Welcome to another cartoonish edition of Top 5 Fridays! If you haven't heard the news, at the end of March we will be getting a preview of the next wave of Hanna-Barbera Beyond comics. While I am sad to see that Future Quest could be on the chopping block of cancellation, I am happy to see that DC isn't afraid to continue to explore the world of Hanna-Barbera. I don't think it's a stretch to say that a lot of people know and love the characters, so seeing them be reborn onto the page ha been nice. It made me think about what characters or storylines I would like to see in a future wave of Hanna-Barbera, so that's what I'm going to talk about today. As always this is not an opinion based list, so if you don't see a character you like, I apologize. Enough talk! Let's grab our bowls of cereal and check out this lineup!
5: Dynomutt
While I can't say he would soar if he had his own series, I think he could play a major part in the scooby apocalypse series or Future Quest 2(don't worry, I'll cover that in a second). Dynomutt's origin and powers could make him a suitable candidate for both worlds, with a few drawbacks. For the Scooby Apocalypse, Dynomutt could be the end goal of the project Scooby was made for. The ultimate military dog that could communicate with fellow soldiers, and has technology integrated into his system to be a dangerous weapon. He could start out as an enemy and turn into a friend as he reverts to the lovable goof we know and love. The only true problem with him being in the book would be his Superhero design, as well as his partner, Blue Falcon. Due to this, that would also make the pair suited to the world of Future Quest. That world is filled with masked heroes and villains, with brilliant scientists. Creating a cyborg dog seems pretty easy compared to the work Dr. Quest and Linda Conroy do. Either way, Dynomutt could be an epic or hilarious addition to either series.
4: Yogi Bear
Again, another character that might not sell well in a standalone series, but could do wonders in one of the upcoming series, such as Snagglepuss or even Banana Splits. Yogi Bear is comedic, fun to interact with, and iconic for adults and kids. The bear can be pointed out anywhere, but the true problem with his character is that he is a little bit one-dimensional. His iconic motivation of getting "pic-a-nic baskets" isn't something people would be clamoring for. However, in other crossover series, we see him step up and have him become a leader from time to time. There is a character in there, but we need time to flesh him out. Snagglepuss' series might be a good place to start. The pair have crossed over several times, and have worked together for the sake of comedy. With Snagglepuss now having a series involving him heading to the stage, maybe it's time for Yogi to join him once again.
3: Wacky Races
Okay, let's be real. Wacky Raceland was NOT Wacky Races. It was a Mad Max knockoff trying to be Wacky Races. The reason I believe Flintstones and Future quest ended up being so successful is because they stuck to what made them popular in the first place. Scooby Apocalypse does the same thing with its characters, but thrust into a new scenario we haven't seen before. If Wacky Races ever wanted to be successful, it would have been best to have them start off in their memorable setting. Following the adventures of all the different racers in cross country Races, with devious traps set along the way. If one really wanted to change things to be taken more seriously, how about instead of changing the whole setting, just change one character: Penelope Pitstop. While I didn't like the series, I have to commend Wacky Raceland for at least trying to make Penelope into a badass rather than the usual damsel in distress she was in the original show. Make it a world of racing espionage that has Penelope take down Dick Dastardly if you think Wacky Races original premise won't sell. Do anything but change the fun world into something dark.
2: Future Quest 2
While the sales haven't shown it, Future Quest is a critical smash. It's a fun action-adventure with memorable moments and characters. In my last review, I mentioned how there were bits of the comic that I would call cinematic. I still stand by that statement, believing like most movies nowadays, this one should get a sequel. As of right now, there are a few mysteries left unanswered as we enter the climax to the story. What is The origin of Omnikron? How is the rest of the universe dealing with this threat to their dimensions? What are villainous races like Zorak's doing as Space Ghost is nowhere to stop them? Where is Birdman's galaxy trio? A sequel series could follow any of these questions, or search the history of Hanna-Barbera characters to create a new one. Perhaps step towards the mystical side of Hanna-Barbera with characters such as Shazzan or Samson. Whether it be heading towards the stars or not, I will always welcome another adventure in the world of Future Quest.
1: Flintstones/Jetsons
While the series is already going to be showcased at the end of March, a good way to promote a set of characters is by having them come on to an already published series. Enter this crossover. The modern stone age family meeting the family of tomorrow. The concept alone is the ultimate "fish out of water" story, making plenty of comedic moments for the writers to exploit. It can contain the same social commentary that the current Flintstones series and find a way to mix the Jetsons into it. Yes, I already know of the actual cartoon crossover, but that was decades ago. The writers of both series have a chance to bring the humor and satire back to the forefront in this crossover, while making it more modern than ever before.
That's it for this week's Top 5 Friday! What Hanna-Barbera story or character do you want to see come into the new wave of comics? Leave a comment and I'll see you next time!
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