Jonny Quest (TV Series) The Invisible Monster (1965) User Reviews

Scared the pants off me as a child

[bensonmum2 · 8/10 · 28 February 2010]

Dr. Isaiah Norman, an old friend and colleague of Dr. Quest, calls with a frantic request for help. His latest experiment involving molecular energy has gotten out of control with devastating results. Somehow, Dr. Norman has created an invisible creature made of pure energy. It exists solely to consume more energy. The Quest Team quickly boards their plane to head off on another adventure. But will they get there in time to save Dr. Norman?

Finally, my run of bad luck with Jonny Quest is over. The Invisible Monster is one of those episodes that stands out. And why not? An effective monster, cool jet packs, and characters that actually die - it's got all the makings of a first rate Jonny Quest episode. It was the kind of episode that 40 years ago would have had my lights on all night. It was that scary! Watching today, I may have slept comfortably, but I can still recognize class when I see it. It's truly one of the most memorable of all of the Jonny Quest episodes. One thing I noticed looking at it today, the monster doesn't have the same polished appearance of the other artwork from Jonny Quest. It's a simple design with colors that change from frame to frame. But I guess with a creature made of molecular energy, you could do almost anything with it and it would look okay. And that solitary eye - creepy! And that noise - even creepier. I love it! The Invisible Monster easily gets an 8/10 from me.

Energy beast running amok in the jungle

[geologyjim13 · 10/10 · 1 June 2007]

In this episode, which I remember watching and being scared senseless as a small child, one of Benton Quest's colleagues accidentally creates an invisible energy beast (ala Frankenstein) that is attracted to any kind of electrical energy. This of course leads to the destruction of the man who created it, but not before he contacts Dr. Quest. The Quest team rushes down to see the destruction, and end up using jet packs to buzz bomb the energy beast who they track as he plows through the jungle. The paint bombs allow them see the shape of the monster, that it has one eye, and screams whenever it sees something it doesn't like.

Ultimately they trap the beast in a cave by having it follow electric lights. Once in the cave, they spring a trap that discombobulates the monster back into the particles from whence it sprang. This was the first episode I ever saw, and it had me hooked. I still compare nearly all cartoon I watch to the quality of the story lines and the animation that was employed by the Hanna Barbera production team.

Occasionally they show Jonny Quest on Boomerang, Hanna-Barbera's TV channel. I also understand that there is a DVD with the first season on it, but it seems to be missing some of the best episodes. I keep waiting for a live version movie of Jonny Quest to come out (are you listening Mr. Spielberg?). You just know that there would be a million cartoon junkies like me who would line up to see it.