Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Review: FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS #1

FUTURE QUEST PRESENTS No. 1
DC COMICS – @DCComics

[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]

STORY: Jeff Parker
ARTISTS: Ariel Olivetti
COLORS: Ariel Olivetti
LETTERS: A Larger World Studios
COVER: Ariel Olivetti
VARIANT COVER: Steve Rude
32pp, Color, $3.99 U.S. (October 2017)

Rated “T” for “Teen”

“The Quest Reborn!”

“Space Ghost” was an American animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions.  The series was created by animation conceptual artist, Alex Toth (who is also considered a legendary comic book artist) and was produced and directed by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera.  A half-hour show, “Space Ghost” first aired on CBS from September 10, 1966, to September 7, 1968.

“Space Ghost” starred a mysterious superhero named Space Ghost, who fought supervillains in outer space.  He was assisted by two teenaged sidekicks, a girl named Jan and a boy named Jace, and their monkey named “Blip.”  Space Ghost has made sporadic appearances in comic books.  He returned in a slightly rebooted version in DC Comics' comic book miniseries, “Future Quest” (2016), which brought together characters from Hanna-Barbera's science fiction superhero animated TV series of the 1960 and early 1970s.

Now, Space Ghost and company get a their own story in the new Future Quest Presents.  This Space Ghost adventure is written by Future Quest scribe, Jeff Parker; drawn and painted by Ariel Olivetti (who drew DC's 2005 Space Ghost six-issue miniseries); and lettered by A Larger World Studio.

Future Quest Presents #1 opens with Space Ghost dispatching a band of raiders.  Then, it moves to a school where we find Jan and Jace learning about a history in which they recently played a part.  History is emphasized, as Space Ghost is planning to revive the “Space Force,” of which he is the sole surviving member.  First, he will need to begin gathering a metal that was important to the Space Force.  That means a trip with Jan and Jack and Blip to Amzot, the planet of his friends, The Herculoids.  But also waiting is an old enemy.

Future Quest Presents #1 is by no means great or even particularly good, but I'll take it.  I have been a Space Ghost fan since I was a little kid, and there have never been enough Space Ghost comic books to suit me.  Yeah, I expect more from writer Jeff Parker than I got here, especially coming off the wonderful Hanna-Barber tribute that was Future Quest.  Hopefully, the series/story arc gets stronger.

I am a fan of artist Ariel Olivetti, and I did like his art in the one issue of the 2005 Space Ghost miniseries that I did read (issue #2).  Here, he is inconsistent, but I think Olivetti may deliver some really good art and graphical storytelling as he gains momentum.

I am rooting for this comic book, and I plan to read the entire run – whether it is ultimately good or middling.

6.5 out of 10

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.

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