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Never fear! The galaxy is safe, thanks to Space Ghost, the mysterious superhero who patrols outer space with his friends—masked teenagers Jace and Jan and their masked monkey, Blip. With the help of his all-powerful Power Bands and his Inviso-Power, which makes him disappear, Space Ghost fights to keep the galaxy’s villains under control.
This 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon is a fun blast from the past. Sure, the writing may be pretty silly (as is the acting). And Space Ghost may not be the brightest star in the galaxy (but, fortunately, the galaxy’s villains are almost totally incompetent). The show’s design, however (even with its simple ‘60s HB animation), is wonderful—from Space Ghost himself to the variety of beasts and space creatures that he and his young friends encounter. And the cheesy jazzy music provides the perfect ‘60s background.
Since each cartoon is only six or seven minutes long, Space Ghost isn’t exactly high on development. It never really says, for instance, who Space Ghost is or where he came from (or why he patrols the galaxy with two teenagers and a monkey). And since each cartoon is designed to stand on its own, there aren’t any storylines to follow throughout the show (though some villains do return from time to time). But it still makes a great show for old fans to share with their kids.
The DVD release of Space Ghost features all 20 episodes on two double-sided DVDs. Each episode is shown in three parts (just as it aired on TV), with two Space Ghost cartoons separated by one cartoon featuring Dino Boy, a young boy who was forced to jump from a malfunctioning airplane, only to find himself in the middle of a prehistoric jungle. There, he fights for survival against all kinds of prehistoric creatures—with his dinosaur pal, Bronty, and Ugh, the caveman, at his side. This prehistoric cartoon version of Lassie isn’t quite as dynamic as Space Ghost is, but the short cartoons often offer the same great illustration and creative design.
The highlight of the collection, though, is the finale—the six-part episode, “The Council of Doom,” in which Space Ghost battles six of his greatest enemies (including Brak, Zorak, and Moltar, who later appeared on Space Ghost Coast to Coast), sometimes traveling to other times and other places to meet other heroes.
Also included in the set is the feature-length documentary, Simplicity: The Life and Art of Alex Toth, which provides an interesting look at one of the great cartoonists (who created a number of characters, including Space Ghost). Through interviews with family and friends—as well as through the late cartoonist’s own words—it’s a fascinating and even touching look at the artist’s life and work.
Space Ghost fans won’t want to miss this collection—because what it lacks in story, it more than makes up for in nostalgia. It’s even better if you get up on Saturday morning and watch it in your jammies while eating a bowl of Froot Loops. Just be sure to share with your kids—because they’re sure to love it, too.
