The Flintstones #2 Review: "Eh, It's A Living."


Ever since my review of The Flinstones #1, I’ve been thinking about whether some of my issues were completely fair. After some introspection, I concluded that some of what I brought up was legitimate, but the main one is rather shaky. Seeing as the comic is meant to be a reimagining of the series, why would I expect the first issue to immediately set everything up? I have to give it time to grow and develop. Since coming to that conclusion, I have decided to think of the first six issues, give or take a couple, as a loose arc, meant to introduce the readers to this new incarnation of Bedrock. In terms of this particular installment, I can definitely say that it is wonderful. Not only does it have a brighter feel to it, both in terms of the tone and events. Throughout the comic, we get some delightful scenes about what Bedrock is like, peppered with with a dose of social commentary. Thankfully, the aforementioned scenes are not as gory and depressing as the first issue’s, except when death is used as a punchline on the news. Also adding to the happier tone, the comedy. Right from the very start of the issue, I was laughing. Not only does it have great character moments like a pre-teen Bam-Bam casually lifting up a bully and proudly showing off to his parents, but it also satirizes consumerism and religion.

"For Weekend Upslate, I'm Chisel Chase and you're not. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow."

I really love Fred’s reaction to the television. It does make me wonder precisely how they have televisions, but I’m not going to question it. In this case, it’s necessary for the joke to work and to kickstart the main plot. The story, called “Buyer Beware,” adds a new twist to the standard ‘animals as household appliances’ Flintstones formula. Sure, the animals don’t sigh and complain about their life, but the premise is equally funny. Similar to more and more seemingly useless products being sold in stores today (Infomercials, anyone?), the townspeople just get swept up in buying more and more of the “Crap”, simply because they’re told that it’s good.


The cobra garden hose, now only seventy-two pebbles! Watch your weeds melt away! Note: Side affects may include a burning sensation, followed by a severe loss of skin. Do not put the cobra garden hose anywhere near your loved ones or valuables. Keep the cobra garden hose away from the mouse sponge. Do not taunt the cobra garden hose.
The religion subplot doesn’t have as much of a clear satirical edge, but it’s still funny. It turns out that the leader of the First Church Of Animism decided to choose an object to worship at the mall and spread whatever gospel it has to the community. How does it go? Well..about that…


Still better than "Anaconda." I wonder if Mark Russell had to restrain himself from mentioning Donald Trump in the song. Man, I hope a Trump pastiche appears in a future issue.
Eventually, the two plots coincide as Fred’s frustration with the “Crap!” reaches a boiling point. At this point, he’s reduced to moonlighting by way of selling vitamins door-to-door. Needless to say, he’s not very good at it. I find it very amusing that Barney excels at it just by pretending that Bam-Bam gained his supernatural strength simply by eating them. Meanwhile, the churchgoers grow disillusioned with the pastor’s increasingly flimsy attempts to pass off household appliances as messengers from God. Eventually, they all walk out in disgust, vowing only to return when they get a real God. (Hmm, maybe the next issue’s alien invasion will help with that.)


Overall, you should absolutely go out and buy The Flintstones #2. Along with outrageously great satire and a neat concept, it’s also a fairly happy comic. Fred and Wilma genuinely care for each other, as shown throughout the issue. He puts up with the gadgets because she likes them and she doesn’t need material possessions to make her happy, just having someone around her who cares about her helps. The issue also contains a sprinkling of references to the classic cartoon, the most notable of which would be a reference to the Flinstones-based vitamins. If you’ve been wondering why it doesn’t seem like the entire Flintstone clan is together, keep your eyes peeled during the entire issue. A certain someone might pop up, and they are absolutely adorable.

The Flintstones #2 is written by Mark Russell and drawn by Steve Pugh. You can find it at your local comic book shop.

Zachary Krishef is an evil genius. Do not question his knowledge of Saturday Night Live trivia or the Harry Potter books.