Favorite Heroes Countdown #19 - Birdman!

BIIIRRRRDMAN!!! That cry still rings in the corridors of my memory and the wings of my imagination. Birdman, one of the vintage Hanna-Barbera heroes created during their heyday following the success of Space Ghost. He was yet another great hero designed by Alex Toth.

We learned very little about Birdman from the cartoon save that he had a winged companion named Avenger and later a metal-winged partner dubbed Birdboy. He answered to a mysterious boss named Falcon 7 who sent Birdman on his missions. He was based in a volcano, a detail I absolutely loved. I ignore that abomination called "Harvey Birdman". That's for others.

Birdman made a few comic book appearances over the years in comics from Gold Key and later Archie, but it was not until the last few years when in the pages of Future Quest at DC that we learned the real secrets of Birdman. It's been brilliant finding out all these unknowns and I hope for more. I waited fifty years the first time, I can wait a little longer.

Rip Off

The Super-Secret Origin Of Birdman!

I've always loved Birdman, the Hanna-Barbera cartoon hero who burst onto the TV screens when superheroes were ubiquitous in the culture. He followed the success of Space Ghost, but brought the adventures down to Earth. With his eagle assistants Avenger and Birdboy, and working under the auspices of Falcon 7, a pipe-smoking, eye-patching sporting leader of a spy organization that used Birdman's powers to defeat evil in the world.

In the revised Hanna-Barbera universe currently on display in Future Quest Presents, we have somewhat more series attempt at the character. Birdboy is gone and Falcon 7 is revealed to be a ruse by the female leader of the spy group named Dev. In this more emotional renditon of the story, Birdman's enthusiastic "good guy" approach to the world is looked at with a jaundiced eye by the folks around him. He's seen as naive and they fear his approach to fighting evil will make him succumb to it. Their fears are played out to some extent in this three-part story.

Without revealing too much we meet Mentok, a villain from the original cartoon series who is revised himself here and given a back story which is ripe with an attempt to humanize even this vile user of other people. We learn more about how Birdman was born and about who he was before he became a vessel for Ra the Sun God. We learn how he came to become Birdman and maybe we learn what he yearns for even as he fills the shoes of the noble hero who protects us all. The relationship between Birdman and Avenger is even given a fresh take. All in all this trilogy is a treat for Birdman fans.

And last but not least is Steve Rude. Steve Rude is the ideal artist for the Hanna-Barbera heroes, he transmits the elegant Alex Toth designs into the comic with a modern gloss which nonetheless has a retro feel appropriate to the material. Steve Rude is arguably the finest comic book artist working today.

If you're a fan of Birdman you likely already have this one. If you are and you don't get it.

NOTE: Just found out that Future Quest Presents will end with issue twelve. It's a sad day for moi amigos. More later.

Rip Off

Future Quest Begins!

The debut issue of Future Quest was just about what I expected, and that's a good thing. The story was intriguing with key character moments spread out among what appears to be a large cast with some tasty and appropriate artwork. There's an easy assumption built into the story that all of the Hanna-Barbera heroes co-exist in the same universe and that as this story unfolds we will meet most if not all of them.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

The premise is that from time to time holes appear around the world and particularly on Palm Key which provide glimpses of other times and places throughout the universe, and that potent material will sometimes be deposited. Something wants to get to Earth and is pushing its way in making these ruptures. That something is suggested to be quite dangerous and was the object of a deadly attack by a powerful outer space force in the story's prologue (which might be another origin for Space Ghost). This weird activity has drawn the interest of F.E.A.R. who have enlisted Dr.Zin to help acquire the materials which come through the gaps. (In the gaps Jonny and Hadji see outlines of Shazzan, the Galaxy Trio, the Heruloids, and more) To combat that potential Inter-Nation Security sends two of its agents (one of whom is Birdman) to consult with Dr. Benton Quest and Race Bannon. Among the things which fall from the sky are Tundro of the Herculoids and as the story's last page shows -- Space Ghost himself.

END OF SPOILERS.

One of the surprises for me were eight or so pages of the comic drawn by Steve Rude. These pages frankly look like they might could be lifted out of the main story with little effect, but then you'd lose the fantastic splash page above and that would be a shame indeed. Eric Shaner's artwork overall is delightful, grace and precise and he offers up convincing translations of the classic characters.

The late Darwyn Cooke apparently did much of the redesign of some of the key characters and his contribution is felt throughout.

The book landed with a cavalcade of handsome alternate covers, which I will wait for the trade to collect (hopefully). Here they are.

Rip Off