Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

The Flintstones #6

By Avi Weinryb
December 13, 2016 - 07:42

This unconventional series is starting to become a favourite of mine. The humour and social commentary provide a satirical look at life today through the eyes of the Stone Age.

In issue #6, the town of Bedrock learns of an impending asteroid strike. Television pundits have a lot to say, adding nothing of value to the troubling situation. Sounds familiar. Meanwhile, Pebbles and Bam-Bam are doing some work for the scientist who made the deadly asteroid prediction and Mr. Slate, thinking the world is about to end, makes himself more emotionally available to his workers at the quarry. Chaos ensues within every facet of society, leading to a complete breakdown of social norms. “There is no law”, Fred tells Barney and their wives. But is the world really about to end? Perhaps there was a misunderstanding?

Steve Pugh continues to amaze with his crisp, emotive portrayals of classic and new characters. His illustrations of Fred Flintstone are very reminiscient of Frank Qutely’s Superman. Many scenes contain hilarious visual gags or curiosities. The caveman-meets-1960s aesthetic is captured in every setting, especially in Mr. Slate’s living room. From the exposed steps to the furs to the tortoise delivering him a martini, it’s just classic Flintstones.

Undoubtedly the most clever and enjoyable part of this book is when writer Mark Russell draws attention to the absurdity of a classic Flintstones trope; living creatures serving as household objects. If you are scratching your head, just think back to the classic Flintstones cartoon scenes of a bird’s beak serving as a record player needle, pausing to look at the audience and say something like “Hey, it’s a living!”. Well, in this issue, an armadillo bowling ball and a pygmy mammoth vacuum cleaner actually stop to commiserate about their mutual suffering and loneliness as indentured slaves. It’s a brilliant bit. “Is this my life?! Is this all I mean to the universe?!” the little armadillo shouts to the heavens. It seems like every character is in full-on crisis mode in this bizarre take on a classic property. It’s a yabba-dabba doo of a time.

Rating: 9 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12