The Jetsons #3 – Jimmy Palmiotti, Writer; Pier Brito, Artist; Alex Sinclair, Colorist
Ratings:
Ray – 9/10
Corrina: Aliens
WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW
Ray: Halfway through Jimmy Palmiotti’s innovative reboot of the Hanna-Barbera classic, we get more in the way of plot development as the march to avert Earth’s destruction begins, but the title remains firmly grounded in the core family unit. There’s a nice contrast to the Jetsons’ unity when the issue opens with Lake Cogswell interacting with her father. Her curious nature butts up against his vaguely disinterested modernism, and it does a good job of fleshing out both characters. This issue also gives us some more interaction between Judy and Elroy and has a sibling dynamic that feels very genuine. Meanwhile, George and Jane are planning for their mission to the drowned surface, and George’s former position as a mechanic suddenly turns into him being critical to the success of the mission.
There are some interesting, subtle class warfare elements to this comic, such as the way George is treated as little more than a grease monkey by the scientists on board, despite them being up a creek without him. However, he winds up being the centerpiece of the issue when the ship makes contact with a strange, massive beast that ensnares it in its tentacles. Despite not seeing much of the creature – we also got some glimpses last issue when it disrupted the artificial gravity at Elroy’s school – it’s genuinely imposing and terrifying. The mysterious psychic link George develops with it is a fascinating twist as well. But the end of the issue brings the focus right back to the family dynamic, as the rest of the family discovers exactly what the parents are hiding. Fascinating, experimental, and easily one of the best comics at DC right now.
There’s a Jetsons TV reboot in development, and it has a lot to live up to.
Corrina: Most of the HB reboots have decided to use the cartoons as a jumping off point to explore something far beyond the original cartoon’s premise, such as Scooby-Doo Apocalypse, but the Jetsons has succeeded by doubling-down on the show’s original premise and adding more characterization and layers.
Cogswell was a stereotypical angry boss. Here, he’s a divorced man with a solid relationship with his daughter. George is now more than just a typical worker, he’s an invaluable mechanic, while Judy has become a scientist, and the kids have been given personalities and a nice family dynamic.
But, most of all, choosing to examine why people on Earth live in sky cities has led to adding tension and poignancy to the Jetsons’ world. I expect George’s connection to the alien may help solve the meteor crisis but this series moves in unexpected ways, so whatever happens, as Ray said, the TV reboot has a lot of work to do to be this good.
Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
