Like many children born in the 1980s, I became well acquainted with Hanna-Barbera cartoons while eating sugar-filled cereals on Saturday mornings. Now, three decades later, my dietary habits haven’t changed much and I’m here reading Scooby Apocalypse, one of several properties from the legendary animation studio to be recently reimagined by DC.
Before we proceed any further, let’s make one thing perfectly clear: DC is in no way changing Scooby-Doo canon or saying this is the new status quo. Simply put, this is what happens when a handful of creators love a specific set of characters and want to do something fun and different involving them. In fact, DC still publishes comics based on the classic Scooby-Doo cartoons we all know, so please cut the “they ruined my childhood” nonsense.
Although the project somewhat sprung from the mind of Jim Lee, I’m not sure if it would have been as successful of an endeavor if not for having Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis steering the ship as it were. It’s their experience as storytellers compounded with their signature brand of irreverent humor that allow a tale that may not otherwise have been able to work, to flourish.
Now, we join Shaggy, Velma and the rest of the gang as they enjoy a brief moment of respite after having to battle countless monstrosities issue after issue. Having found a haven of sorts, they take some time to lick their wounds while debate rages on as to whether the reinterpreted Scrappy was hero or villain.
Still, we’re told by the synopsis that things may not be what they seem when it comes to this hamlet, something us horror fans have seen time and again over the years:
Welcome to the block party from hell. After barely escaping with their lives, the gang seeks shelter in a nearby town that seems untouched by the disaster. But looks can be deceiving. Meanwhile, in our backup story, Secret Squirrel takes his first steps towards saving the world…maybe.
Scooby Apocalypse #18 arrives in comic shops next Wednesday, October 11.
Credits:
Writers: J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen
Artist: Ron Wagner
Backup Artist: Rick Leonardi
Cover: Carlos D’Anda
Variant Cover: Mark Buckingham
