I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #98

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 98
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Terence Griep
PENCILS: Randy Elliot; Fabio Laguna
INKS: Randy Elliot; Fabio Laguna
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; John J. Hill
EDITOR: Harvey Richards
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Pamela Lovas
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2019)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“Highland Horror”

I am continuing my journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  Normally, I do this via my DC Comics subscription service, but I let that lapse for a few months.  So, until my third subscription begins, I have been getting copies from my local comic shop (LSC).

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #98 opens with “Highland Horror” (written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Randy Elliot).  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are attending the “Coolsville Celtic Faire.”  In the midst of all the fun, however, a new creepy type, “the Mad Scott,” begins haunting the fairgrounds.  And the Mystery Inc. kids have found their latest case.

The second story is “Sumo A-Go-Go” (written by Terrence Griep and drawn by Fabio Laguna).  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #148 (cover dated: November 2009), and it was recently reprinted in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #91 (cover dated: May 2018).]  Mystery Inc. is enjoying a sumo wrestling tournament when “The Tengu” appears, declaring that the tournament's opening ceremony is an insult.  Now, it is up to the gang to stop him.

As stories in this series go, this one is a little above average.  Writer Derek Fridolfs offers lots of factoids concerning Scottish culture, including about dancing, food, and kilts, and there are some bagpipe jokes.  Also, Randy Elliot is one of the better modern Scooby-Doo comic book artists.

The second (and sometimes third) stories in Scooby Doo, Where Are You? have always been stories reprinted from the previous Scooby-Doo comic book series, simply entitled Scooby-Doo (159 issues, 1997-2010).  The last year or so some of the back-up stories have been reprinted more than once.  “The Freeloading Ghost” has been reprinted twice in half a year, and I have no idea why.  Now, another recently reprinted story, “Sumo A-Go-Go,” makes another appearance, and it is actually a nice story.  So anyone who has missed its previous appearances will get a chance to read it.

See you next time.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"


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