Joe Barbera passes

[dlw66]

Joe Barbera, of the legendary animation team Hanna-Barbera, has died. Among their stable of characters included Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, the Flintstones, the Jetsons, Huckleberry Hound, and Super Friends. Joe was 95 years old.

[sharkar]

I suppose there is some small consolation in knowing that he lived to an old age and died of natural causes- -and not from a debilitating illness (like Dave C)- - but this is still sad news.

Man, I grew up on and loved Tom & Jerry, Huckleberry Hound, Magilla Gorilla and, of course, the Flintstones and Jetsons. I was always fascinated by the names in the closing credits "A William Hanna-Joseph Barbera Production" and thought how lucky those guys were to be able to create cartoons for TV. Hanna-Barbera also produced the 1967 FF cartoon (Alex Toth character designs).

[dlw66]

Yes, many a Saturday morning was spent curled up in my pajamas watching Scooby-Doo and Super Friends. Those were also the days (unrelated) of the live-action Shazam-Isis hour, the Bugs Bunny/Road Runner hour and other great cartoons. Even as a 40-year old, I find myself grateful that Cartoon Network has saved these parts of our youth and continues to show them on their Boomerang Network.

[The Night Phantom]

Although that JLA pastiche Super Friends is probably Hanna and Barbera’s best-known and most influential foray into the world of superheroes, they also dabbled in Marvel heroes, with a 1960s Fantastic Four TV cartoon (long before three of the members would become Avengers).

RIP Joe Barbera.

[The Night Phantom]

nightphantom said:

they also dabbled in Marvel heroes

Perhaps I should have said “yabba-dabba-dabbled”…

[jkemble]

legend for sure, 95 is pretty old.
how was his health?

[sharkar]

J,

based on the obits, it seems like he was in good health for a 95 year old ...he died from natural causes, in his sleep, at his home. All things considered, probably the "best" way to go.

Still sad, though.

[The Night Phantom]

“Looks like the poor devil died in his sleep.”
“What a terrible way to die.”
—Riker and Worf, “The Royale”, Star Trek: The Next Generation

Not everyone looks at it like Worf, though. In my view, the measure of a man is not how he died but how he lived. (Though I grant there are cases in which the former does say something about the latter.) So, perhaps we should work out any grief by sitting around watching cartoons!

By the way, I just noticed that Sharkar mentioned the FF cartoon before I did (as though I were saying something new). Sorry about that, pal!

[sharkar]

No problem, Phantom. I'm glad you also mentioned the FF cartoon since your post included a hyperlink.

[The Night Phantom]

sharkar said:

No problem, Phantom. I'm glad you also mentioned the FF cartoon since your post included a hyperlink.

Apparently it’s what I’m known for. Thanks for being so understanding. That image of the H-B FF (by way of Alex Toth, as you mentioned) rocks, doesn’t it? or at least square-dances a little? (At least the Torch is the Torch, not a pint-sized cutesy-faced robot…)

[sharkar]

Apparently it’s what I’m known for.

Phantom, I thought that was going to be a link to Doom's recent Farewell to Arms post, in which he eloquently praised several of you (and cited your love of hyperlinks)...but you surprised me!

And yes, Alex Toth rocks. I love how he gave the FF cartoon a real Kirbyesque feel but at the same time his (Toth's) own style shone through.

[The Night Phantom]

nightphantom said:

sharkar said:

No problem, Phantom. I'm glad you also mentioned the FF cartoon since your post included a hyperlink.

Apparently it’s what I’m known for.

sharkar said:

Phantom, I thought that was going to be a link to Doom's recent Farewell to Arms post, in which he eloquently praised several of you (and cited your love of hyperlinks)...but you surprised me!

I’m afraid you missed the first of the two links in that sentence. I’m more predictable than you realize.

[sharkar]

Ah, so my initial thoughts were correct after all... ...sweet!