Flintstones #12 Review

Flintstones #12
Written by: Mark Russell
Art by: Steve Pugh
Colors: Chris Chuckry
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Assistant Editor: Brittany Holzherr
Group Editor: Marie Javins
Publisher: DC Comics

A review by Robert Coffil

A year ago, had you told me the book I would be the saddest about ending being DC Comics publication of Hannah-Barbera’s property The Flintstones, I would have laughed in your face. Yet here we are, on the twelfth and final issue of Mark Russell and Steve Pugh’s amazing run, and I don’t want this book to be over.

First off, a big shout out to Steve Pugh. I think he has done all 12 issues of this run. In an era of double shipping and artists being rotated off books or artists simply not being able to do more than eight issues in 12 months, Steve Pugh has hit the mark every single month with this book and never has the quality dipped. His style has, character design and panel layout have been a hallmark of this book.

Mark Russel has come out of, what seems, like thin air and made an indelible mark on the industry with this book. Sure, he did Prez before this, but I don’t feel like that made quite the impression this did. With The Flintstones, he took a property that could have gotten away with being silly and goofy and elevated the entire medium. He made the animal workers a proletariat working class with musings on the nature of life and purpose. Russel laid out a mayoral race that was unerringly like the United States election. And finally, a Carl Sagan analog, who is outright one of the funniest characters, while providing some unexpected sage advice.

Issue 12 of The Flintstones continues what has undoubtedly been one of the best comedic/satirical comics ever published. Gazoo, the alien from Las Vega, who has been the zoo keeper of sorts for the humans on earth, provides some commentary on the nature of human beings and the scary path they could potentially be on. In a metaphor, he compares the state of human development to an infant going through their “terrible twos”. It is really a great comparison that I would only sully by putting in this review, so I urge you to grab the issue so you can see it.

In this issue, Russel and Pugh really do an amazing job of touch every major storyline that has been going on through the 12 issues. We touch on the animals who do the labor throughout the series, we see some of the comedic news reporting, and it even touches on boss Slate’s insecurity while continuing the storyline of his wife divorcing him for someone more powerful (the mayor whose mayor is in title only). It really is some deft handling of plot.

Verdict:
Must Buy! In an era of comics where there really is such quality on display week in and week out, this book has done an amazing job distinguishing itself. I have been impressed with every single issue. It does a wonderful job of telling a story, being about something and providing wonderful entertainment. I cannot endorse this issue enough. Mark Russell will return with Snagglepuss and you can bet I am here for it.