The Jetsons #1 Review

Meet George Jetson...

Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Pier Brito
Colors: Alex Sinclair
Letters: Dave Sharpe
Cover Artists: Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts
Release Date: November 1, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99
Review by: Ryan Douglas

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

So I skipped out on the Booster Gold/The Flinstone's annual, which featured the Jetson's backup story leading into this mini-series. Did I have some excitement when I heard this was to be a thing? No. Intrigued? Yes. Let's find out if I'll regret agreeing to review this.

The issue opens with a roll call of each character and informing the reader each characters place in this world. George still works for Mr. Spacely, daughter Judy; is still into fashion and is preparing for a gala event, wife Jane; works for the International Space Station and keeping the planet safe, son Elroy; has the explorer itch and is one for deep-sea exploration, and Rosie is no longer the sassy robot and now holds the mind of the family's deceased grandmother. Weird right? Two pages in and if you grew up with the show, this isn't the Jetson's your grew up with. Oppose to trying to capture the same magic and style of what came before. The creative team has decided to bring a modern take on the property, in attempts to connect with old-time fans.

We catch up with Elroy and his ventures with Lake Cogswell, daughter of Mr. Cogswell. The two are exploring the deep-sea, as Elroy is in search of paintings from the past time to give his father a birthday present. Using a gelatin like sea, allows the two to swim and breath underwater. With no sorta breathing apparatus, things don't line up necessarily how these gelatin swim suits function properly. We're also never given a reason what makes these waters that dangerous. After the two acquire a painting, they make their way back to the ship and make their escape. As the two are flying away, within one panel the art identifies this comic takes place in our time and not the utopian future the original cartoon takes place in. This really takes away the fantasy aspect out of the series and reminds the reader we're all doomed. But the scene ends where Lake isn't paying attention and comes close to crashing into a building. When the ship grazes the top of the building, it falls overs on to what appears to be a caches of mines and missiles buried in the ground. There's an explosion that ignites underwater, but seems Elroy and Lake were far enough away to not feel the ripples? I can't get past the lack of logic there.

Now we move on to Jane and as she conducts a meeting with disclosed council members. It's brought to the reader's attention that there's a lodged meteor in the sea, being named Jacob, that will ignite within days. The council has decided to keep this under raps to not cause a panic to ensue. Jane determined's to resolve this threat through science opposed to getting politics involved. Within this scene Jimmy Palmiotti slides in real world topics, in attempts to relate with the audience who are now adults revisiting this property.

Okay, the decision to swap out of personalities of Rosie for George's mother is plan creepy. It makes for a very uncomfortable scene to read. George is trying to catch some rest after working overtime for Spacely, with Mom creeping on her son while he sleeps, decides to drag George out of bed. She wants to be the intruding mother and act as a maid while doing so. Her purpose for waking poor George up is to get things off the chest plate and give tons of exposition, catching up her transformation. The only thing that could make this interesting is if Mom goes full Space Odyssey and goes haywire.

The issue ends where George and Jane are talking through video call and catching up while Jane is off in space. Jane's dialogue and body language leads her to not spill the beans to her husband about the meteor threat. Too late cause the meteor buried in the ocean has fully ruptured finally sending shock waves those nearby can feel.  

If you're looking to revisit the Jetson's you grew up with or heard about it, you won't get that sort of nostalgia. It's obvious this series attempts to grow up with long time fans and place more of an adult vibe. Hanna Barbera properties are the perfect example of grabbing readers with nostalgia, giving new readers a chance to visit that particular time of cartoons. For example, parents would be more inclined to pick up the book to read with their child. I doubt parents want to discuss dead parents and global warming at such a young age. Lets keep it honest, how many average comic book readers are adding this to their pull? At least by appealing to both adults and children, you give this book more exposure. The subject matter in this issue is too heavy-handed for this property.

While the art is able to convey the futuristic world, it adds to the off-putting feel of the content. The art modernizes the character designs, making The Jetson's feel all too realistic.

Bits and Pieces:

If you're expecting a trip back to memory lane, skip this series. Out of all the Hanna-Barbera comics, Future Quest holds its ground by sticking to what came before and adding it's on flavor. The Jetson's series would rather make you question your sanity and thoughts you've had nightmares of. This comics needs more adventures, less psych evaluation.

4.8/10