#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #126

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #126

DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Sholly Fisch

PENCILS: Valerio Chiola; Scott Jeralds

INKS: Valerio Chiola; Scott Jeralds

COLORS: Valerio Chiola; Silvana Brys

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Brittany Holzherr (reprint)

COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Valerio Chiola

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (April 2024)

Ages 8+

“Girls Night Ouch!”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I continue to renew my subscription so that I can continue to review this series for you, dear readers.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #126 opens with “Girls Night Ouch!,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Valerio Chiola.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma making some plans.  Not everyone has the same plans for this evening.  Scooby and Shaggy have an all-you-can-eat buffet to attend, and Fred is going to investigate a haunted kitchen.

Meanwhile, Daphne and Velma are going to a local bookstore for a release party for the second book in the popular, teenage vampire romance book series, “Once Bitten.”  The series' author, Steven Majors, is going to read from “Twice Bitten,” the new book, but his appearance is nothing compared to a surprise appearance.  It seems that the book series' star, the vampire Danté, has arrived and is tearing the bookstore apart.  Can Daphne and Velma solve this mystery alone?

As usual, the second story, “Ghost Writers,” is a reprint story.  It is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Scott Jeralds.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You #76 (cover date: February 2017).]  The story finds Mystery Inc. investigating a haunted library.  Paige the librarian wants to know why the ghosts of Edgar Allen Poe and William Shakespeare are haunting her library.  Now, Scooby and the gang have to discover what these literary ghosts want.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #126 has as its theme literary hauntings.  The new story is set in a book event at a local book store, and of course, there is an obvious reference to author Stephenie Meyer's Twilight book series.  Readers familiar with Twilight will enjoy the references to the book and to its fans and – dare I say it – its devoted, cult-like following.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #126 is not a particularly good issue compared to recent issues.  Still, it's a fun read.  So grab your “Scooby Snacks” and read it, and maybe watch a Scooby-Doo movie, later.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

C+

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Metropolis Grove” by Drew Brockington.]

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

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #112

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #112
DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Sholly Fisch
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds; Dario Brizuela
INKS: Scott Jeralds; Dario Brizuela
COLORS: Jeremy Lawson; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Kristy Quinn (reprint)
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Jeremy Lawson
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2021)

Ages 8+

“Attack of the 8-Foot Amphibian!”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I continue to renew my subscription so that I can continue to review this series for you, dear readers.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #112 opens with “Attack of the 8-Foot Amphibian!,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Scott Jeralds.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma in the “Mystery Machine” are arriving at the “Coolsville Drive-In” movie theater.  They are there for a screening of the classic monster movie, “The Ghoulie from Green Lagoon.”  It seems, however, that the Ghoulie has, of late, been rampaging through the drive-in.  Instead of a night at the movies, it's another mystery for Scooby and the gang.

The second story, “Creature Feature” is, as usual, a reprint story and is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Dario Brizuela.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #38 (cover date: December 2013).]  The story opens on the set of the “Nocturna, Mistress of Midnight” television show.  Horror movie hostess, “Nocturna,” is screening the monster movie, “Attack of the Cabbage People,” when a real cabbage monster terrorizes the set.  It seems that “creepy creatures” from old movies have been plaguing the television studio for a few weeks.

Mystery Inc. arrives, offering to help solve the mystery.  The gang discovers that Sybil, the actress who plays Nocturna; Lew Gordon, the show's producer; and Dennis Raye, the show's intern have different ideas about what is going on.  Can Mystery Inc. solve the mystery of these old movie monsters before there are too many for anyone to handle?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #111 was one of the best issues of the series that I had read in a long time.  Shockingly, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #112 makes it consecutive top-flight issues of a Scooby-Doo comic book series that has been mostly flat for the past few years.

First, the opening story, “Attack of the 8-Foot Amphibian!,” features the artwork of one of the very best Scooby-Doo comic book artists, Scott Jeralds.  His beautiful “clear-line” drawing style retains the classic design of the Scooby-Doo characters and adds a quirky modern visual sensibility.  The story is written by one of the better Scooby-Doo comic book writers, Derek Fridolfs, who is also an artist and who draws issue #112's cover.

Fridolf's script offers sly commentary about people's obsessions with their smart phones and about how people use camera phones to record events rather than live in those events themselves.  It seems that the only ones concerned with “the Green Ghoulie” is analog-era Mystery Inc, who fit in perfectly with the story's setting, a drive-in movie theater.  This offers an obvious contrast to the rest of the moviegoers who are too jaded to care about “old school” or “retro” things.

Like the reprint story in issue #111, issue 112's back-up story is also a reprint from an earlier issue of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? rather than from the previous series, Scooby-Doo (1997-2010).  “Creature Feature” (originally published in 2013) is not quite as entertaining as “Attack of the 8-Foot Amphibian!,” but it does offer “Nocturna, Mistress of Midnight,” an homage to the great, real-life horror-hostess, “Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.”  For me, that's enough to make “Creature Feature” a winner.

So, I highly recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #112 to Scooby-Doo fans.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

A

8 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #109

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) No. 109
DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Dan Abnett
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds; Anthony Williams
INKS: Scott Jeralds; Dan Davis
COLORS: Jeremy Lawson; Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Tom Orzechowski
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Joan Hilty (reprint)
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Pamela Lovas
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2021)

Ages 8+

“Escape Claws”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I continue to renew my subscription so that I can continue to review this series for you, dear readers.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #109 opens with “Escape Claws,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Scott Jeralds.  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have been called to “Coolsville Escape Room.”  George Papalakis, the owner of an indoor competition game, “Escapades,” wants them to test the game (which is similar to “Laser Tag,” but without the shooting).  Apparently, a “chimera,” a mythological creature that is composed of a lion, a goat, and a snake, is haunting the place?  Can Mystery Inc, solve this case and escape the claws of the chimera.

The second story, “Petrified!,” is, as usual, a reprint story and is written by Dan Abnett and drawn by Anthony Williams and Dan Davis.  [This story was originally published as the back-up story in Scooby-Doo #70 (cover date: May 2003).]  The gang has been called to a town that is being plagued by a “basilisk.”  Originating from Europe, this mythological creature was a winged lizard that could turn people to stone when it stared at them.  However, Mystery Inc. knows that there is more to the townsfolk's stories than they are admitting.

The theme of this issue is mythological creatures, and while the concept for each story is interesting, the execution of each story is, to be quite honest, awful.  As usual, I like the quirky line work and delicate design and page layouts of artist Scott Jeralds.  He makes “Escape Claws” at least pleasant on the eyes.  Otherwise, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #109 is a low point in this series.

So, I recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #109 strictly to readers who are collecting all issues of this series.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

C
4 out of 10

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


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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #104

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #104 (2010)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Scott Cunningham; John Rozum
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds; Karen Matchette; Matt I. Jenkins
INKS: Scott Jeralds; Karen Matchette; Matt I. Jenkins
COLORS: Rock Candy; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Mike Sellers; Rob Clark Jr.
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Michael Siglain (reprint); Harvey Richards (reprint)
COVER: Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini with Silvana Brys
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2020)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“Get on Board”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I renewed my subscription (for a second time), and this is the sixth issue of my third subscription run that I have received.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 opens with “Get on Board,” which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Scott Jeralds.  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have responded to a call from Toni, a young woman who is running the skateboarding event,  the “Z Games” (a stand in for the real-world extreme sports event, “The X-Games”).  It seems the games are being haunted by a gremlin with the power to destroy the competitors' skateboards.  Can Mystery Inc. put an end to this gremlin and save the games?

The second story, “The Creature from the Rainbow Waterpark,” is, as usual, a reprint and is written by Scott Cunningham and drawn by Karen Matchette.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #121 (cover date: August 2007).]  On the road and looking for a chance to get away from the heat of the summer, the gang stops at “Rainbow Waterpark,” and immediately discover that some kind of fish-monster is plaguing the park.  The park's owners, “the Rainbow Twins,” brothers Allen and Alfred, blame a rival park.  But is there more to this monster attack sabotage?

The third story, “Car-Tastrophe,” is also a reprint story and is written by John Rozum and drawn by Matt I. Jenkins.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #153 (cover date: April 2010).]  When Mystery Inc. is on the road and the Mystery Machine blows a gasket, the gang calls into the talk show, “Car Chat,” on the National People's Radio network.  Brothers Tim “Cling” Thunk-It and Roy “Clang” Thunk-It dispense the automobile repair advice, and lately, Fred has had to call them quite often.  However, when a mysterious caller, naming himself “The Phantom of the Air,” starts haunting them over the air, the Thunk-It brothers turn to Mystery Inc.  Can the gang solve this radio mystery and catch a wily phantom?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 is probably the best issue of this series that I have read in at least a year.  “Get on Board” is not a standout story, although I like the skateboarding competition setting and having the “monster” be a gremlin that dresses like... a “skater boy.”  The solution to “The Creature from the Rainbow Waterpark” involves one of those “mazes for kids” puzzles that are includes in some comics and magazines aimed at young readers.

“Car-Tastrophe” is what makes Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 an exceptional entry in this series.  The “Car Chat” radio show is a spoof of the real-life “Car Talk” radio show that aired on National Public Radio (NPR) from 1977 to 2012.  This story also spoofs NPR with National Peoples Radio, and the “Thunk-It Brothers” spoof Car Talk's “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers” (who were really brothers, Tom and Ray Magliozzi).  If you, dear readers, remember “Car Talk,” this story will work for you and come across as funny.  If you are not familiar with the show, I am not sure that this story will really work for you.

I recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #104 to fans of Scooby-Doo comic books with a heartier-than-usual recommendation.  So, until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B+
7 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #103

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 103 (2010)
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Ivan Cohen; Robbie Busch; Sholly Fisch; John Rozum
PENCILS: Walter Carzon; Scott Jeralds; Scott Neely; Leo Batic
INKS: Horacio Ottolini; Jeff Albrecht; Scott Neely
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Mike Sellers; Swands
EDITORS: Jim Chadwick; Jeanine Schaefer (reprint); Harvey Richards (reprint)
COVER: Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini with Silvana Brys
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (April 2020)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“The Black Knight Returns”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I renewed my subscription (for a second time), and this is the fifth issue (at least) that I have received from that renewal.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #103 opens with “The Black Knight Returns,” which is written by Ivan Cohen and drawn by Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini.  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are V.I.P. guests on a movie set.  There is going to be a reboot of Scooby-Doo's favorite film franchise, “Star: Dog Ranger.”

The original “Star” was a human in a dog costume, but in the modern take on the franchise, “Star” will be a composite of an on-set animatronic dog, Andy Circuit, and post-production computer effects.  The “Star” reboot production may be haunted, however, as “The Black Knight,” a ghostly invader, frequently rides onto the set, declaring that the movie will never be completed.  Can Mystery Inc. unravel the mystery of this seemingly cursed reboot?

The second story, “Abe Misbehavin',” is, as usual, a reprint and is written by Robbie Busch and drawn by Scott Jeralds and Jeff Albrecht.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #120 (cover date: July 2007).]  The “Ghostly Gorilla,” a glowing white and blue apparition, is haunting a movie set.  Can Mystery Inc. solve this case, or is there more to this case than meets the eye?

There are two one-page stories.  First is “Learn to Draw with the M.I. Gang – Learn to Draw: Fred,” which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Scott Neely.  [This feature was originally published in Scooby-Doo #123 (cover date: October 2007).]  Shaggy and Scooby learn to draw Fred, with scary results.

Next is “Velma's Monsters of the World: Pricolici,” which is written by John Rozum and drawn by Leo Batic and Horacio Ottolini.  [This feature was originally published in Scooby-Doo #158 (cover date: September 2010).]  Readers, sit back as Velma regales you with the story of the Romanian werewolf known as the “Pricolici”.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #103 stands out a little from most of the recent run of issues in this series.  “The Black Knight Returns” will remind readers of a frequent theme of Scooby-Doo cartoons, the old resenting the new.  “Abe Misbehavin'” has a rather unique twist that I did not see coming.  I also found myself intrigued by the Pricolici in this installment of “Velma's Monsters of the World.”  In the real world, the Pricolici is a creature from Romanian folklore that is a werewolf fused with either a vampire or a dhampir (half-human and half-vampire), depending on the source material.

I recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #103 to fans of Scooby-Doo comic books.  So, until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B
6 out of 10

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

[This comic book includes a preview of the original graphic novel, Batman: Overdrive, by Shea Fontana and Marcelo DiChiara.]



The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #101

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 101
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Robbie Busch; John Rozum;
PENCILS: Randy Elliot; Scott Jeralds; Robert Pope
INKS: Randy Elliot; Jeff Albrecht; Scott McRae
COLORS: Rock Candy; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Mike Sellers
EDITORS: Jim Chadwick; Michael Siglain and Jeanine Schaefer (reprints)
COVER: Randy Elliot with Rock Candy
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2019)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“Cow-nt Me Out!”

Join me, dear readers, in my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  I renewed my subscription (for a second time) and this is the third issue I received from that renewal.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #101 opens with “Cow-nt Me Out!,” which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Randy Elliot.  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma have been called in for a most unusual case for them – an animal haunting.  Farmer Dale and his two sons, Jedediah and Nathaniel, are being vexed by the glowing green “Ghost Cow.”  Because a corporate farm operation, “Agritech,” wants to buy Dale's farm, Fred and company think that there is more to this haunting than a rampaging “Ghost Cow.”

The second story, “Dr. Krankenstone's Monster,” is, as usual, a reprint and is written by Robbie Busch and drawn by Scott Jeralds and Jeff Albrecht.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #112 (cover date: November 2006).]  Mystery Inc. is passing through the fairy tale-like village of “Krankonia.”  They are just in time to see “Dr. Krankenstone's Monster” run away from the village after kidnapping Sylvia, a young maiden.

Mystery Inc. and the villagers chase the monster to the castle of Doktor Krankenstone, who insists that he has nothing to do with a monster... nor is he a mad scientist!  It is up to Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the gang to discover what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to a notorious family and the legendary monsters they supposedly created.

The third story, “Velma's Monsters of the World,” is also a reprint and is written by John Rozum and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #118 (cover date: May 2007) and was also reprinted in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #39 (January 2014).]  In this two-pager, Velma transports her audience to South Carolina where she introduces them to the gruesome spirit known as the “Plat-eye.”

“Cow-nt Me Out!” isn't the first time that Mystery Inc. has investigated a case involving the ghost of an animal that is rampaging through a locale.  However, there is a pair of people behind this haunting, and the story offers readers two pairs from which to choose.  I like the story because I like Scooby-Doo stories set on farms or in rural areas.

“Dr. Krankenstone's Monster” has the feel of a classic episode of a Scooby-Doo animated series, and I like the interiors of the castle as drawn by Scott Jeralds.   I have come across “Velma's Monsters of the World” as a reprint at least one other time during my subscription to this series.  It actually is a nice little nugget.

Until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B
6 out of 10

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


The text is copyright © 2020 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.

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Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You #95

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? No. 95
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Paul Kupperberg
ART: Scott Jeralds
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Harvey Richards
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Pamela Lovas
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2018)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

I am continuing my journey through the renewal of my subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  Join me, will you?  I recently received the tenth issue of that renewed subscription.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #95 opens with “Mystery Mashing” (written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Scott Jeralds).  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are attending the “Monster Truck Rally” at Coolsville Coliseum.  However, a real life monster truck, “The Diesel Dragon,” is wrecking and crushing the competition,  Now, there is indeed a new mystery to solve.

The second story is “The Night of the Undead” (written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Scott Jeralds). [It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #157 (August 2010).]  It seems to start at a local shopping mall – the first appearance of a zombie.  According to a group of students from the local university, a real virus, “Virus-Z,” is the cause of this zombie invasion, and that virus originated in a lab at the university.  Mystery Inc. is on hand to discover the truth.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #95 is not one of the better issues in this second run of my subscription.  Other than the monster truck designs by artist Scott Jeralds, “Monster Mashing” does not amount to much.  In fact, I think that this plot is similar to a recent Scooby-Doo! / WWE straight-to-DVD animated film.  The identity of the culprits behind the zombie attacks depicted in “The Night of the Undead” are obvious from the second page of the story, if not the first.

Anyway, I enjoy reading Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? – good, bad, or mediocre.  See you next issue!

C+
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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #93

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #93
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Joe Edkin
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds; Eric Doescher
INKS: Scott Jeralds; Andrew Pepoy
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Paul Becton
LETTERS: Travis Lanham; John Costanza
EDITORS: Harvey Richards; Heidi McDonald
COVER: Scott Jeralds with Silvana Brys
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2018)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

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

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #93 opens with “Safari, So Good” (written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Scott Jeralds).  Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are on an African Safari.  Their guide, Khayone, and driver, James, take them across an African plain so that they can view and photograph elephants, lions, impala, and other exotic wildlife.  When a ghostly interloper, calling itself the “Spirit of the Land,” appears, the gang suddenly has its latest mystery to solve.

The second story is “The Weeping Bride of Lover's Leap!” (written by Joe Edkin and drawn by Eric Doescher and Andrew Pepoy).  From its shocking start, this mystery will have you trying to solve the mystery of why Scooby is wearing a dress and why Shaggy, dressed in a snazzy suit, is proposing marriage to Scoob.

Well, the young sleuths of Mystery Inc. are at “Lover's Leap” to discover if an urban legend is true.  Does the ghost of a grieving young woman haunt a popular cliff-side spot for young lovers?  Now, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy have to pretend to be a young couple in the throes of a marriage proposal, so are they destined to face “The Weeping Bride of Lover's Leap.”

I like that “Safari, So Good!” deals with the timely subject matter of animal poaching in Africa.  The “Spirit of the Land” is a lame phantom, but the setting and plot are worth it if they inform even a few young readers (and adults) about animal conservation”

“The Weeping Bride of Lover's Leap” is this issue's reprint story.  [It was originally published in Scooby-Doo #35 (cover dated: June 2000).]  The art team of Eric Doescher, Andrew Pepoy, and Paul Becton turn in some nice work, and John Costanza, one of comics' best letterers, make this dialogue-heavy story easy to read with some well-placed word balloons and some eye-catching fonts.  Kudos to writer Joe Edkin for putting Shaggy and Scooby-Doo in their Sunday best.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #93 was a fun read, and I hope that the next issue can offers some of this issue's pleasant surprises.

B+
7 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 or site for syndication rights and fees.

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I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #50

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #50
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Georgia Ball, Dan Abnett
PENCILS: Scott Jeralds, Anthony Williams
INKS: Scott Jeralds, Jeff Albrecht
COLORS: Candace Schinzler-Bell, Paul Becton
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Jenna Garcia
EDITOR: Aniz Adam Ansari
COVER: Scott Jeralds and Candace Schinzler-Bell
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (November 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

A little over a year ago, I bought a subscription to the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  The school my nephew attends was selling magazine subscriptions as a fundraiser, for the entire school or a for particular program – I don't remember.  While reading the fund-raising brochure, I saw that a subscription to Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? Was offered, and I thought, “I wanna read that!”  Well, issue #50 is the last of my subscription, and I am still deciding if I want to renew.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50 opens with “The Scare Witch Project” (written by Georgia Ball and drawn by Scott Jeralds).  Mystery Inc. is in British Columbia for some skiing, when they discover that the ski lodge where they are staying is being terrorized by a “spirit.”  That spirit is “The Dzunakwa,” a witch of legend that haunts the woods of British Columbia.  And, of course, the gang won't let any witch or spirit mess up their vacation.

“The Italian Hellion!” (written by Dan Abnett and drawn by Anthony Williams and Jeff Albrecht) finds the gang overseas in Venice, Italy.  Velma wants to see the sites of an historic city.  Fred and Daphne are there for the romance.  Of course, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo look forward to spaghetti, meatballs, and the annual Gelato Festival.  Instead, they find their plans delayed by the mystery of the “Phantom of the Canals.”  This ghostly gondolier has apparently come back to haunt Venice, but Mystery Inc. plans to put this phantom out of business.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50 offers two of my favorite kinds of Scooby-Doo adventures:  the mystery set in a snowy climate and the case set in an international locale.  “The Scare Witch Project” is the new story, and “The Italian Hellion!” is a reprint from the previous series (Scooby-Doo #56).  In fact, both stories feature the kind of faux-supernatural adversary similar to the types that appeared in early Scooby-Doo animated series.  I wouldn't mind seeing the Phantom of the Canals, again.

I also noticed something a little strange about the art.  Scott Jeralds replicates classic animated Mystery Inc. in “The Scare Witch Project.”  The Scooby gang members look like they should, and Jeralds also draws the other characters so that they are graphically and visually similar to the gang.  In “The Italian Hellion,” penciller Anthony Williams draws Mystery Inc. in their classic look, but the other characters look as if they were drawn by a different artist.  Odd, at least, I think so.

Should I continue past Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #50?  I am having a good time...

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? #49

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #49
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Sholly Fisch, Paul Kupperberg
PENCILS: Robert Pope, Fabio Laguna
INKS: Scott McCrea, Fabio Laguna
COLORS: Candace Schinzler-Bell, Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Travis Lanham
EDITOR: Aniz Adam Ansari
COVER: Scott Jeralds and Candace Schinzler-Bell
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (November 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

“Ruh-Huh!”  So you, dear readers, are back for another I Reads You review of the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.  As regular readers of this blog know, I bought a subscription to this latest Scooby-Doo comic book series via a fundraiser held by my nephew’s school last year, which involved selling magazine subscriptions.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #49 opens with “A Midsummer Night's Scream” (written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McCrea).  The Mystery Inc. gang is visiting a Shakespeare festival, “Shakespeare Outdoors,” for a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Not long into the evening's performance, mischievous faeries suddenly appear to terrorize and scare the audience.  But are they real faeries?  It's the latest Scooby-Doo mystery.

“Attack of the 50-Foot Shaggy!” (written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Fabio Laguna) finds the gang at Westnorthern University, home of the country's best library of the supernatural, “William Hanna Library.”  Shaggy and Scooby, however, are not in the mood for a research marathon.  Looking for food (of course), the duo comes upon a scientific demonstration.  There, a delicious roasted chicken causes Shaggy to be zapped by a ray from the Archer Molecular Enlargement Device.  Now, Shaggy can't stop growing, but is everything as big as it seems?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #49 is one of those issues of a Scooby-Doo comic book that I really enjoyed reading.  Even as a life-long Scooby-Doo fan, I have to admit that not all Scooby-Doo comic books are like that.  The plot for “A Midsummer Night's Scream” is an odd one for a Scooby-Doo story, and I think it would make a good plot for an entry in Warner Bros. Animation's line of Scooby-Doo direct-to-DVD films.  “Attack of the 50-Foot Shaggy!” this issue's reprint story (originally published in Scooby-Doo #159), is also this issue's better story.  It plays like an actual mystery in that the reader must play close attention to the story art in order to solve the mystery.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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