Comics Review: The Flintstones #12

Christ…what…the hell.

The final issue of what’s been a long year of The Flintstones returning to that of a print comic. Let’s recap.

The Flintstones premiered on September 30th, 1960 on ABC broadcast completely in black and white, but with the vision of the late great Joseph Barbera to produce a primetime animated series for the entire family as opposed to the kids fair that was airing at the time mostly in the daytime. Barbera’s mission was to appeal to a slightly older audience, and as seasons went on, the addition of kids and ancillary characters (not counting those added during the 80s’ primetime specials) helped speak to a little bit of everybody. Fred and Barney were the working men to stay at home wives whom would split their days between raising kids and buying crap at the store. When Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm debuted, it was a way for the producers to further enhance the social sensibilities already set as precedent.

That said, the series was never that NUTS about social issues. Yes, the series dealt with the ire of new working class parents, but that’s where this iteration of The Flintstones Comics goes awry. The Flintstones TV series was all about Fred and Barney doing stupid shit for our amusement all the while featuring talking appliances or Bedrock-flavored gadgets as part of the fun. The producers of this comics series, admittedly, offers up some comical talking points more derivative of The Colbert Report…but this isn’t The Colbert Report. This is The Flintstones. And if this is the type of shit that Warner Bros. is trying to strike up to make the franchise appeal to adults, then I’m fine with seeing this franchise stick with the kids.

The Jetsons are teeing up next, and it’s not looking great. If Warner wants to make a thing out of these Hanna-Barbera franchises, then I recommend working more closely with an Adult Swim or a TBS and start kicking off production on prime time animated sitcoms for families derivative of the original works of yesteryear. Not sticking us with more leaning political left nonsense that has no business being on The Flintstones in the first place. Hopefully, the Adam McKay/Will Ferrell animated movie comes to fruition and is good so that it can help save us from this shit.