Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles: The Complete Series (1966-1967) [Warner Archive Blu-ray review]

Warner Archive has unveiled the entire run of Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles—a mere 18 hour-long episodes—newly remastered from likely 35mm elements. Given how rarely the show has been officially distributed (beyond occasional reruns or old VHS), it’s a treat to see these episodes meticulously restored in high-definition. The result is a crisp, bright, 1080p image that underscores the bold linework, saturated color palette, and Toth’s stylized shapes. If you recall fuzzy old prints or battered recordings, you’ll be stunned by how vibrant it looks on Blu-ray.

Hanna Barbera took a weird step in the mid 1960s

By 1966, Hanna-Barbera had found a winning formula for Saturday morning cartoons, dominating the kids’ airwaves with anthropomorphic comedic characters. But the mid-’60s also brought a surge in superhero mania—Batman was big on TV, Marvel comics soared in popularity, and H-B had begun capitalizing with shows like Space Ghost and Dino Boy. Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles fit right into this wave. Debuting on CBS in fall 1966, it offered an hour-long block that was split into two distinct segments:

1. Frankenstein Jr.: A giant robot hero assisting a teen genius.
2. The Impossibles: A beatnik rock band who moonlighted as shape-shifting super-spies.

Alex Toth worked on these shows?

It was the perfect pitch for a time that adored zany adventure, comedic spoofery, and modish pop references. And it also boasted the design genius of Alex Toth, a revered comic artist who lent sharp, streamlined visuals to H-B’s ventures into costumed heroics.

The Alex Toth charm

For animation enthusiasts, Alex Toth’s involvement is reason enough to watch. Toth was a master of streamlined design—his silhouettes, color choices, and dynamic angles set the bar for TV cartoons’ visual economy. From Frankenstein Jr.’s bold chest emblem to The Impossibles’ modish suits, the show demonstrates Toth’s knack for pure pop-art flair. You can see echoes of these designs in 90s and 2000s cartoons that sought a “retro” look, reaffirming Toth’s overshadowed but enormous influence on the style and approach of subsequent superhero or action-comedy toons.

Who are the Impossibles?

Where Frankenstein Jr. embraced a typical “boy-and-his-robot” hero formula, The Impossibles careened into modish pop territory: a band of three long-haired, color-coded rockers who, between sets, used secret transformations to fight crime. Their manager or a commanding voice would dispatch them whenever a new global threat emerged, leading to comedic chases and flamboyant battles reminiscent of James Bond parodies and the comedic style of the Beatles’ Help!

What is Frankenstein Jr?

Frankenstein Jr. revolves around Buzz Conroy, a nerdy wonder-kid who (with some offscreen, improbable engineering savvy) built “Frankenstein Jr.,” a towering, blocky mechanical guardian. Donning bright green trunks and sporting a clunky metal head, “Frankie” soared through the sky to battle all manner of comedic baddies, from diabolical inventors to marauding monsters. But unlike some comedic sidekick dynamic, Buzz actively participates—zipping around on a rocketpack, offering mechanical fixes or strategic advice, always brimming with that enthusiastic “Yes, we can solve this with science!” vibe that marked 1960s optimism.

Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles may not top lists of “Greatest Hanna-Barbera Cartoons,” but for those who remember that faint memory of a giant green robot flattening giant monsters or a trio of shape-shifting rock stars saving the day, it’s a joyful rediscovery. Even if you’ve never heard of the show, it’s a delightful snapshot of 1960s cartoon experimentation—mashing superhero motifs, comedic spy riffs, and rock band mania into an exuberant (if narratively thin) swirl. The comedic innocence, rapid pacing, and Toth’s design panache ensure each short is a vivid jolt of pulpy color and retro charm.

Let’s talk about that Warner Archive Blu-ray

Frankenstein Jr and The Impossibles come to Warner Archive Blu-ray with quite the release. The sole special fature is a featurette about the show and its cult legacy. But, how about that A/V Quality? You can watch these half-baked but wholeheartedly enthusiastic superhero stories the best they’ve ever looked. Freed from grainy or poorly transferred syndicated prints, the bright lines and bold shapes pop as originally intended.

The DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track captures the snappy voice acting from the era’s top talents—Dick Beals, Don Messick, Paul Frees, Hal Smith—with minimal hiss or distortion. The show’s playful theme songs, bridging episodes, sound better than ever. Meanwhile, transition stings, mechanical whirs, and comedic “pow!” sound effects ring with a pleasing clarity. Fans are sure to rejoice that this “forgotten” slice of cartoon history gets the star treatment.

Frankenstein Jr and The Incredibles: The Complete Series is now available on Blu-ray from Warner Archive at MovieZyng

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