Review: Scooby Apocalypse

We have both really been enjoying the new Scooby Apocalypse series, so Anthony took pity on my lack of organisation and wrote a review for me to plug today's gap in my editorial calendar...

As an ardent opponent of outdoor activities and an unwilling participant of team sport, some of my happiest memories from my childhood revolve around watching cartoons: The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Wacky Races, and my absolute favourite, Scooby-Doo.

Those meddling kids from Mystery Inc and their dumb dog taught me many things - including, most importantly, that the scariest monsters in this world aren't mummies, werewolves and vampires. They are actually property developers and politicians, thus explaining why I'm so terrified of Donald Trump. As I grew older, however, my interests began to shift from cartoons to wine, women, cigars, music and, above all, comic books.

I had been aware for some time that DC published a line of comics featuring the Hana-Barbera characters, including several Scooby-Doo Titles, but these never really piqued my interest as they were aimed squarely at children. That's fantastic, don't get me wrong, but as an adult my comic book tastes were limited to spies, demons, and unlikely proportioned people in spandex hitting each other. Coupled with a lack of money, and various other expensive interests (Doctor Who being key among them), I hadn't really bought more than the odd issue over the last few years.

Then I came across an article on Newsarama about a new series. Scooby Apocalypse. Just from the clickbait headline I was intrigued, and upon reading the article I discovered the title was to be written by my favourite comic duo of Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, of Justice League International fame. (The first comic I ever bought was Justice League America #51 by Giffen and DeMatteis.) The art was to be provided by Howard Porter, also of Justice League fame - albeit a different Justice League. (Confused? You should be!)

Available at all good comic stores!
If that wasn't enough to sell me then the premise of series was going to make one heck of a sales pitch. Scooby-Doo set in a post apocalyptic dystopia, in which Scooby is rescued from a laboratory carrying out experiments on animals. Experiments which included giving Scooby the ability to speak, by none other than animal trainer (and hipster) Norville "Shaggy" Rogers.

So, this week I picked up issues #1 and #2 from my local comic shop, Sin City Comics (located in Cwmbran Market Village), along with half a dozen other things on my pull list - and set about devouring them. The writing was superb; it remained true to the source material, with plenty of nods to the original show, but was also fresh and delivered with a style that make Giffen and DeMatteis synonymous with BWHAHAHA. Trying to keep this review spoiler free I will say that there were a few twists along the way, but the art never felt rushed and complimented both the writing and the characters themselves. Needless to say, this is not your mother's Scooby-Doo, but nor is it such a huge shift your mother (were she so inclined) wouldn't enjoy flicking through it.

And the best thing?

No Scrappy-Doo!

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