Atom Ant Annual [1968]

[1967] Annual. Original price 8/6.
64 pages. Full colour & tone contents.
Atlas Publishing & Distributing Co. Ltd.

Based on the US television series.

Painted cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED [Balloons] endpaper by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 4 Atom Ant Annual contents; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited). / Indicia

 5 Atom Ant "The Day I Broke the Bank-Robbers" text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 9 Atom Ant Up and at 'Em w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Phil de Lara (uncredited).

r: Atom Ant (Gold Key) #01 (Jan 1966).

19 Top Cat "Dibble's Dragon" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

27 Secret Squirrel The Perils of Paris or Who Swiped the Eiffel Tower? w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Secret Squirrel (Gold Key) #01 (Oct 1966).

37 Quick-Draw McGraw "Tree-Trap" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

42 Atom Ant On With the Game w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Tony Strobl (uncredited).

r: Atom Ant (Gold Key) #01 (Jan 1966).

52 Top Cat "Sorry, Wrong Number" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: UNKNOWN.

57 Puzzle maze; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

58 Secret Squirrel Who Needs Glasses.? text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

62 UNTITLED [Balloons] endpaper by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Note: Companion titles to this volume include: Yogi Bear Annual - Huckleberry Hound Annual - The Impossibles Annual - Flintstones Annual

The sole edition for Atom Ant to show his popularity, the annual is a slim affair, with thin pages, yet packed with strips. Not all of the contents, it has to be noted, are especially fine examples of the Hanna-Barbera characters in comic form, though there are more hits than misses in this collection. It is, if you like, a taster of the offerings the studio was producing for the small screen, sharing so much room with the various characters that it might as well have been titled the Hanna-Barbera Annual.

Its attractive cover, while not strictly in the style of the cartoons, is far more detailed than this type of annual would normally call for, and it makes the annual somehow appear more retro than if it had replicated the two-dimensional appearance of the cartoons. Did Secret Squirrel always look that goofy? Top Cat, with a mis-coloured jacket and hat, a tuft of red hair sprouting from the top of his head, is the sole sticking point in what is otherwise beautiful image.

I want this cover as a poster, and I don't normally care enough about these properties to make such a statement.

The endpaper is more in keeping with the usual depictions of the characters, as is the amusing contents page image. While the paper used is rather thin, it is also very white, and the strips are presented far better than Gold Key was ever able to manage - although the formatting made to conceal the portion of the page where the original indicia was located is rather obvious.

Atom Ant must clear his name when an ant with similar strength undertakes a series of robberies, while the authorities are determined that only Atom Ant could possibly be the perpetrator. Up and at 'Em may be predictable, and so very, very simple, but it follows what we have see in the series almost to the point of self-parody. Very clean art, imbued with an appropriate sense of fun, the strip's only drawback are the final two panels - one of thich indicates Butch will go to jail, the other freeing him to join the circus once more.

If a script can't decide on a proper conclusion, why should the reader care?

There are green cats in the Top Cat universe? There is a dragon (albeit a paper one) which TC uses to trick Dibble. Not intentionally, of course, but events conspire to see Dibble tasked to night duty after making his report. Secret Squirrel is a touch more ambitious in its storytelling, with the top of the Eiffel Tower having been stolen - and Secret Squirrel is on the case.

I really despise the use of invisible paint as a means of concealing items. It is a lazy and cheap method of introducing invisibility into a story, and doesn't make any sense.

Okay, so Hanna-Barbera shows aren't known for being intelligent, but still...

A string of robberies gives Quick-Draw McGraw trouble, so he sets out in search of a waterhole in the desert where the bandits have been striking from. So often a one-note character, there is nothing here to indicate that Quick-Draw actually has a personality. His cartoons aren't particularly amusing, and the trend for satisfactory-yet-unrewarding stories continues here.

Which is a real shame, as the setting provides for a wealth of amusing incident, not often fully embraced.

Top Cat's machinations turn foul on him when he sets up a telephone agency using Dibble's police telephone. In an escalating sequence of office-changes, TC ends up using the Mayor's office, but when the biggest job imaginable is offered he is too late to take advantage of it.

Although by no means perfect, the strip is good enough to keep a smile on my face - its plot is straight out of The Phil Silvers Show, and the artwork is very attractive.

It is difficult to gauge how well the annual would have appealed on release, with almost all of the featured characters having redesigns and shifts in storytelling over the years. An oddity, for sure, the annual is nevertheless very entertaining.

Jonny Quest Annual [1966]

[1965] Annual. Original price 9/6.
96 pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd.

Based on the Hanna-Barbera television series.

Painted cover by UNNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNNOWN (uncredited).

 4 UNTITLED indicia.

 5 Hanna-Barbera's Jonny Quest Annual title page.

 6 Contents

 7 Capers on Capri text story by UNNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

17 The Plot on Power Island text story by UNNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

27 Bandit the Bulldog text story by UNNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

33 The Mystery of the Lizard Men w: UNNOWN (uncredited), based on the teleplay by Joseph Barbera, William Hanna, Douglas Wildey & Alex Lovy; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Jonny Quest (Gold Key) #01 (Dec 1964).

65 Black Gold text story by UNNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

75 The Town of Lost Men text story by UNNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

87 The Riddle of Shark Bay text story by UNNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

94 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNNOWN (uncredited).

A suitably action-packed cover, inspired by the strip inside, though made curiously two-dimensional thanks to the lack of background detail, lets us know what to expect - the animated hero caters, after all, to a particular audience, expectant of mystery and (despite Hanna-Barbera's limited animation) motion. There is something, however, a little bit 'off' regarding Bandit, whose appearance throughout the annual feels curiously off-model. The unfortunate placement of the foot of the diver to page-right makes it appear as if he is enjoying himself a tad too much - simultaneously adding a new dimension to the image, and providing a creepy subtext.

Jonny's fishing trip is cancelled - U.S. Zero Five, their Central Intelligence Organization, have informed Dr. Quest a military aircraft carrying a supply of X909, a new top-secret wonder drug, blew up on the runway at Naples Airport. Setting off to investigate the incident in a private plane, the team learn that the plane was in perfect condition, and that the explosion must have been deliberate. A black car was seen hastily departing just after the plane took off, with two unidentified men in uniform.

An all too easy problem to solve, with no sense of distress at any loss of life the aircraft's destruction occurred. So jolly is the tale, at its conclusion there is talk of fishing... Dr. Quest's inventions seem to be rather rudimentary here, and even the action is decidedly muted.

Dr. Benton Quest is busy putting the finishing touches to a top secret report on Intercontinental Ballistic Missile projection, scheduled to be studied by a major Congressional Committee in Washington, while Jonny is enjoying the sun. Having decided to take the hydrofoil out, Race gets it ready for him, and while changing in his bedroom Jonny is kidnapped. After telling Dr. Quest about the incident, the pair set out to locate Jonny.

Feeding what is known into UNIC, the computer gives out a location of interest: The Island of Red Sand, an uninhabited island two hundred miles out to sea, and whose most notable feature is vivid red sand. Hesitating to immediately investigate this lead, Quest awaits further information - which is eventually revealed as Zoltan. Race queries the name, which Quest explains belongs to Zaptan Zoltan, a man who might be plotting to control the world from the island.

An attempt to suppress Dr. Quest's research was never going to go down well, and although the story does its best to keep things moving, there isn't a sense of desperation in the hunt for Jonny. When he is eventually located, there is a ray-gun (a-la Buck Rogers) and much levity, rather than an emotional and powerful conclusion. Adding another layer of problems, the story makes use of sound effects throughout.

Bandit the Bulldog is, sadly, not much better. Fortunately a strip reprint is deployed to reengage the interest of flagging readers.

In the mid-Atlantic lies a vast stretch of becalmed waters, marked by massive islands of drifting seaweed and rotting hulks of ancient ships... Derelicts from centuries past. On the fringe of this foreboding place a tramp steamer cautiously makes its way...

A poor adaptation of the first episode, with stiff artwork and numerous backgrounds deprived of detail, doesn't suggest that much care had been taken in transferring the story to the page. The colouring is also extremely poor, with no sense of where the action is occurring.

The Town of Lost Men is, by far, the most intriguing story herein, with Dr. Quest, Jonny, and Race driving across America as part of their vacation. Arriving at a ghost town, they discover a hotel which is inhabited by men with lost looks on their faces, who do not wish to be disturbed. After driving off, Dr. Quest tells Jonny that there was, indeed, something odd going on, but that Race and Jonny are not going to be returning to the town.

Sadly the telling of the tale isn't up to the promise, though the tone is certainly that of familiar Hanna-Barbera series.

An odd, and not entirely successful, attempt at celebrating the series.

Jonny Quest Annual

[1967]

The Great Grape Ape and Hong Kong Phooey Annual 1978

[1977] Annual. Original price £1.25.
64 pages. Color & tone art.
Brown Watson

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 4 The Great Grape Ape Frisbee Fun w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Great Grape Ape (Charlton) #02 (Nov 1976).

10 Hong Kong Phooey The Giggler w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #01 (May 1975).

15 The Great Grape Ape Submarine Sandwich text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Great Grape Ape (Charlton) #02 (Nov 1976).

17 Hong Kong Phooey The Man of 1,000,000 Faces w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #02 (Aug 1975).

28 The Great Grape Ape Escape w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Great Grape Ape (Charlton) #01 (Sep 1976).

36 First to the City of Gold! board game (snakes & ladders).

38 Hong Kong Phooey Purse Snatchers, Beware! w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #01 (May 1975).

41 Hong Kong Phooey "Knock Three Times" w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #01 (May 1975).

43 The Great Grape Ape Center of Attention text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Great Grape Ape (Charlton) #01 (Sep 1976).

45 The Great Grape Ape The Great Grape Ape Sees a Ghost w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Great Grape Ape (Charlton) #01 (Sep 1976).

49 Hong Kong Phooey Bull's Eye! w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #01 (May 1975).

50 The Great Grape Ape The Great Grape Ape Vs. The Snap Dragon w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Great Grape Ape (Charlton) #02 (Sep 1976).

58 Grape Ape's Gag Bag jokes.

59 Hong Kong Phooey Rescued! w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #01 (May 1975).

60 Hong Kong Phooey Cat Burglar w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Hong Kong Phooey (Charlton) #01 (May 1975).

The Flintstones Annual [1966]

[1965] Annual. Original price NA.
96 pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd.

Painted cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 4 Indicia

 5 Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones Annual title page; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 6 Contents illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 7 At the Boy Scout Jamboree w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #18 (May 1964).

28 The Crystal Caper text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #19 (Jul 1964).

29 One Gun Too Many w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #19 (Jul 1964).

37 Getting the Message w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #20 (Aug 1964).

43 Mr. & Mrs. J. Evil Scientist The Case of the Creepy Car w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #18 (May 1964).

47 Mother Was a Mechanic w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #19 (Jul 1964).

54 Perry Gunnite A Hair-Raising Caper text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #18 (May 1964).

55 The Butler Didn't Do it - No Butler w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #18 (May 1964).

61 Just for the Record w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #20 (Aug 1964).

68 Perry Gunnite Going Batty text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #20 (Aug 1964).

69 The Orbit Bit w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #20 (Aug 1964).

75 Mr. & Mrs. J. Evil Scientist TV Or Not TV w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #20 (Aug 1964).

79 Small But Mighty w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #19 (Jul 1964).

84 The Normal Genius w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #20 (Aug 1964).

89 A Slight Case of the Frights w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

94 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

The slightly uneven earlier annuals were bound to give way to a top-notch selection of choice strips sooner or later, and it is a pleasure to see lessons having been learned - this is an almost perfect outing for the characters. Cave Kids reprints have gone extinct, and in their place we get a quite odd, though thematically suitable, monster strip. While Mr. & Mrs. J. Evil Scientist may not be immediately recognisable, the stories are so great an improvement as to freshen up the entire package. Even the cover steps up to the challenge, with a great (albeit rather stark) image.

The back cover isn't as good, and seems to depict a much younger Fred - or maybe he's just had some bonetox?

Having taken every cent in their checking account to pay all their bills before their vacation, Wilma and Betty bemoan their prospects for a proper holiday. Remembering the fun they had as boys, Fred decides that camping is the solution to their woes, although the news doesn't go down well. After talking with the Bedrock Car Club, Fred settles on Camp Shangri La De Da Valley, After setting up their tents, with help from Bamm-Bamm, they settle down for a quiet camping trip - only to be woken by a bugle, boy scouts having arrived.

There is always fun to be had from seeing Fred dig himself deeper and deeper into trouble, but this is a strangely muted tale. Barney displays a great talent for mimicry, emulating the sound of a sabretooth tiger - a skill which comes out of nowhere, and will be forgotten at the conclusion of the story - which leads to the strip's funniest moment, making Fred a hero in the eyes of the scouts.

An essentially summertime event taking the lead in a title sold at Christmas is, however, a poor choice. Surely there must have been one wintry story to open proceedings.

Fred and Barney are the first to sign up for Bedrock's Annual Turkeysaurus Shoot, but remember that they don't have guns... Fred's memory has been professionally tested before, and found to be lacking, so this isn't the surprise it might be. After purchasing a suitable marksman-type rifle, they head to the bank, which owes Fred money. Unfortunately they take the firearm into the bank, giving the cashier cause to think that they are robbers, and he hands Fred two bags of cash.

Once again Wilma and Betty come to the rescue, though they, also, might need rescuing. There's a lot of amusing little moments in the story, though the whole isn't quite the sum of its parts - almost a shaggy dog story, which is largely redeemed by how amusing the individual incidents are.

When the Flintstones' house is lit up at midnight, weird sounds pour from the windows and rockacycles are parked all over the front lawn, you can be sure of two things...

One, that Rodney Rocktop is in town...

Two, that Fred is miserable...

I'm not a fan of the beatnik stories which infested American television throughout the sixties, and the inclusion here is just as irritating. Bongos aren't an immediately attractive musical instrument. Finding that I have something in common with Fred is, it must be said, rather horrifying.

Fred gets rid of his musical nephew, Rocktop, but is soon regretting his decision when a singing telarock delivers news that Rocktop has inherited ten thousand dollars. Rushing out to fetch him back, Fred hopes that by treating Rocktop well he will receive a portion of the money.

Because treating people well because it is the right thing to do would never occur to a lunk-head such as Fred.

The Case of the Creepy Car, the first Mr. & Mrs. J. Evil Scientist strip, sees J. and his wife head out to purchase a car from Variety Used Cars, which guarantees people will find a car they like. Naturally, there isn't anything to their taste, and they are determined to ruin the company due to it making claims it can't back up.

Fred attempts to fix a leak in Mother Was a Mechanic, though his attempts to stop the torrent of water pouring into the house is less than successful. Wilma's mother, visiting Pebbles, manages to get things turned around, and is soon repairing other things Fred had "fixed" - not at all to his pleasure. In an attempt to win over his mother-in-law, Fred enters her into a Most Typical Mother Contest, which ought to interest her womanly instincts.

There ought to be an analysis of the sexual politics of this story somewhere. Cross-dressing, "typical" womanly interests, and a focus on appealing to a narrow bracket of hobbies as appropriate - The Flintstones never really engaged in serious social commentary, often preferring to mock, and having such a rich tapestry around the central characters often hghlighted characters who existed outside of the norms. By forcing the characters back into preconceived notions of proper behaviour for the sake of a few gags seems a retrograde step.

At least there is a sense of surreality to offset events.

An annual dance is scheduled at the Dinosaur Lodge, so Fred and Barney are volunteered to find an orchestra in two days - with a grand budget of thirty-two dollars. Their attempts at securing a suitable band is, however, far from easy. It is interesting to compare the various depictions of bands in the franchise through the years, with developments in popular music altering the look of fictional musicians. Attempts to appeal to contemporary audiences, in stories set so far in the past, raise so many questions.

The Orbit Bit, originally published with a cover date of August 1964, is likely a response to NASA sending the first Apollo command module into orbit. Its final image, of Earth orbited by two dinosaurs, would have made an amazing NASA patch.

If there is one thing to take away from the annuals, it is how often annual events in-universe crop up. Likely unintentional, though amusing to see all the same.

[1965]

The Flintstones Annual

[1967]

The Flintstones Annual [1965]

[1964] Annual. Original price 8/6.
96 pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd.

Painted cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 4 Indicia

 5 Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones Annual title page; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 6 Contents illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 7 The Too Old Cowhand w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #12 (Jul 1963).

15 Hitting the Thumb on the Nail w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #13 (Sep 1963).

21 In There Pitching w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #12 (Jul 1963).

29 The Day Pebbles Talked w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Pebbles Flintstone (Gold Key) #01 (Sep 1963).

34 What's the Use? text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #12 (Jul 1963).

35 Who's Zoo w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Harvey Eisenberg, i: John Liggera.

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #13 (Sep 1963).

43 Perry Gunnite Picking the Pick-Pocket's Pocket w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #12 (Jul 1963).

47 Tenderfoot Talent Scouts w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #12 (Jul 1963).

53 Pebbles Flintstone Playmate for Pebbles w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Pebbles Flintstone (Gold Key) #01 (Sep 1963).

58 Strictly from Hunger text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Pete Alvarado (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #13 (Sep 1963).

59 Yanks for the Memory w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Harvey Eisenberg (uncredited), i: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #13 (Sep 1963).

67 Pebbles Flintstone The Genius Who Wore Diapers w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Pebbles Flintstone (Gold Key) #01 (Sep 1963).

73 Cave Kids When Help is Needed, Holler for a Hero w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Harvey Eisenberg (uncredited), i: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #13 (Sep 1963).

77 Panic in the Park w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #12 (Jul 1963).

82 Model Salesman w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Kay Wright (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #13 (Sep 1963).

86 Pebbles Flintstone The Girl Who Cried Mink w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Pebbles Flintstone (Gold Key) #01 (Sep 1963).

94 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

96 UNTITLED painting by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

A rather unusual cover, depicting Fred and Wilma Flintstone, along with Barney and Betty Rubble, aboard a boat, doesn't really jive with the television series, though the painting on the rear of the annual is perfectly in keeping with scenes shown throughout the show's run. World, adept at providing stylish packaging for their reprints, have to be applauded for the originality of the images used, and this is one of the more visually interesting examples. The endpaper is also unusual, with a makeshift cinema providing the focus.

Fred's nephew Melvin arrives for a visit, so Fred - attempting to entertain the child - tells Melvin about his days as a cowboy. Melvin, suitably impressed, enters Fred into a rodeo - for every event. His dismay at the painful experience is multiplied when the terra-steers stampede, chasing him through town.

Juxtaposing the wild west with prehistoric times is a recipe for anachronisms, which isn't assisted any by a script which is peppered with modern terms. While the series always played with the use of modern items and society in its setting, here it comes across as too acute. The western elements, especially, feel as if they have been included merely to reference then-popular westerns.

Hitting the Thumb on the Nail is a very modern story, featuring building codes being enforced, and the struggle to maintain appearances with a garage attached to the Flintstone property. While it is played for laughs, I am sure that those who have dealt with such struggles will find something of the truth in its depiction of construction woes. The final panel raises a wry smile, though makes no sense when taken in the context of the cartoon - when, I ask, was Fred without his trusty wheels?

In There Pitching, a baseball story, sees the Dinosaur Lodge Hurlers preparing for their first game, which will be pitted against the Brothers of the Brontosaurus. Fred, predictably, injures both himself and Barney the night before the game. Wilma and Betty substitute for the boys, much to the horror of the umpire. They come through for the team, with the score 9-nil by the end of play. As their strength is needed for the Hurlers, Fred finds himself taking over Wilma's role in the house.

That Wilma and Betty are so competent at sports, and far more talented than their husbands, amuses me no end. It is obvious, in retrospect, given how lazy and unprepared the pair so often are, but to have proof of their wives' superiority in print is wonderful.

Visiting the zoo, Fred and Barney note that a cage reading 'Kangasaurus' is apparently empty, and the zookeeper informs them that it is because the zoo has been attempting to obtain once since opening. The kangasaurus used to frequent Bedrock Canyon, but have since moved elsewhere - the zoo is offering a reward of ten thousand dollars for one. With an eye on the reward money, Fred and Barney decide to see if they can catch one.

They eventually discover a kangasaurus, but it takes a shine to the unlikely pair. Who's Zoo is a perfect Flintstones story, with a logical progression, an amusing dinosaur, and a rather sweet ending.

Cave Kids return for another outing, and it is no more entertaining than the rest of the strips featuring the characters. Did anyone find them funny?

Looking around an auto show, Fred and Barney note innovations such as windshield wipers, which will come in handy when windshields are invented, and convertibles. Seeing Joe Jadeson, an old friend, working the Shoverolet stand, Fred decides to help the man make a few sales.

It was always going to be a challenge for Fred to assist in such an endeavour, and he manages to make matters worse - twice.

A quality collection of strips, besmirched only by the presence of the Cave Kids.

[1964]

The Flintstones Annual

[1966]

The Flintstones Annual [1964]

[1963] Annual. Original price 8/6.
96 pages. Full colour contents.
World Distributors (Manchester) Ltd.

Painted cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 4 Indicia

 5 Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones Annual title page; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 6 Contents illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 7 Introducing Pebbles w: UNKNOWN, loosely adapted from the episode Blessed Event; a: Harvey Eisenberg.

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #11 (Jun 1963).

21 Treasure Hunters w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Pete Alvarado, i: Steve Steere.

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #10 (Apr 1963).

29 A Star Comes to Bedrock w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #11 (Jun 1963).

36 The Beat Beat text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by Pete Alvarado (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #10 (Apr 1963).

37 Cave Kids Half a Hero w: Del Connell (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Cave Kids (Gold Key) #02 (May 1963).

43 Perry Gunnite The Inside-Out-Job w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); p: Pete Alvarado (uncredited), i: Steve Steere (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #10 (Apr 1963).

47 Too Many Bongos w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #11 (Jun 1963).

53 The Pre-Hysterical Egg w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Guillermo Cardoso (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #10 (Apr 1963).

60 Prehistoric Graveyard text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #11 (Jun 1963).

61 Cave Kids Too Many Monsters w: Del Connell; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Cave Kids (Gold Key) #02 (May 1963).

67 Cave Kids Flying is for the Birds w: Del Connell; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Cave Kids (Gold Key) #02 (May 1963).

72 Ruff and Reddy The Double Ball text story by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Cave Kids (Gold Key) #02 (May 1963).

73 When You Wish Upon a Fish w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Fred Abranz (uncredited).

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #10 (Apr 1963).

79 Counter-Fit-Thrower w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: Harvey Eisenberg.

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #11 (Jun 1963).

83 Ski for Two w: Carl Fallberg; a: Kay Wright.

r: The Flintstones (Gold Key) #10 (Apr 1963).

89 Cave Kids Beastly Band w: Del Connell; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Cave Kids (Gold Key) #02 (May 1963).

94 UNTITLED endpaper; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

96 UNTITLED painting by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Being comprised almost entirely of Gold Key reprints doesn't mean that there is a lack of flair to this annual, with a superb cover painting which captures a sense of mad anarchy from the series. The endpaper and title page are slightly off-model illustrations of Fred, which lends an air of oddness to what will follow, but is easily forgivable for the era. Curiously, the contents page - cleverly designed as being written on a stone tablet - offers a much more accurate depiction of Fred and Barney.

Introducing Pebbles does exactly what the title says, and although there is no hint (as yet) of her tendency to get into mad situations, there is enough incident and activity to keep the plot moving. Seeing Barney dressed as a baby is worth the more predictable moments.

Fed up with the penny-pinching Fred displays, Wilma creates a treasure map, which she 'discovers' in an old chest, and Fred is excited to see that it leads to sacks of gold buried by Long John Cooper. It leads, of course, to Stony Springs, which Fred refused to take her to. When they get to Stony Springs Resort Hotel, Fred realises that he has been tricked, and when the opportunity arises to trick Wilma and Betty, with money made from the sale of the trunk, he takes it.

Ralphy Rockem, a television celebrity who Fred knew as Ralph Sanderstone in the army, drops by for a visit, and attempts to keep a low profile.

The set-up tells you everything you need to know, with the ever-unreliable Fred Flintstone yapping his way around town, and events escalating. It may not be the most original, or funniest, script ever written, but the tone is perfectly in keeping with the television series. Concluding with yet another undeserved win for Fred may, given his prior behaviour, seem like he gets away with more than he should, but the story doesn't labour the point.

I'm not overly fond of the Cave Kids, and Half a Hero does nothing to endear them to me - riffing on The Lone Ranger, 'Rocky Ranger' offers nothing we haven't seen before. The rest of their appearances prove to be just as leaden.

The Inside-Out-Job is slightly better, with private eye Perry Gunnite (residing at 77 Stonestep Strip, naturally) finding his stool-pigeons can't always be trusted. Basing stories on characters who are popular at the time might date the stories unnecessarily, though the plot is amusing enough to avoid too much criticism.

Too Many Bongos is one of those painfully 'hip' stories, tapping directly into pop culture of the fifties and early sixties, and was already dated when it appeared in print Stateside.

Prehistoric Graveyard, a non-fiction piece on the La Brea Tar Pits, offers a small reprieve from the comedy, though it is only the briefest of accounts.

Despite feeling packed, and this certainly has a lot of content, there is a lack of depth to much of the reprinted material. That so little original material is present is also disappointing, but the reproduction is far better than Gold Key managed - this is a very attractive book. I could, however, live without the dire Cave Kids strips.

[1963]

The Flintstones Annual

[1965]

Hanna-Barbera's Big Show No.1

1972. Original price 65p.
80 pages. Colour & tone.
Brown Watson Ltd.

Featuring Boss Cat & Quick Draw McGraw

Cover by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Contents:

 2 This Book Belongs To; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 3 Hanna-Barbera's Big Show Number One title page; illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 4 Quick Draw McGraw The Taming of 'Shorty' Warty text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

 9 Odd But True! UNTITLED [A lake in East Africa / The Archer Fish / The 'Swamp Rabbit' / African Jacana] (half page) feature by UNKNOWN (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

10 Boss Cat Dogs of War text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

16 Giggles pocket cartoons; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

17 Quick Draw McGraw The Boothill Brigade w: Joe Gill; a: George Wildman.

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

22 Boss Cat The Hopeless Case w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Top Cat (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

26 Quick Draw McGraw Three Times as Bad! w: Joe Gill; a: George Wildman.

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

30 Boss Cat Brain Drain w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

34 Quick Draw McGraw I'll Drink tuh That! w: Joe Gill; a: George Wildman.

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

38 Boss Cat A Friend in Need w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Top Cat (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

42 Quick Draw McGraw After You, Ma'am w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

46 Boss Cat Dibble's Double Duty w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Top Cat (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

54 Quick Draw McGraw 6 Guns Sam w: Joe Gill; a: George Wildman.

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

59 Boss Cat Nothin' But the Best w: UNKNOWN (uncredited); a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

r: Top Cat (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

62 Quick Draw McGraw The Build-Up w: Joe Gill; a: George Wildman.

r: Quick Draw McGraw (Charlton) #01 (Nov 1970).

64 Quick Draw McGraw pin-up; w: Joe Gill; a: George Wildman.

65 Boss Cat All at Sea text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

71 More Giggles pocket cartoons; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

72 Draw and Colour connect-the-dots; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

73 Quick-Draw McGraw The Jail-Breakers text story (uncredited); illustrated by UNKNOWN (uncredited).

79 It's a Fact... fact-feature [Frigate bird / Hurricane / American Warship Wateree / Cobwebs / Kilauea]; a: UNKNOWN (uncredited).

Reprinting a couple of Charlton's Hanna-Barbera comics in hardback makes more sense than you might, at first, imagine. On better paper, the art is given a chance to really shine.

Heavily-accented western dialogue get very old, very quickly, when done to a great degree, and The Taming of 'Shorty' Warty suffers from relying too much on its replication of Quick Draw's vocabulary is irritating rather than endearing. A half-page fact-feature following this is, bizarrely, almost impossible to read - black text sitting on dark blue tinting making the legibility extremely difficult, though it is a nicely illustrated piece.

Officer Grabb, Dibble's deputy - with police dog in tow - arrives to give Boss Cat's trouble in Dogs of War. Deciding to set Bulldog Drumbo, his worst enemy, on Officer Grabb, Boss Cat sets out to put things right again. As if a new character would be allowed to upset the status quo... While the story is slightly too clean and easy for Boss Cat, there's much to enjoy in seeing his sense of order in the universe being so upset.

Quick Draw faces off against a bunch of ghosts in The Boothill Brigade, though it is far too soft and comedic a tale to elicit any sense of threat to the lawman. Had he been up against some of the spooks from Scooby Doo there might have been a decent story to be made from the idea, but the walking marshmallows are hardly likely to frighten even the youngest of reader.

Dibble has been drafted to the detail watching the Hopeless Diamond at the Metropolitan Museum, and when it goes missing Boss Cat finds himself wanted by the authorities. A nice tale, with a clever ending which actually makes sense - while it is too short to really explore the theft of a priceless diamond, or the media storm which would ensue, it does what it sets out to do well.

Quick Draw McGraw plays host to Snooper, who has tracked a criminal straight to McGraw's town. Or rather, a trio of identical criminals. Refusing to believe that there is a criminal element loose in his city, his mood soon changes when he realises that his badge has been stolen. Capturing one of the trio, he soon draws the others out of hiding to rescue their brother.

I do like stories of identical twins and triplets. So many classic gags ready to be set up.

Unfortunately there is little done with the set-up, and Snooper manages to scare the trio into surrendering immediately, rendering the whole opening sequence rather redundant. Had more classic fake-outs been employed in the middle-section of the story, this could have been a truly great strip rather than merely a fine one. Disappointing.

Brain Drain sees Brain crowned 'King of the Classroom' in a television quiz, and is awarded ten years' supply of beauty cosmetics. He's soon kidnapped, and Boss Cat must set out to rescue him. When they locate where Brain has been taken, he discovers a robot which speaks with Brain's voice, and fears that Brain's brain has been transplanted...

Boss Cat then takes over Dibble's duties, thanks to a lifelike mask and Dibble's uniform, when the officer is too ill to do his route.

The rest of the strips are largely forgettable, though the remainder of the text stories make up for any deficiencies in reprint material. All at Sea sees the cats go fishing, with the usual complications. I wonder how the name of the ship (Naughty Nell) slipped past the editorial staff...

A final fact feature (which is, thankfully, legible) rounds out the issue in style.

Not the greatest example of the form, but an entertaining annual regardless.