Review: Scooby Apocalypse #13

DC Comics
Review: Scooby Apocalypse #13
By Philip Schweier
May 10, 2017 - 05:10

DC Comics
Writer(s): Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis
Artist(s): Dan Eaglesham, Tom Derenick
Colourist(s): Hi-Fi
Letterer(s): Travis Lanham
Cover Artist(s): Howard Porter, Hi-Fi; Nick Bradshaw, Tomeu Morey

Velma Dinkley’s ego-maniacal brother Rufus is responsible for the destruction of all mankind, yet in his mind, he believes the monsters he’s created adore whim, seeking him out for favor, rather than to munch on his fat carcass as they have done with so many others.

The bloated, narcissistic, toupé-wearing character comes so close to someone we all know that it’s a little bit too on-the-nose. I don’t object to this comic’s creators continue living out their fantasy of holding a certain someone accountable for the end of the human race. But it seems like it’s been a long time coming, and the joke has more than worn thin.

But even so, let’s not look upon Scooby Doo: Apocalypse as a horror story, or a commentary on the current political landscape. Instead, I view as a character study, taking the familiar foursome (and their dog) known as Mystery Inc. and re-casting them in a different mold. It’s familiar but different, much like Michael Keaton’s Batman is different from that of Adam West.

There is no cartoon-like silliness (well, perhaps a little), but only enough to distance these versions from the cartoon originals. My biggest disappointment this issue is the back-up feature, starring Scrappy-doo. Even as a child, I saw how utterly juvenile the character was, and it pleased me to see him dumped on in the live-action movies. He was annoying then and he’s annoying now. I hope he gets eaten by Rufus’ monsters.