“Yesterday’s” Comic> Real Adv. Of Jonny Quest #1

Isn’t this usually how most real quests END?

The Real Adventures Of Jonny Quest #1

Dark Horse (September, 1996)

This comic was a tie-in to the Cartoon Network series (which I believe was also released in syndication) and features an older version of the show’s characters. It also has Jessie, Race’s daughter (who made her appearance in Jonny’s Golden Quest). With everybody older the series took a darker tone, as did the animation. It’s at least worth checking out.

The Quest team journey to Hungary, where hackers have been attacking flight towers and railways for extortion under the name “Rom Freedom Front”. The group meet with a Rom computer expert who no longer travels around, and seek information on the group from her cousin, who runs a circus. Together they conclude that Janis, the leader of another Rom circus, may be behind the RFF, so Jonny and Hadji go undercover with the good guy circus who are about to meet up with Janis’ circus.

What they got right: The artwork in this series is beautiful. I don’t mean “good for 90’s comics”, I mean they actually took the time to make the art good. While the character models take minor liberties with the show’s models they are minor and probably better fitting a comic. The writer also seems to know there are more to the Rom than the usual gypsy stereotype. It’s a good set-up, one that keeps you interested enough to check out the first issue.

What they got wrong: There’s a part where Jessie is talking about traveling with Race as if she’s done it for years. I’m not certain how many years passed between Jonny’s Golden Quest (which had its own big continuity flaw for the sake of the story) and Real Adventures but she only learned about her father and joined the team during that movie. I don’t remember if she joined up officially or promised to visit with her dad but staying with her mom. It’s been a lot of years since I’ve seen it, but the way she says it makes it seem like she’s been with the team the whole time, or even traveling with him before he became the Quest family bodyguard.

Recommendation:  This a great comic for fans of adventure stories. Fans of the classic series may be put off at first but should give it a chance. I find it and the tied-in TV show a good, if darker, update of the classic show.