#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #124

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #124

DC COMICS

STORY: Ivan Cohen; Sholly Fisch

PENCILS: Walter Carzon; Robert Pope

INKS: Horacio Ottolini; Scott McRae

COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Dezi Sienty

EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Kwanza Johnson (reprint)

COVER: Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini with Silvana Brys

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (December 2023)

Ages 8+

“Driven to Crime”

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? #124 opens with “Driven to Crime,” which is written by Ivan Cohen and drawn by Walter Carzon (pencils) and Horacio Ottolini (inks).  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma visiting the set of the television series, “Riding Around with Celebrities in My Town.”

The host, Len, informs the gang that he is planning a spin-off series, “Flying Around with Celebrities Above Town.”  However, a gruesome ghost that calls itself “the Aviator” is totally against anyone flying around his unfriendly skies.  Now, it's up to Scooby and company to ground this wraith.

As usual, the second story, “Just Plane Spooked,” is a reprint story and is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #18 (cover date: April 2012).]  The story finds Mystery Inc. visiting the owner of the airline company, “Receding Airlines.”  It seems that his airline's flights are being haunted by the ghost of “Cordelia Fairheart,” a famous female aviator (“aviatrix”) who disappeared with her plane over the ocean over eighty years ago.  Now, in order to solve this mystery, Shaggy and company will have to do something that absolutely scares him – take a flight!

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #124 has as a theme aviator ghosts.  The new story, “Driven to Crime,” which is drawn by one of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book art teams, Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini, is surprisingly different.  The best part of it is its unusual ending, which is more about restorative justice than criminal justice.

The reprint story, “Just Plane Spooked,” is produced by another of my favorite Scooby-Doo creative teams, that of writer Sholly Fisch and artists Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  Although the ending is typical, the story still stands out because the storytellers sell the idea that flying in an airplane practically drives Shaggy bonkers, and that turns out to be funnier than I expected.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #124 is a fun read, and is, like issue #123, an exceptional issue.  So grab your “Scooby Snacks” and read it, and maybe watch a Scooby-Doo movie, later.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Young Alfred: Pain in the Butler” by Michael Northrop and Sam Lotfi.]

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

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #123

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #123

DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Sholly Fisch

PENCILS: Valerio Chiola; Robert Pope

INKS: Valerio Chiola; Scott McRae

COLORS: Valerio Chiola; Candace Schinzler-Bell

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Adam Ansari (reprint)

COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Valerio Chiola

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (October 2023)

Ages 8+

“Swede and Sour”

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? #123 opens with “Swede and Sour,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Valerio Chiola.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma attending Coolsville's very own Swedish festival, “Välkommen.”

However, a “draugr,” an undead creature from Scandinavian sagas and folktales, is also attending the festival.  This draugr, which appears as an undead, reanimated Viking, is ruining the festival.  Can Shaggy and Scooby solve this case with the help of a smelly fish dish?

As usual, the second story, “A Midsummer Night's Scream,” is a reprint story and is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #49 (cover date: November 2014).]  The story finds Mystery Inc. attending the “Shakespeare Outdoors” festival's production of William Shakespeare's beloved play, “A Midnight Summer's Dream.”

Now, some of the play's most famous characters have come to life and are raising magical havoc.  Can Mystery Inc. solve the mystery and Shaggy's donkey head?

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #123 has as a theme summer festivals.  “Swede and Sour” is a surprise.  Valerio Chiola's pliable compositions give this kooky story a sense of motion, so Derek Fridolfs' story results in an odd treat.  Still, I don't think this “draugr” was played to the hilt.

“A Midsummer Night's Scream,” the reprint story, is this issue's better story.  Sholly Fisch is one of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book writers (as is Fridolfs).  This Shakespearean riff is beginning to end kooky.  It is one of the most unexpected Scooby-Doo comic book stories I've ever read, and it offers the best “bad guys” I think I've ever come across in this series.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #123 is a fun read and also an exceptional issue.  So grab your “Scooby Snacks” and read it, and maybe watch a Scooby-Doo movie, later.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Fann Club: Batman Squad” by Jim Benton.]

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

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #122

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #122

DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Sholly Fisch

PENCILS: Randy Elliot; Robert Pope

INKS: Randy Elliot; Scott McRae

COLORS: Sylvana Brys; Jason Lewis

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Alex Antone (reprint)

COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Sylvana Brys

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2023)

Ages 8+

“The Key of Eeek”

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? #122 opens with “The Key of Eeek,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Randy Elliot.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma attending the “Coolsville Concerto in C Minor?”

Why, you ask?  This piano recital is being performed by the top students at a local piano school, and Daphne is one of those top students.  However, the mythological being, “Pan,” has decided to crash the recital.  Can Mystery Inc. solve this mystery before the entire recital is canceled?

As usual, the second story, “Monsters of Rock,” is a reprint story and is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #33 (cover date: July 2013).]  The story finds Mystery Inc. attending a concert by the glam-rock band, “Smooch” (a substitute for the real-life band, “Kiss”).

However, everyone's good time is ruined when the ghost of “Johnny B. Badd” crashes the concert.  So why is the spirit of a classic singer from the early day of rock 'n' roll haunting Smooch?  Hopefully, Mystery Inc. can solve this mystery before the haunting ruins Smooch's tour.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #122 features the theme of “haunted public musical performances.”  It offers a new story, “The Key of Eeek,” that presents another side of one of the character, Daphne.  Over the last three decades, various Scooby-Doo films and television series have expanded on the character of Daphne, making her smarter, more intelligent, and more well-founded than the early TV series did.  So, while this story isn't great, I like what it presents.  Besides, it is drawn by Randy Elliot, one of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book artists.

Two years after “Monsters of Rock” was first published (2013), the members of the classic line-up of the band, Kiss, were the costars of the direct-to-DVD animated film, Scooby-Doo! and Kiss: Rock and Roll Mystery (2015).  Kiss also appeared in the Season Two episode of “What's New, Scooby-Doo?” (“A Scooby-Doo Halloween” – October 24, 2003, Episode #6).  In “Monsters of Rock,” Smooch pales in comparison to the real Kiss, but the fictional band is a nice substitute.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #122 is 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!

B-

★★½ out of 4 stars

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Superman of Smallville” by Art Baltazar and Franco.]

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

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #121

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #121

DC COMICS

STORY: John Rozum; Sholly Fisch

PENCILS: Walter Carzon; Robert Pope

INKS: Horacio Ottolini; Scott McRae

COLORS: Sylvana Brys; Heroic Age

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Dezi Sienty

EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Kwanza Johnson (reprint)

COVER: Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini with Sylvana Brys

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2023)

Ages 8+

“Local Legends”

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? #121 opens with “Local Legends,” which is written by John Rozum and drawn by Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma are visiting the small town of “Pond Cove.”  The town is beset by monsters:  the Goat Man, the Lizard Man, and the Green Devil, in particular, but it has also been the longtime haunt of Bigfoot.

Professor Collier at the local “Intercontinental Museum of Cryptozoology”believes that there is more to these hauntings than people suspect.  Mystery Inc. agrees, but can they unravel the mystery before someone gets away with something?

As usual, the second story, “Mummy Knows Best,” is a reprint story and is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #24 (cover date: October 2012).]  The story finds Mystery Inc. visiting the museum.

They are getting an early preview of the exhibit of the mummy of King Tookooforskool, which was discovered by the famous archaeologist and adventurer, North Dakota Smith.  When the mummy comes to life, however, the gang has a new mystery to solve.

I usually find a theme shared between the two stories in each issue of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?, but issue #121 doesn't seem to have one.  I really like “Local Legends” because of the reason I usually like many of the stories in this series – it would make a good plot for an animated Scooby-Doo direct-to-DVD film.  It has a main plot, but the secondary plot is the one to watch.  That would play well in an animated film.  Plus, “Local Legends” is written by a favorite Scooby-Doo comic book writer, John Rozum, and a favorite series artist, Walter Carzon.

I don't have a lot to say about the reprint story, “Mummy Knows Best.”  It has some nice ideas, and I like Robert Pope and Scott McRae's odd art.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #121 is a fun read.  So grab your “Scooby Snacks” and read issue #121 and maybe watch a Scooby-Doo movie, later.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B-

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Shazam! Thundercrack” by Yehudi Mercado.]

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

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#IReadsYou Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #115

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #115
DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Sholly Fisch
PENCILS: Walter Carzon; Robert Pope
INKS: Horacio Ottolini; Scott McRae
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Dezi Sienty
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Kwanza Johnson (reprint)
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Silvana Brys
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2022)

Ages 8+

“Ready Player Run!”

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? #115 opens with “Ready Player Run!,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma at the headquarters of “Playtel,” the board game company.  Fred answered an ad so that the whole gang could “playtest” Playtel's latest game.

But Playtel has a surprise for all the testers.  They want to give players a new experience, and that means transporting players into virtual reality versions of their games via VR goggles.  But there is a glitch … err … gremlin in the VR system.  The “Grim Gamer” is out to win at all costs, and Mystery Inc. has a new mystery to solve.

The second story, “Endgame” is, as usual, a reprint story and is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #10 (cover date: August 2011).]  Mystery Inc. is attending the “World Video Game Championships,” which is sponsored by the video game company, Gamestation.

Competitors include the Tendo Brothers, Mario and Luigi, and the legendary player, Zelda.  But a ghostly figure, “The Pinball Wizard,” is demanding that this championship tournament be shut down.  Now, Gamestation's Laurie Kraft is desperate to save the tournament, so Mystery Inc. has another mystery to solve.

Right from the start, one reason for me to like “Ready Player Run!” is that it comes from Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini, one of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book art teams.  Combined with Sivana Brys' lovely colors, “Ready Player Run!” looks gorgeous.  Writer Derek Fridolfs, another Scooby-Doo comics favorite, offers a cleverly constructed story right out of the kind of real-world corporate espionage that must be rampant in the video game industry.  I like this story, and I think it would make a good plot for one of those direct-to-DVD Scooby-Doo movies.

“Endgame” is written by another of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book writers, Sholly Fisch, and is drawn by another of my favorite Mystery Inc. art dream teams, Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  The plot and the villain are good, but not great.  However, the story has a crazy last act – Shaggy and Scooby in a dance-off!  Yes, it's as fun as it sounds.

So, I recommend Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #115 to all Scooby-Doo fans because it is one of the best issues of the series in the last year or so.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B+

★★★½ out of 4 stars

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the original graphic novel, “Primer” by Jennifer Muro, Thomas Krajewski, and Gretel Lusky.]

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


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#IReadsYou: Review: Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #114

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #114
DC COMICS

STORY: Sholly Fisch; Alex Simmons
PENCILS: Valerio Chiola; Robert Pope
INKS: Valerio Chiola; Scott McRae
COLORS: Valerio Chiola; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Travis Lanham
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Michelle Siglain (reprint)
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Jeremy Lawson
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (April 2022)

Ages 8+

“Jailhouse Shock”

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? #114 opens with “Jailhouse Shock,” which is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Valerio Chiola.  The story finds Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma  at a local police station, after closing their most recent case involving bank fraud and someone masquerading as a Yeti.

Before they can leave, they learn from Sarge, the head of the station, that the building is being haunted.  The haunt is none other than the ghost of the notorious early twentieth century bank robber, Muggsy Derringer, who claims to want revenge.  The real Muggsy, however, was hunted down a century ago in Chicago, so why would his ghost be haunting this police station?  It is up to the gang to find out?

The second story, “Dead & Let Spy” is, as usual, a reprint story and is written by Alex Simmons and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo #106 (cover date: May 2006).]  Mystery Inc. is meeting the spymaster “G,” who wants the gang to help his nephew, J.Z. Bang, a teen secret agent.

J.Z. is used to dealing with spies and secret agents, but his latest adversary, a freelance agent called “Cadaver,” uses spooky tricks, such as employing monsters and ghouls.  The teen secret agent is trying to gather the ten pieces of a new invention created by the eccentric Dr. Ooh.  He needs help fighting off a menagerie of creeps that look as if they are a rogues gallery from a horror film festival.  Are the monster-hunting talents of Mystery Inc. just want J.Z. Bang needs?

The funniest thing about “Jailhouse Shock” is that Mystery Inc. knows from the beginning that the ghost of Muggsy Derringer is a fake.  Well, at least Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are willing to sell the idea that they are facing a real ghost.  While Sholly Fisch's story is funny, I still haven't bought into Valerio Chiola as an appropriate artist for a Scooby-Doo comic book.  He draws the Mystery Inc. characters well enough, but all the other character are awkwardly drawn.

“Dead & Let Spy,” the reprint tale, is a better story and it is also drawn by one of the better Scooby-Doo comic book artists, Robert Pope, inked here by Scott McRae.  Pope's graphical storytelling is fast paced, from beginning to end, and he offers an impressive menagerie of monsters.  The monsters J.Z. Bang faces include the classic Scooby-Doo creep, the Yeti, which first appeared in “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” (1969-70) Season One, Episode 17 as the “Snow Ghost.”  I think writer Alex Simmons has come up with a scenario that would make a nice Scooby-Doo graphic novel and perhaps, be excellent source material for an animated Scooby-Doo film.

B

6 out of 10

[This comic book includes a six-page preview of the original graphic novel, “Teen Titans Go! DC Super Hero Girls: Exchange Students!” by Amy Wolfram and Agnes Garbowska.]

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


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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"


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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.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #45

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #45
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Georgia Ball, Darryl Taylor Kravitz, Robbie Busch
PENCILS: Dave Alvarez, Karen Matchette, Robert Pope
INKS: Dave Alvarez, Karen Matchette, Scott McRae
COLORS: Dave Alvarez; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte, Randy Gentile, Brian Durniak
EDITOR: Kristy Quinn
COVER: Dave Alvarez
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (July 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

Via subscription, I continue my journey through the current Scooby-Doo comic book series with the forty-fifth issue of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?  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? #45 opens with “Scooby Slides into Danger” (written by Georgia Ball and drawn and colored by Dave Alvarez).  The Mystery Inc. gang visits the water park, Pudelnass (“the World’s Greatest Water Park”), for a day of sun without a mystery to solve.  The kids actually get to have the water park all to themselves.  Of course, it’s not that easy.  They have to solve the mystery of the mutant creature known as “the Primordial Ooze.”

As “The Freeloading Ghost” (written by Darryl Taylor Kravitz and drawn by Karen Matchette) opens, the Mystery Inc. kids have just solved a mystery.  However, there is some blowback because of their actions.  They have made a ghost homeless, and he expects housing from his accidental evictors.  Also, reality show shenanigans have the gang trying to capture “The Great Lire of Lagoona Beach” (written by Robbie Busch and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae).

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #45 features the return of one of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book artists, the fantastic Dave Alvarez.  There is a 3D quality to the combination of his compositions and coloring that remind me of my childhood experiences with “View Master.”

Of course, Scooby-Doo and friends have an established visual appearance, but Alvarez shows off his talent for cartooning the human head and face on the other characters.  Expressive and odd-looking, the supporting players of “Scooby Slides into Danger” have a striking visual look.  Plus, the story is also fun, and it is one that I would like to see adapted as one of those Scooby-Doo direct-to-DVD animated films.

The other two stories are reprints from the Scooby-Doo comic book series previous to this one (entitled, Scooby-Doo).  I love “The Freeloading Ghost.”  Can we get a revisit on that one?  As for Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #45, it is one of the favorites of my subscription.  More Dave Alvarez, please.

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? #44

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #44
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Matthew K. Manning; Paul Kupperberg
PENCILS: Robert Pope; Roberto Barrios
INKS: Scott McRae; Horacio Ottolini
COLORS: Franco Riesco; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Pat Brosseau
MISC. ART: Vincent Deporter
EDITOR: Kristy Quinn
COVER: Scott Neely with Heroic Age
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2014)

Rated “E” for “Everyone”

I continue my journey through the current Scooby-Doo comic book series with the forty-fourth issue of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?  Why is this happening?  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? #44 opens with “Island of the Jabberwockies” (written by Matthew K. Manning and drawn by Robert Pope and Scott McRae).  The Mystery Inc. gang is traveling through what is apparently a series of interconnected islands.  The kids are headed to a beach on Fripp Island, but first, must pass through Hunting Island where they almost have an accident and definitely have a weird experience.

At the Fripp Island Hotel, they learn that vacationers are being pestered by deer and scared by the “Jabberwockies.”  Now, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo are also being terrorized, but they’re not too scared to investigate.

In “The Phantom of the Opal!” (written by Paul Kupperberg and drawn by Roberto Barrios and Horacio Ottolini), the Mystery Inc. kids are guests on “The Tad Williams Show.”  The arrival of the Phantom of the Opal means that the guests have to become mystery solvers.  When it comes to the identity of the Phantom, the kids have plenty of suspects because the phantom is obviously an embittered living person.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #44 has as a theme conniving showbiz types.  “Island of the Jabberwockies” is a quickie type story, but it is pointed in making its point.  Writer Matthew K. Manning also uses much of the 10 pages of the narrative to showcase the lovable silliness we’ve come to expect of that crazy duo, Shaggy and Scooby.

“The Phantom of the Opal!” is apparently a reprint (from the previous series, Scooby-Doo #153), but it is the better story of the two.  The main reason is because writer Paul Kupperberg squeezes enough subplots and characters inside a short story to create a separate graphic novel (or even miniseries).  The guest characters are fairly well-developed, complete with motivation and conflicts.

Surprisingly, even with only 12 pages, Kupperberg succeeds in making the mystery of the Phantom of the Opal an intriguing one.  I really got into solving the mystery of the Phantom’s identity (and my first choice turned out to be right).  I hope Kupperberg writes new Scooby-Doo comics.

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.

I Reads You Review: SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #39

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #39
DC COMICS – @DCComics

STORY: Heather Nuhfer, John Rozum, Darryl Taylor Kravitz
PENCILS: Robert Pope
INKS: Scott McRae
COLORS: Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte, Mike Sellers, Sal Cipriano
COVER: Scott Neely
28pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (January 2014)

Rated “E” for Everyone

A few months ago, my sister, her husband, and their son (my nephew, of course) came for a visit.  My nephew told us that his school was doing one of those fundraising campaigns schools always seem to be doing.  Instead of candy bars or M&Ms, his school was selling magazine subscriptions, and my nephew had a catalog filled with what seemed like a few hundred magazine offerings, covering a wide range of topics.

To my surprise and delight, the subscription offerings included a few DC Comics titles.  I’m not sure why, but I chose a subscription to DC’s current incarnation of a Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #39 opens with the story, “Prize Pup.”  A sold-out movie means the Mystery Inc. gang ends up at the Conewango Kennel Club Dog Show just in time to solve the mystery of the “Hound of the Conewango.”  Now, Scooby-Doo might become a champion pooch or a victim!

Next, learn about such monsters of the “Plat-Eye,” the giant six-legged cow, and more in “Velma’s Monsters of the World.”  In “Ah… Rival,” the gang is off to London, England for a chance to be “Teen Detectives of the Year.”  The Sleuth Sisters Club is all that stands between our heroes and “the Golden Magnifying Glass Award,” and they mean to win by any means necessary.

The art by penciller Robert Pope and inker Scott McRae is excellent.  When it comes to drawing Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc. in comics form, this art team deserves to be called perfect.  The coloring by Heroic Age is also quite good.

The stories are the problems in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #39, but not because they are bad or of poor quality.  Aside from “Velma’s Monsters of the World” (which is a gag story), “Prize Pup” and “Ah… Rival” need to be longer.  They are actually good scenarios.  In fact, they are good enough ideas that each could be adapted into a Scooby-Doo direct-to-DVD movie.

In the comic book, however, the two stories are just crammed into 10 pages or less, but they’re really made to be told as 20-page stories, at least.  They’re good stories.  They need to be – dare I say it – decompressed.

B-

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux


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