REVIEW: Scooby Apocalypse - Issues #1 to 3

Publisher: DC Comics

Writers: Keith Giffen: Plot & Breakdowns
                J.M. DeMatteis Dialogue & More Dialogue

Art & Inks: Howard Porter


I want to say two things up front:

• I am a big fan of the original Scooby-Doo
• I am not a big fan of the many of modern takes on Scooby-Doo, especially the characterization undergoing drastic and backward changes. 

That said, when I first read about Scooby Apocalypse, I was doubtful. The only thing that gave me some hope was the creative team: Plotted and Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, yes. I was unfamiliar with Howard Porter’s work before this, but wow! Another yes.

How good is Scooby Apocalypse? Easily the best modern version of Scooby and gang there is. Instead of taking the original series (Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?), and following the format, but making the characters (like Fred) idiots, Apocalypse starts everything from scratch.

We meet each of the characters separately, and see what brings them together. We learn who they are and what their roles are in this world over the first three issues in spectacular fashion.

We know who the characters are, but we don’t know them. Our writers don’t treat the story as if we are meeting old friends, but write this as if we are meeting them for the first time.

First up we meet Velma, Dr. Dinkley, who is involved in a top secret project and may be responsible for the Apocalypse.

Next up Shaggy and Scooby. Shaggy is a dog trainer at the same facility Velma works at, but is clueless as to what is really going on.

Scooby is Scooby, and is considered a failed attempt at creating the world’s first ‘Smart Dog.’

Daphne is a journalist who hosts her own mysteries show, now on an obscure network.

Fred is her constant companion and cameraman . . . and madly in love with her.

All the characters are fleshed out and three-dimensional, the plot is easy to follow, the story is strong and the dialogue good.

So, what is the plot? Simple. Velma discovers that the four scientists she works for has plans to subdue the world. She intends to leaks those plans to Daphne. Nothing goes right and . . . boom APOCALYPSE.

Now, Scooby and gang are our best hope. This time the Monsters are real.

And this time the gang is forced into real action, to fight and even  . . . kill to survive.

Yes, kill. Which brings in a whole new dynamic to the characters which is handled with care by Giffen and DeMatteis.

Then there is the artwork. Howard Porter. I cannot praise Porter’s art and inks for this book enough. Even in the action sequences the art is smooth and one can easily tell what is going on and who is who. The layouts are excellent and the look of each character is dead on.

Amazingly, even though it is not drawn in the style of classic Scooby-Doo, it still looks like a Scooby title, only with a reality edge to it.


Final Thoughts:

Scooby Awesome.

An Excellent take on Scooby and gang that has improved with each issue.

Rating: 8 – READ NOW!!