Written by Jeff Parker
Art by Evan “Doc” Shaner; Steve Rude; Ron Randall; Jeff Parker; Jonathan Case; Aaron Lopresti; Karl Kesel; Craig Rousseau; Jordie Bellaire; Steve Buccellato; Hi-Fi; Jeremy Lawson; & Veronica Gandini
Cover Art by Evan “Doc” Shaner & Dave Lanphear
SUMMARY:
First published as individual comics in 2016, this 176-page DC Comics paperback compilation was released in 2017. Licensed by its fellow WarnerMedia subsidiary, DC Comics, most of Hanna-Barbera’s action heroes return in a cosmic plot reminiscent of DC’s Crisis on Infinite Earths meets Darwyn Cookie’s DC Universe: New Frontier.
With ominous galactic portals temporarily appearing on Earth, the extradimensional menace, Omnikron, seeks survival by escaping one piece at a time, if necessary, to presumably conquer Earth. Both Dr. Benton Quest’s team (including Birdman) and F.E.A.R. descend on the Florida Everglades to investigate the most recent portal. In another universe, Space Ghost faces Omnikron in a losing battle. Along with the Galaxy Trio, his three partners and the Phantom jet cruiser vanish. Also facing Omikron, the Herculoids, are similarly decimated and separated from one another.
With survivors converging on Earth, more heroes emerge (including the Impossibles; Frankenstein, Jr.; and a new Mightor), and others will fall. The Quests’ worst foe seeks to harness Omnikron’s planet-destroying power for his own evil ends. As the heroes ominously realize, the battle for survival has now only just begun.
Note: Issues # 6-12 are available in the Volume 2 trade paperback.
REVIEW:
Despite Omnikron’s unoriginality (see DC’s New Frontier), Future Quest, Volume 1 is an impressive feat. Up front, two items ought to be addressed: 1. Having prior knowledge of these characters is certainly helpful; and 2. writer Jeff Parker gears this team-up for an older audience than the elementary school crowd these characters were meant for. Thankfully, he doesn’t resort to having Jonny Quest mouthing off profanities (the book’s dialogue is remarkably clean, by the way). It’s still readily noticeable how there’s more violence (i.e. some characters are shown being killed off) than old school fans might expect.
Parker’s approach (to his credit) is mostly faithful to and respectful of these G-rated Hanna-Barbera properties. He even includes his takes on some partial origins, including Space Ghost, the Herculoids, Birdman, and the Impossibles, as well as some brief character profiles (from the enemy’s scouting).
If anything, Parker’s storytelling is far more readable than DC’s recent and unnecessarily subversive approaches to The Flintstones, Blue Falcon & Dyno-Mutt, Ruff ‘N’ Reddy, Snagglepuss, & The Jetsons, among others – supposedly, to make these kiddie cartoon icons ‘adult-friendly.’ Though neither example happens here, it would have been cool had Blue Falcon shown up and meet Space Ghost, for instance, or maybe Parker could have thrown in some Teen Force and Space Ace cameos. Yet, Parker knows when to say when, as far as how many characters he can coherently juggle without muddling a whole slew of sub-plots.
This epic storyline, as a FYI, is non-linear, in terms of what all actually happens first. Parker spells out some flashbacks, while other segments are somewhat confusing (a deceased character is then seen alive, but it’s really a flashback just prior to the death). Another sequence has a new heroine Deva Sumadi simultaneously with the Quest squad and elsewhere with the Frankenstein, Jr. cast. One can only deduce this latter sequence is another unacknowledged flashback. Further linking the heroes together, Deva supervises The Impossibles quartet in a side story evidently occurring prior to Future Quest. Suffice to say, this newcomer, Deva, is a busy lady.
Also, Parker’s effort establishing Zin and Jezebel Jade as more than just one-dimensional F.E.A.R. terrorists creates intriguing potential as the heroes’ known opposition. The F.E.A.R. sequences are well-played, as far being as a legitimate threat to Jonny Quest, Birdman, etc.
Visually, the art squad is more than up for this ambitious challenge. Their big league-caliber visuals are a contemporary approach worthy of adapting Hanna-Barbera’s varying animation styles. While this event crossover could have been simplified to encourage more younger readers, Future Quest’s first half is a solid creative compromise worth exploring.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
After Issue # 6, writer Jeff Parker supplies a two-page explanation re: this project’s history. The covers are all re-produced in full-page form (in both color and black-and-white). The cover variants are also included in full-page color: Issue # 1’s five variants: Aaron Lopresti; Joe Quinones; Steve Rude & Steve Buccellato; Bill Sienkiewicz; & a black-and-white two-page coloring spread variant cover by Evan “Doc” Shaner; Issue # 2 variant: Jill Thompson; Issue # 3 variant: Karl Kerschl; Issue # 4 variant: Paul Renaud; Issue # 5 variant: Steve Rude & John Kalisz; & Issue # 6 variant: Dan Parent.
There is promo art from both Darwyn Cooke and Evan “Doc” Shaner. Also included are Shaner’s character designs. This trade paperback’s assortment of extras nearly rivals Dynamite’s Project Superpowers, Volume 1, for the most ‘bang’ for the buck.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
Note: The DC/Hanna-Barbera, Volume 1 trade paperback features an Adam Strange team-up with Jonny Quest, among others, in a Future Quest one-shot. The trade paperback also has Green Lantern Hal Jordan’s team-up with Space Ghost. Frankly, there are the only two above-average stories in the book.
