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Future Quest #1 - Part One: Lights In the Sky

5

This book is a dream come true for Hanna-Barbera fans and the start of a great adventure for everyone.

Growing up, Hanna-Barbera was my religion. So many hours were spent worshiping the good word they provide through numerous animated series. Like many, when DC Comics announced revamping and releasing several new titles based on their characters, there was no way to avoid the feelings of pure excitement and insurmountable fear. Future Quest was taking the task of focusing on Jonny Quest crossing over with a huge number of other Hanna-Barbera characters. This could either be one of the most brilliant things we've seen done with the characters or it could be a disappointing failure.

With Jeff Parker, Evan "Doc" Shaner, Steve Rude, and Jordie Bellaire at the helm, there should have been no need to worry.

Parker has shown us he is fully capable of channeling the essence of classic characters on titles such as Flash Gordon, Kings Watch, and Batman '66. Parker is definitely the right person to drive this series forward. Shaner and Rude also capture the essence of the characters. One of the biggest challenges is creating a cohesive and believable world for all these different characters to co-exist within. Not all Hanna-Barbera character have the same visual style, and this comic immediately convinces you they can all exist together. Bellaire's colors, as with each book she colors, is the glue that holds everything together. When the art shifts from Shaner to Rude, the story doesn't skip a beat.

As great as the series is for fans of the characters, it also serves as a good jumping on point for those unfamiliar with them all. This issue serves as both a set up for the entire story for new readers while also playing to the nostalgia factor of older fans. The story unfolds at the perfect pace. It doesn't matter how familiar you are with the characters. You immediately see what's happening and get a good idea how everyone will be involved.

Future Quest is a book for everyone. It doesn't matter if you grew up with the various Hanna-Barbera characters or are seeing them here for the first time. We're given a grandiose story that hits all the right marks. We have an incredible creative team and the book is offering everything I could have asked for. I don't just want to read the next issue, I need to read it. The fact that this series now exists makes me extremely happy.