Future Quest - Review

What if Hanna-Barbera's cartoon heroes existed as part of a shared universe? That's essentially the premise of Future Quest, a series that combines the casts of Jonny Quest, Space Ghost, Birdman and the Galaxy Trio, The Herculoids, Mightor and various other classic cartoons into one epic mash-up. This Saturday morning cartoon take on League of Extraordinary Gentlemen certainly has the nostalgia factor working for it, but the talented creative team ensure that this book is appealing regardless of your attachment to the Hanna-Barbera library.

Writer Jeff Parker and artist Evan "Doc" Shaner have already proven themselves to be a winning team when it comes to classic, old-school adventure tales. Future Quest is no different from books like Flash Gordon or Convergence: Shazam in that regard. The two creators immediately conjure a tone that captures all the charm and excitement of the these old shows, but with just enough modern storytelling sensibilities to smooth over any rough edges. The tone is lighthearted and playful, but there's still a clear sense of danger facing our heroes. Parker and Shaner wisely avoid bombarding readers with too many characters right out of the gate. This opening issue is largely driven by the Quest family, with Birdman and Space Ghost playing smaller roles. This allows the plot to unfold organically without becoming overcrowded.

Shaner's elegant art style definitely helps in that regard. One need only glance at the cover to know that this book captures the spirit of classic Hanna-Barbera animation. Shaner's work naturally fits that mold, particularly when it comes to channeling the elegant line-work of animator Alex Toth. Shaner's impeccably rendered pages always keep the script humming along at a smooth, steady pace. Over the course of this issue, Shaner is able to transition from epic sci-fi spectacle to James Bond-esque intrigue to Jonny Quest's teen adventurer antics without missing a beat. Meanwhile, Jordie Bellaire's lush colors add just the right blend of sentimentality and excitement to the page.

It is unfortunate that Shaner doesn't render this entire issue himself. Artist Steve Rude steps in for the majority of the final third of the book. It's not that Rude's style is dissimilar to Shaner's. Apart from the heavier line-work, Rude's art taps into a very similar, classical adventure vibe. It's that it's never encouraging to see fill-in art on the very first issue of a new series. Moreover, the opening prologue would have been a much more fitting place to bring in a second artist.

It's almost bizarre to read a completely straightforward and earnest take on Space Ghost and the Quest family after so many years of comedy-driven shows like Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and The Venture Bros. But if Future Quest proves anything, it's that these characters still work even without the satirical element. Future Quest, rather than trying to explore the dysfunction at the heart of the Quest family dynamic or molding Space Ghost into a brooding avenger (as was the case with DC's previous Space Ghost comic), this book embraces the characters and the more wholesome, innocent era they embody. Whether it explores the enduring friendship between Jonny and Hadji or revels in showcasing Birdman in action for the first time, there's a tangible sense of joy and excitement to this comic. Future Quest may not feature any traditional DC characters, but it's exactly the sort of book we need more of from DC.