I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #89

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 89
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Rob M. Worley; Brett Lewis
PENCILS: Scott Gross; Anthony Lewis
INKS: Scott Gross; Dan Davis
COLORS: Scott Gross; Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Ryan Cline
COVER: Scott Gross
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2018)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

Let's continue to enjoy the fruits of the renewal of my subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  I recently received the fourth issue of that renewed subscription.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #89 opens with “Panic at the Pizza Palace” (written by Rob M. Morley and drawn by Scott Gross).  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are in New York City and have stopped at “Poldo's Pizza Palace,” which Shaggy declares has the best pie in all of NYC.

Things have changed, however; siblings Franco and Sabry are now the owners, and Franco prefers to serve a new kind of pizza with different toppings.  Franco says that modern pizza toppings, like banana and kale, are the new art form.  The ghost of the pizzeria's original owner, Gerolamo Piredda, hates this new art pizza and is threatening to burn Poldo's to the ground.

The second story is “Good Ghost Haunting” (written by Brett Lewis and drawn by Anthony Williams and Dan Davis), a story originally published in Scooby-Doo #42 (cover dated: January 2001).  The story finds Mystery Inc. at Plymouth Institute of Technology for its annual technology fair, where students compete for scholarships and research grants.  Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo are attending the fair, hoping to find new technologies to help them in their crime fighting.  The problem is that the ghostly “Salem Witch Hunter” is stealing at the fair, and so it is another ghostly mystery for the gang to solve.

“Panic at the Pizza Palace” is drawn by one of the great modern Scooby-Doo comic book artists, Scott Gross (who also provides the cover art for this issue), and it is actually a pretty good story.  I think the reason it resonates with me is that the mystery turns on family strife to which many of us, especially those dealing with inheritance, can relate.  Plus, I just love that Scott Gross art.

“Good Ghost Hunting” also deals with the “rightful owners” theme.  The crooks' method of operation is clever, although many readers will solve the mystery of that ghost pretty quickly.

And it happens again.  Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #89 makes me excited about the next issue.  I really enjoy reading this series.  I think I need to find some back issues.

A-
7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU #86

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 86
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Ivan Cohen; Paul Kupperberg
PENCILS: Randy Elliot; Fabio Laguna
COLORS: Sylvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Robin Levin; Harvey Richards
COVER: Scott Gross
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2017)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

Several years ago, I had a subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  I let it expire after a year, but I had been putting off renewing it, which I did a few months ago.  I recently received the first issue of that new subscription.  Let me share some news about my first subscription issue with you.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #86 opens with “Medical Mystery Tour” (written by Ivan Cohen and drawn by Randy Elliot).  Mystery Incorporated has just solved a case and disaster strikes!  When Velma Dinkley is forced to stay awake in a hospital bed for 24 hours, Scooby-Doo and the rest of Mystery Inc., do their best to keep their resident super-brain occupied.  Are there schemes, however, keeping them from seeing the truth?

The second story is “It's a Mystery!” (written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Fabio Laguna).  It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #155, a 2010 issue of the Scooby-Doo comic book series that began in 1997.  This is another Velma story.  It is her birthday, and her Mystery Inc. pals have created a fake mystery based on the work of Velma's favorite mystery novelist, Cal Melvin Cullins, for her to solve.  But fate and bad timing throws Velma into a case that is real and is closer to home than the Mystery Inc. gang realizes.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #86 is a pointed reminder for me that I should have renewed by subscription to this series back in 2014.  I missed three years of a comic book that I really liked.  At the end of my review of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50, I asked, “Should I continue past Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50?  I am having a good time...”  I didn't continue.

Both of these stories are quite good, and similarly are about misdirection.  Although most readers will probably figure out what's going on midway through both stories, they are fun because they depict the closeness of the characters.  Mystery Incorporated is a family, and the cartoon series that have broken up the family into a smaller unit, such as “The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo Show” (1983) and “Shaggy & Scooby Get a Clue! (2006).  These two series are not the same as the series which feature the entire original cast – and are not as good as the ones with the full cast, as far as I'm concerned.

I like that the two stories that make up Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #86.  They put the family in “Scooby gang.”  Also, Scott Gross' cover art for this issue is one of the most imaginative visuals and striking designs that I have ever seen on a Scooby-Doo comic book cover.

A-
7.5 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2017 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #46

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #46
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Scott Gross, John Rozum
PENCILS: Fabio Laguna, Leo Batic
INKS: Fabio Laguna, Horacio Ottolini
COLORS: Candace Schinzler-Bell, Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte, Nick J. Napolitano
EDITOR: Aniz Ansari
COVER: Scott Gross
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #46 is the most recent issue that I have received through my subscription to the title.  Join me as I continue my journey through the current Scooby-Doo comic book series with a review of the forty-sixth issue.  Why is this happening, those of you who are new might ask?  I bought a subscription to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? via a fundraiser held by my nephew’s school last year, which involved selling magazine subscriptions.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #46 opens with “Awesomelantis Rises” (written by Scott Gross and drawn by Fábio Laguna).  After Shaggy and Scooby, through their usual antics, dig up a mysterious artifact, The Mystery Inc. gang visits a local university.  In the Marine Archeology Department, Professor Varzi tells them that he believes the artifact to be a relic of the long-lost city of Atlantis.  When a group of creatures calling themselves “Atlanteans” show up, the gang has another mystery to solve.

“A Wolf in Creep’s Clothing” (written by John Rozum and drawn by Leo Batic and Horacio Ottolini) finds the gang at a monster convention, “Monster Mix 2004.”  This is the one place where Shaggy and Scooby can feel safe around monsters, because these monsters are only fans in costumes.  However, the ghost of Patricia Millicent, the late, famed movie monster costume designer, is terrorizing the contestants of the convention’s costume contest.  And Shag and Scoob have to solve this mystery on their own, as Fred, Daphne, Velma are trapped on a convention panel.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #46 offers two delightful tongue-in-cheek stories.  Both trade in classic Scooby-Doo scenarios, while gently poking fun at how Mystery Inc. solves cases.  “Awesomelantis Rises” is a mystery so obviously not about the supernatural, but the art by Fábio Laguna is a treat.  It is also funny to see what is essentially a children’s comic book making a pointed attack on commercial exploitation of history and on frivolous commercial real estate development.

“A Wolf in Creep’s Clothing” is a reprint from Scooby-Doo #92 (the Scooby-Doo series prior to this one).  I like Scooby-Doo stories that take place at conventions and at other behind-the-scenes locales like a movie lot, a circus, or a theatre where stage plays are performed.  Writer John Rozum spoofs figures that are well-known in monster films, television, and fiction, such as Hellboy’s Mike Mignola (as Mike Magnolia) and Stephen King (as Steve Kingman).  This story left me wanting more Scooby-Doo, and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #46, as a whole, makes me want to re-subscribe.

A

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #41

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #41
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Scott Gross, John Rozum, Keith Champagne
PENCILS: Scott Gross, Scott Neely
INKS: Scott Gross, Jorge Pacheco, Scott Neely
COLORS: Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte, Sal Cipriano, Randy Gentile,
COVER: Scott Gross
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (March 2014)

Rated “E” for Everyone

I currently subscribe to DC Comics’ most recent Scooby-Doo comic book series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (2010).  I bought the subscription through a fundraising drive by the school my nephew attends.  I just received the third issue of my subscription.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #41 opens with “Annunaki” (written and drawn by Scott Gross).  The story finds Mystery Inc. on the road and lost.  The gang ends up in the small Ohio town of Chillicothe.  There, they discover that an “ancient astronaut,” is terrorizing locals and keeping them away from the area’s pride and joy, local Indian mounds.  Faster than you can exclaim, “Jinkies!” Velma Dinkley has a plan.

In “Chupacabra-Cadabra” (written by Keith Champagne and drawn by Scott Neely), the gang takes a road trip to celebrate Shaggy Rogers’ birthday.  No-thanks to the legendary “El Chupacabra,” which has a penchant for kidnapping, Shaggy is about to have his worst birthday ever!

Once again, I experience the joy of reading a Scooby-Doo comic book.  Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #41 offers three good stories, although some of this material is not new.  Some of the comics here were previously published in Scooby-Doo (1997) #130 and #140.

Even at eight pages, “Chupacabra-Cadabra” is a complete and fully developed story.  However, “Annunaki,” at 10-pages in length, is the victim of a rushed ending.  The story is a good idea, but it should have been a full-length, single-issue story of at least 20 pages in length.  The last two pages are crunched together, when this last act needs at least six pages.  Talk about compression.

Overall, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #41 is a good issue.  And I’m ready for the next issue – as usual.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux

The text is copyright © 2014 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #40

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #40
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch, John Rozum
PENCILS: Walter Carzon, Robert Pope, Fabio Laguna
INKS: Horatio Ottolini, Scott McRae, Fabio Laguna
COLORS: Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte, Travis Lanham
COVER: Scott Gross
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (February 2014)

Rated “E” for Everyone

I previously wrote that I subscribe to DC Comics’ current incarnation of a Scooby-Doo comic book series, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? (2010).  I bought the subscription through a fundraising drive for the school my nephew attends.  I recently received the second issue of my subscription.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #40 opens with “Scare Mail” (written by Sholly Fisch and penciled by Walter Carzon).  The story finds Mystery Inc. working for “Tex Mex” delivery service (a spoof of FedEx).  They are delivering a package to the ghost town of Jackpot, but the gang’s true purpose is to investigate the disappearance of previous TexMex trucks that entered Jackpot and never returned.

Next up is a “Howling Good Time” (written by Sholly Fisch and penciled by Robert Pope).  Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the gang visit a carnival run by their old pals, the Ghastleys, who first appeared in Scooby-Doo (1997) #107.  The gang learns that everything about the carnival is just fine, except for one small detail.  For the past week, a monster has been rampaging through the carnival and scaring customers away.  If this monster mystery isn’t solved, it will put the carnival out of business.

After reading the first issue of my subscription, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #39, I was disappointed.  This time around, I am disappointed that Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #40 is not double-sized… or even triple-sized.  Sholly Fisch offers two highly-enjoyable stories that capture the fun of the classic Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? television cartoons.  In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing Fisch’s two stories here adapted into Scooby-Doo cartoons.

Penciller Robert Pope and inker Scott McRae, who were excellent in issue #39, return for another story.  I like how Pope fills the panels with characters and background details that give each panel a sense of environment; McRae’s clean inking keeps Pope’s details from becoming cluttered.  However, I have to say that I’m especially impressed by Walter Carzon.  From his drawing hand, classic Scooby-Doo is reborn in the graphics of comic book storytelling.  Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #40 would make an excellent comic book gift for a young reader.

Obviously, I’m ready for the next issue in my subscription.

A-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


The text is copyright © 2013 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog for syndication rights and fees.