The Warner Archive 2-Disc DVD release of the 1966-68 Hanna-Barbera Saturday morning series "Frankenstein Jr. and the Impossibles" provides a good chance to see the "missing link" in the vast (and growing) HB catalog. Both the content and the format of this series reflect the major changes in the studio modus operandi from the early days to the '70s.
This series is one of the last ones in which HB uses the format of three shorts, rather than the 30-minute sitcom style of most of their '70s programs. One rare practice that terrifically reflects the "equal time" principle has the series alternate between sandwiching a "Frankenstein" cartoon between two "Impossibles" offering and reversing that the next week. This is in contrast to the more common HB method of either always airing one cartoon with the "B" star between two outings of the "A" lister or showing one cartoon each of the three series that make up the set.
The following YouTube clip of the opening credits for "Frankenstein" provides a good sense of the concept and of the groovy '60slicious pop art look of the series.
"Frankenstein Jr." particularly reflects the transition from the talking animals (i.e., Wally Gator and Magilla Gorilla) weekend fare of the studio to super-heroes series (such as the reviewed "Space Ghost" and also reviewed "Birdman") in the later '60s in response to Spider-man and ALL his amazing friends invading the turf of HB. "Frankenstein" revolves around Jonny Quest clone (complete with acclaimed scientist father) boy genius Buzz Conroy and his "creation" (the titular "iron giant") fighting villains who often are mad scientists. Ted Cassidy of (the reviewed) HB live-action/animated series "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" voices Junior.
"Frankenstein" particularly emulates "Ghost," which includes an epic-length multi-episode "Legion of Doom" style saga, in the wonderfully titled early two-part episode "The Alien Brain from Outer Space" that finds our heroes pitted against the titular brother from another planet. The most awesome ability of this undocumented non-citizen is the power to make zoo animals enormous creatures that he can control.
"Alien" P1 ends on a note that is awesomely laughable to anyone over the age of seven. Our heroes are in "Batman" '66 style peril, and the narrator (Paul Frees) announces that escaping requires that Buzz reach the ring that he uses to control Junior. Most folks will not need to tune in the next week to see if Buzz manages to do so.
It is even more funny that Dr. Conroy encourages his pre-pubescent offspring to jump on the shoulder of an enormous root and rocket off into space to battle a well-armed psychopath. Apparently, the HB universe lacks any form of child protective services.
This spectacularness (and well-deserved cult status) earn Junior a prominent cameo in the exceptional modern Scooby movie "The Mask of the Blue Falcon."
"The Impossibles" most directly paves the way for the (reviewed and sadly largely overlooked) 1973-74 HB 30-minute series "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids" with a David Cassidy clone as the front man. Both series involve a rock band consisting of secret agents who use their musical careers as a cover for battling villains.
Conversely, the more Hitchcockian series "Josie and the Pussycats" has the titular band and their entourage being "innocents" who find themselves involved in intrigue as they travel the world playing their music.
"Impossibles" additionally is an early version of the (also reviewed) "The Super Globetrotters" from the 1979-80 television season. That series has animated versions of the clown princes of basketball using their tours as covers for their secret agent activities. The similarities extend to the alter-egos of the Globetrotters being comically meta-heroes. The "Impossibles" version of this is having the trio consist of Coil Man (turns into a human slinky), Fluid Man (converts to a purely liquid state and back again at will), and Multi-Man (can form a human chain by almost instantaneously creating numerous linked clones of himself.)
"Impossibles" gets off to a rock (pun intended)-solid start with their premiere adventure. They are on site to play at a beauty pageant that an Elroy Jetson-like young shah is set to judge when The Bubbler encases the royal in a bubble and floats him away to hold him for a king's ransom. The lad constantly hurling "you sir are no gentleman" insults at his captor is hilarious.
Another (equally good) early cartoon has Fluid Man proving that Bounty is the quicker-picker-up but not being in a rosey situation, The villain du jour is holding this paper towel over a flame to cremate our hero; this seems a tad dark for a light-hearted Saturday morning cartoon.
The better news is that our boys continue to rock soft and hilariously save the day throughout the run of the series.
The best news is that the good folks at Archive make all this great stuff available when virtually (if not every) cable network and streaming service has vaulted it. The combination of talent at Hanna-Barbera particularly in the '60s truly is lightning in a bottle. Further, Saturday morning cartoons have gone the way of Dino.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Frankenstein" is strongly encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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