Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

The Flintstones #5

By Avi Weinryb
November 3, 2016 - 10:14

If you’re expecting cute dinosaurs and talking record player birds, you’re out of luck. The Great Gazoo will not be showing up here. This is a Yabba-dabba-doo free zone. Rather, The Flintstones is played relatively straight, with a city of neanderthals struggling with all the challenges of life. War, death, life, infertility and marital strife are all present in this sobering but engaging issue. With lines like “We participated in a genocide, Barney”, you can’t expect the Flintstones stories with which you grew up!

A mayoral election is underway in Bedrock and a top candidate seems to be a warmonger. This leads Fred and Barney down memory lane as they remember the war they fought against tribesfolk in the forest that would eventually become Bedrock. Fred and Barney were misled into thinking they were fighting for a good cause, and the truth hits them hard.

Steve Pugh’s art is quite excellent, skilfully capturing both the characters as well as the uniquely designed town of Bedrock. From forest fights to elaborate political campaign stumps, the level of detail and just-enough-realism is refreshing and easily consumed.

This title was not what I expected at all. Judging only from this one issue, the title seems to be capitalizing on the Hanna Barbera brand in order to tell a very different story while triggering pangs of nostalgia in an audience that has grown since the Saturday morning cartoon days. If you’re looking for something fresh and off-kilter, this comic will do it for you.

Rating: 9 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12