The Flintstones: Volume One Review

Finished reading The Flintstones: Volume One, as part of DC's Hanna-Barbera imprint writer Mark Russell brings the world of the Flintstones to life in comic book form with a very intriguing modern twist. The book opens in a museum in present day as a tour guide is showing an exhibit on Bedrock before transiting to a thriving Bedrock where Fred Flintstone is asked by his boss Mister Stone to give three Neanderthals that have just been hired the tour of the town. The next story sees Fred dealing with the introduction of television which leads to the Flintstones and the rest of Bedrock dealing with shopping for to many things that they can't afford. The following story begins with Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm on a school trip to the towns cave of science and technology where they witness the launch of a spaceship with a chimpanzee named Sergeant Grumbles burning up in the atmosphere, gets noticed by an alien race who catalog Earth which inadvertent leads to Bedrock becoming a alien holiday destination. The fourth story of the book sees Fred and Wilma coming to a couples retreat with the subject of marriage coming under scrutiny due to the fact that is a very new concept in this time period. The penultimate story sees Bedrock in the middle of electing a new mayor which reminds Fred and Barney of their time as solders in the war that lead to Bedrock being built after a war with the area's previous inhabitants. The final story sees the whole two of Bedrock dealing with the a oncoming threat of an asteroid that could see the end of the town. Overall this was an amazing book as writer Mark Russell brings the classic Stone Age family to life with a story that is filled with social and potential comedy that makes these characters more assessable with the fact of them dealing with similar situations that people to day are in which brings a nice amount of comedy as well. There is some great character interactions as with how character relationships are show while also helping to give some great extensive background to characters and Bedrock. The art by artist Steve Pugh is amazing as Bedrock and is citizens, human and animal alike are brought to life with the familiar look of the classic cartoon with a more modern twist thanks to little subtle hints to modern society. While the addition of the colour palette used by colourist Chris Chuckry helps to bring the feel of the Stone Age to life with how it compares the couple of pages set in present day and the characters past as kids and before they moved to Bedrock looks even more set in the past. 9/10.