Due to properties such as Scooby-Doo, The Flintstones and The Jetsons, Hanna-Barbera gained fame as one of the greatest creators of Saturday morning cartoons in the 20th century. In spite of the company’s defunct status, it has maintained a strong, nostalgic reputation as it continued to produce excellent and popular shows. Some of the company’s best characters and shows have been featured in some fun comic books along the way.
The Hanna-Barbera properties were created by two visionary creators, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, whose distinctive animation style dominated the television industry for nearly two decades. From their legendary crossover shows to reinventions of their own characters, the company’s IP continues to flourish today, through games, film, animation and comics – the latter of which are responsible for a slew of brilliant stories, especially in collaboration with DC Comics.
Jonny Quest: The Real Adventures
The #1 book by Kate Worley, Francisco Solano López, Andrew Pepoy, James Sinclair, and Tracy Hampton-Munsey
Jonny Quest was created as a kid-friendly homage to classic adventure serials, drawing heavily on characters like Doc Savage. In the novel, Jonny is depicted as an all-American boy who, along with his father, adoptive brother, and a government agent named Race Bannon, foils bad guys’ schemes and regains lost artifacts around the world. Throughout the ’90s, Dark Horse continued the classic series, and print did a great job honoring the series and its source material.
It brings back classic villains like Doctor Zin to the Quest family’s missions and explorations in Dark Horse’s The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest. It is mostly structured the same way as the animated show, with the heroes hunting for lost relics as part of adventure-based arcs.
The 9 Super Sons / Dynomutt Special
Rob Leigh, Peter J. Tomasi, Fernando Pasarin, Olclair Albert, and Gabe Eltaeb
Thanks to Peter J. Tomasi, the Super Sons quickly became a beloved duo in the world of DC Comics. So, it was only fitting that Robin Damian Wayne and Superboy Jon Kent would join forces with some familiar faces from Hanna-Barbera for a crossover event. And who better to team up with than Dynomutt and Blue Falcon, whose dynamic is reminiscent of Batman and Robin? When they stumble upon an injured Dynomutt, the sidekicks embark on a mission to rescue Blue Falcon from the clutches of the Red Vulture, who plans to take control of the hero’s body.
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As a result of applying Batman to a Hanna-Barbera classic, Super Sons / Dynomutt Special #1 reminds readers of the Falcon’s greatness. It delivered an underrated story of what it means to be a superhero by delivering a surprisingly touching take on the classic cartoon heroes.
The 8th Black Lightning / Hong Kong Phooey Special
A parody of the kung fu craze of the 1960s and ’70s, Hong Kong Phooey debuted at the same time as Marvel’s Iron Fist and one year after Shang-Chi. The character is Penrod Pooch, an unassuming police station custodian, by day, but by night, he transforms into Hong Kong Phooey, a bumbling martial artist superhero. In DC’s crossover with Hanna-Barbera, the mutt and Black Lightning delivered a great buddy-cop story set in the ’70s.
Throughout Black Lightning / Hong Kong Phooey Special #1, the two heroes face the alliance of Bronze Tiger, Cheshire, and Professor Presto, the latter of whom intends to gain unprecedented power by using magic. As Black Lightning, Jefferson Pierce’s original superhero design is brought back in the story, and Phooey is portrayed as a much more competent version of himself.
The 7th Adam Strange / Future Quest Special
Veronica Gandini, Dave Lanphear, and Jeff Parker
As DC’s answer to Flash Gordon visits the shared Hanna-Barbera universe in Adam Strange / Future Quest Special #1, two worlds collide. Adam is introduced to the heroes of this world in the story, from the Quest family to Mightor, as the story explores this world. Rather than focusing on a major threat, the issue compares and contrasts the two worlds and features heroes that resemble DC heroes.
It calls back to old school Silver Age adventure with Adam Strange / Future Quest Special #1, which is a great blend of two sci-fi franchises. The story is, first and foremost, a window into some of Hanna-Barbera’s most obscure heroes, and provides a simple exploration of the world, from its perils to its protagonists.
Where is Scooby-Doo?
Sholly Fisch, Valerio Chiola, and Saida Temofonte are working on #130
While many of Scooby-Doo’s comic book adventures have brought a unique angle to the gang, from team-ups to horror, DC has also honored the show’s original formula. This ongoing series of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? brings readers a consistent series of bi-monthly adventures, ranging from classic episodes to slice-of-life comedic mysteries to classic episodes.
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The current ongoing series of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is the best place to start. Recent mysteries have included the gang taking on mechanical sea monsters, demons, and creepy slasher villains.
The Flintstones Special #1 – 5 Booster Gold
Dave Sharpe, Rick Leonardi, Scott Hanna, Steve Buccellato, and Mark Russell
In 1986, DC released Booster Gold, one of its lighthearted superheroes. To make a name for himself and build his brand, the time-traveling hero traveled from the 25th century back to the present day with an unrelenting love for capitalism and fame. The high-tech hero went even further in Hanna-Barbera’s crossover, landing in The Flintstones’ prehistoric era.
With Booster Gold / The Flintstones Special #1, the technologically advanced hero from the future contrasts with his new stone-age friends. In this story, Booster attempts to restore order to Bedrock after a sudden influx of futuristic technology, working with Fred and Barney. In this story, a well-meaning hero often causes problems for himself, as is typical of Booster Gold.
Quest 4: The Future
Jeff Parker, Evan “Doc” Shaner, Steve Rude, Jordie Bellaire, and Dave Lanphear wrote #1
DC created Future Quest to bring all of the classic Hanna-Barbera heroes together. There are a lot of cartoon adventures in this universe, from Mightor and the Herculoids to Jonny Quest and Space Ghost. It follows the alliance of heroes from all over the world who seek to save Earth from the World Ender, a cosmic being capable of destroying planets.
A comic series aimed at fans of classic adventure, science fiction, and old school pulp comics, Future Quest gives each cartoon her own universe. As well as being one of Hanna-Barbera’s best stories for each of its heroes, the series saw Hanna-Barbera’s characters reach their fullest potential in saving the world.
Scooby-Doo Team-Up 3
Sholly Fisch, Dario Brizuela, Heroic Age, and Saida Temofonte are the authors of #1
Mystery Incorporated is paired up with characters from Hanna-Barbera and DC in Scooby-Doo Team-Up in a Silver Age-inspired DC Universe. For fans of classic Saturday morning cartoons and the JLA, the series is pure fan service with Jonah Hex’s Western adventures and Space Ghost’s space-based capers.
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Because it launched during the New 52, Scooby-Doo Team-Up offers readers a bright, comical and kid-friendly vision of the DC Universe. Featuring supernatural mysteries and nostalgic return to Super Friends, the series is a love letter to DC stories and Saturday morning cartoons.
A Batman & Scooby-Doo Mystery
Sholly Fisch, Dario Brizuela, Franco Riesco, and Saida Temofonte, 2024 #1
In The New Scooby-Doo Movies show in the 1970s, Batman and Scooby-Doo crossed paths for the first time. DC has returned to this team-up many times, but The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries has provided fans with a level of consistency that is unprecedented. During the series, Velma compares brains with Batman and explores the dynamic of the gang after merging their two worlds.
The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries has featured some great stories, from a time travel caper with the goal of finding Batman’s purple gloves to saving Gotham from the Joker. These series are perfect for people who enjoy a lighter-hearted version of the Dark Knight or a deeper exploration of Mystery Inc.
Hanna-Barbera introduced Space Ghost as one of its first superheroes, followed by Blue Falcon and Captain Caveman later. With his siblings, Jace and Jan, and their pet monkey, Blip, the hero is a mashup of popular superheroes like Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern. He is a gadget-reliant, space-based hero who works with his siblings. They faced monsters and galactic villainy together.
David Pepose and Jonathan Lau brought new life to Space Ghost under Dynamite Comics, reimagining his origin story after DC’s 2004 series. As of 2024, the Dynamite series stands out amongst other comics, delving into the initial encounter of the hero and his allies, their struggles against foes, and thrilling space escapades. While rooted in its Saturday-morning cartoon origins, this Hanna-Barbera creation also shines as a spectacular superhero tale that surpasses even Marvel and DC’s standards.