional material from the ‘40s with the ‘60s, however now I have hope. The very first volume is called Looney Tunes biggest Hits Vol.1: What’s Up, Doc? as well as reprints 14 stories from Looney Tunes #34-40. volume two is called Looney Tunes biggest Hits Vol. 2: You’re Despicable as well as it reprints Looney Tunes problems #41-47. There are a number of creators included here, as well as while a lot of are not well understood to superhero fans, they are all extremely skilled as well as any type of fan of the traditional cartoons that influenced these comics will take pleasure in this stories. A third collection is coming this summertime reprinting problems #48-53, as well as I for one as well as trying to find towards it. A fantastic checked out for fans of Looney Tunes of any type of age.
Scooby-Doo Team-Up #28
Scooby-Doo Team-Up is without concern my preferred DC book month after month. I like this book since it is fantastic for adults as it is full of pop culture references that youngsters will not get however it is likewise full of action as well as slapstick humor the young ones will love. Every problem has the Scooby gang as well as a new hero guest star, as well as the hero (or heroes) are the classic, or traditional, versions of the characters, be they DC heroes or traditional Hanna-Barbera characters. All the characters act as well as talk just as you would picture if you are a fan of the traditional material. The third trade just came out as well as consists of Scooby-Doo team Up problems #13-17. Written Sholly Fisch as well as beautifully drawn (mostly) by Dario Brizuela. a few of the guest stars in this volume include Aquaman, Flash(in a fantastic story with Gorilla Grodd), as well as Shazam; yes, the traditional C.C. Beck version of Billy Batson, his sibling Mary, as well as great old Captain marvel Jr. As I have raved about this book in the past, I am not going to dwell on this newest volume, except to state that I think about all three volumes, as well as nearly 50 single problems they have done so far (It is a digital very first title so on the internet there are far a lot more than the print versions so far) a few of the very best comics published every month, for any type of age. now stop reading this blog as well as go out as well as get one of these trades, or all three!
Flintstones
Flintstones was part of DC reimagined versions of the Hanna-Barbera characters, including Scooby Apocalypse, goofy Raceland, as well as Future Quest (which was less of a re-imagination, as well as was much better to the original ideas than the others). At very first I did not care for the Flintstones. I discovered it to be indicate spirited as well as just not my cup of tea (I did like the original Flintstones comics from Dell, Gold Key, Charlton, as well as even DC). This “re-imagination” was far from the source material, to me at least. Well, a visitor of this blog explained to me I was not being fair to the book so I went back as well as checked out the very first trade collection with the very first six issues, as well as he was right. Brian Juchems, I was wrong as well as apologize. writer mark Russell, together with artist Steve Pugh (whose art I have always liked) grew on me as the book went along. This is not the Flintstones I knew, this is still the Flintstones. everybody you would expect is there, including Fred, Barney, Wilma, as well as Betty. The stories are a mix of social commentary as well as snarky mindset with grew on me as I checked out the collection. I did not like the very first couple of issues, however when re-reading them in this trade I altered my mind as well as I saw the subtly in the composing as well as what Russell is trying, as well as succeeding, to do. There is a great deal of social commentary here, in addition to a few laughs, as well as a fair amount of food for thought. I am truly thankful I went back as well as checked out the trade after having provided up on the monthly book. There is a second trade coming this autumn with problems #7-12.
Wacky Raceland
Wacky Raceland was a six problem miniseries influenced by the traditional cartoon, The goofy Races as well as the Perils of Penelope Pitstop. regrettably it has bit to make with the original as it lacks the charm, silly humor, as well as slapstick enjoyment of the cartoons. Let’s be clear, the cartoons are not fantastic by any type of stretch of the imagination, however they are mindless fun. This miniseries is by writer Ken Pontac as well as artist Leonardo Manco. This series was clearly done to profit from the popularity of the most recent mad Max movie, as well as the mad Max franchise in general. however even if you are fans of that I would discover it difficult to believe you would take pleasure in this book. (There was a extremely great Max Max miniseries by DC a few years ago). My primary objection to this series is the “re-imaginations” of these original characters, such as Dick Dastardly, Penelope Pitstop, as well as Muttley, have bit to no resemblance to the original characters. instead of the slapstick humor as well as hi-jinks that made the original fun, these races are full of radioactive mutants, killers of all varieties, as well as general sheer mayhem as well as general unbridled violence. This original series was not about killing or violence, it was about stupidity. I comprehend DCs attempt to reach out to different audiences as well as I completely support that, however do it with new concepts as well as characters. If you want to do nostalgia characters, then do them with the like as well as respect that is shown in Scooby-Doo Team-Up.
Flintstones as well as the Jetsons Vol. 1
Recently, DC released the very first volume of the Flintstones as well as the Jetsons Vol. 1. This trade collects the very first six problems of the Flintstones as well as the Jetsons from the 1990s that ran 21 issues. These are stories with the traditional animation versions of Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty, Pebbles, as well as Bamm-Bamm. plus stories with George, Jane, Judy, Elroy, as well as of course, Astro. These are all fun stories that feel likethe source material. They are light hearted as well as funny while still making fun of contemporary pop culture, however not in the nearly heavy handed method that the present Flintstones book does. What I likewise truly took pleasure in about this collection was the large variety of creators, including Mike Carlin, Sam Henderson, Michael Kupperman, as well as others handing the scripting chores. On the art you had a large mix from the fantastic expense Wray to Ivan Brunetti to Stephen DeStefano to Mike DeCarlo as well as lots of others. If you are a fan of the traditional Flintstones or Jetsons then this book is for you. Not only will you discover your preferred households from the stone Age as well as the future, however you will likewise discover traditional guest stars such as the fantastic Gazoo!
I genuinely hope DC continues to mine their vaults of this traditional material. I would like to see collection of the early Scooby-Doo comics from DC, in addition to from Gold Key, Charlton, Marvel, Archie, Harvey, as well as Europe. in addition to collections of the traditional Dell as well as Gold crucial comics of Warner siblings characters. I do not have any type of high really hopes of seeing any type of substantial collections of Looney Tunes as well as Merry Medlodies or any type of other old stories from the DC vaults, however I can always hope. (Editor’s note: DC did release one volume of this traditional material, however it’s long out of print.)
Everything I have written right here is my viewpoint as well as does not show the thoughts or opinions of Westfield Comics or their employees. have you checked out any type of of these contemporary takes on these traditional characters? What do you think? Do you like them a lot more than me? Am I totally off base like I was with the Flintstones? I would like to know. I can be reached at MFBWAY@AOL.COM or on Facebook at Wayne Markley. I would like to hear from you, ether pro or con. As always…
Thank you.