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dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a Scooby Doo fan from way back and I've been enjoying DC's Hanna-Barbera line so far, for the most part. I got this as part of a trade-in at my now defunct LCS but didn't have time to read it until we went into self-isolation.
Scooby Apocalypse is a reimagining of the Scooby Doo gang in a survival horror scenario. The world has been stricken by a nanotech plague that turns people into monsters. The only people not effected are Daphne Blake, a TV reporter, Fred Jones, her cameraman, Shaggy Rogers, the dog trainer from the top secret facility that spawned the plague, Scooby-Doo, one of the failed subjects from the smart-dog project, and Velma Dinkley, one of the scientists from the installation.
I'm largely a purist when it comes to Scooby Doo but I really enjoyed this. Really, though, how could a team like Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Howard Porter put out something less than excellent? It kind of feels like one of those video game movies where there's not enough backstory to do much with so the team is forced to invent a lot of it. Velma's backstory was easily my favorite part of the book. I also liked that the issues are linked but largely self-contained, a result of decades of expertise on the part of Giffen and DeMatteis.
The action is fast and furious and the gang doesn't get a lot of breathing room. There's lots of monster killing action. It's a little lighter on humor than I would like but when the world is going up in flames, there's not a lot of time for jokes. I like the new take on the characters, although Fred seems really unnecessary now that Daphne is the leader of the group.
How are Giffen, DeMatteis, and Porter not on a higher profile book? Howard Porter's art is as great as it ever was and Giffen and DeMatteis haven't lost a step either. Scooby Apocalypse shows that a veteran creative team like Giffen, DeMatteis, and Porter can make a fun comic out of almost any crazy concept. Four out of five Scooby Snacks.
Scooby Apocalypse is a reimagining of the Scooby Doo gang in a survival horror scenario. The world has been stricken by a nanotech plague that turns people into monsters. The only people not effected are Daphne Blake, a TV reporter, Fred Jones, her cameraman, Shaggy Rogers, the dog trainer from the top secret facility that spawned the plague, Scooby-Doo, one of the failed subjects from the smart-dog project, and Velma Dinkley, one of the scientists from the installation.
I'm largely a purist when it comes to Scooby Doo but I really enjoyed this. Really, though, how could a team like Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, and Howard Porter put out something less than excellent? It kind of feels like one of those video game movies where there's not enough backstory to do much with so the team is forced to invent a lot of it. Velma's backstory was easily my favorite part of the book. I also liked that the issues are linked but largely self-contained, a result of decades of expertise on the part of Giffen and DeMatteis.
The action is fast and furious and the gang doesn't get a lot of breathing room. There's lots of monster killing action. It's a little lighter on humor than I would like but when the world is going up in flames, there's not a lot of time for jokes. I like the new take on the characters, although Fred seems really unnecessary now that Daphne is the leader of the group.
How are Giffen, DeMatteis, and Porter not on a higher profile book? Howard Porter's art is as great as it ever was and Giffen and DeMatteis haven't lost a step either. Scooby Apocalypse shows that a veteran creative team like Giffen, DeMatteis, and Porter can make a fun comic out of almost any crazy concept. Four out of five Scooby Snacks.
ttayfel1997's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, where do I even begin. I grew up watching Scooby Doo...so to be able to take my love for Scooby Doo and put a grown-up twist on it, I couldn't ask for anything better. This is definitely not the Scooby and the gang I grew up with...but I'm kind of obsessed. The plot line of this series is actually very intense and for once...the monsters are real. This book had me gasping as I learned new details, laughing at the comedy, and smiling at the small details that have carried over from the original series. This graphic novel is something that I didn't know I needed...but I definitely do.
ajj244's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely LOVE this concept, and the execution succeeds in my opinion. I was nervous going in, not sure if I should expect a goofy, “Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island” type experience (which I loved as a kid), or if this would be more adult-oriented. This is definitely adult-oriented, with more grit and gore than I ever expected to see in something with the Scooby-Doo label, but I am absolutely here for it. I grew up on Scooby-Doo and it’s many iterations, and I love how fleshed out the characters are. It’s so interesting to see how they might have been if they’d been created in the current day and age, rather than decades ago. I really appreciate how realistic many of the smaller details and moments are, and found myself compelled to read and then analyze the art. Also, somehow I was caught off guard with a particular character’s presence, and I cannot begin to describe the horrified-but-impressed feelings I experienced upon realizing who they were. In summary, I’m so excited to start volume 2!
helpfulsnowman's review against another edition
2.0
It's not a bad book, but it's got a Star Wars problem.
Allow me to explain.
With a lot of remakes and expansions, we see one of two things.
With something like Marvel, we see that the universe expands outwards. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Doctor Strange, a bunch of characters all have their own thing going on, and those threads are combined.
With something like Star Wars, we have one thread, and everything is bound tightly to that one thread. There's allegedly a whole universe, but it's a universe that doesn't really accommodate a much difference. Think about it. Make a mental chart of which movies include: lightsaber battles, a bad guy who uses the force, fun little creatures, sassy robots, space wars, Skywalkers/Solos, and Death Stars. Almost all? It's not just that they use similar themes and elements, it's that they present to us as an entire universe of possibilities, but we mostly get movies that check the boxes.
Which brings us to Scooby Apocalypse.
The overall premise is a lot of fun. Basically, an apocalyptic event changes most of the humans into monsters. Weird ghouls straight outta the old cartoons, but a touch more interested in tearing people in half instead of scaring them away from an old theme park.
The characters are also given a little more backstory. Scooby is part of a group of cybernetically-enhanced dogs, Velma is a scientist, Shaggy is a dog expert. That part's fun too.
What's not fun is that the book is more interested in namechecking lots of stuff from the show than it is in telling a story of its own. We get a Mystery Machine, Zoinks!, and even a "Let's split up!"
We don't get is much of a story. There's A TON of story being set up. But it's set up in that annoying, "I'm telling you there's a story here, but not telling you what it is" kind of way. You can get away with that if you've got a POV character, which would've worked great in this book because all we'd know is what that POV character sees and suspects, but when we've got the POV jumping to different characters, we never really learn what's going on, but CONSTANTLY hear THAT there's something going on.
It's almost like the book is set to run X issues, so instead of story, we're being threatened with stories to come. "Oh, when I catch up with that Scooby." "Oh, when the others find out my true role in this whole mess." It's fine to lay some of that in, but let's have one story happening in the present with others upcoming, not just sort of characters bouncing around, waiting for something to happen.
Allow me to explain.
With a lot of remakes and expansions, we see one of two things.
With something like Marvel, we see that the universe expands outwards. Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Doctor Strange, a bunch of characters all have their own thing going on, and those threads are combined.
With something like Star Wars, we have one thread, and everything is bound tightly to that one thread. There's allegedly a whole universe, but it's a universe that doesn't really accommodate a much difference. Think about it. Make a mental chart of which movies include: lightsaber battles, a bad guy who uses the force, fun little creatures, sassy robots, space wars, Skywalkers/Solos, and Death Stars. Almost all? It's not just that they use similar themes and elements, it's that they present to us as an entire universe of possibilities, but we mostly get movies that check the boxes.
Which brings us to Scooby Apocalypse.
The overall premise is a lot of fun. Basically, an apocalyptic event changes most of the humans into monsters. Weird ghouls straight outta the old cartoons, but a touch more interested in tearing people in half instead of scaring them away from an old theme park.
The characters are also given a little more backstory. Scooby is part of a group of cybernetically-enhanced dogs, Velma is a scientist, Shaggy is a dog expert. That part's fun too.
What's not fun is that the book is more interested in namechecking lots of stuff from the show than it is in telling a story of its own. We get a Mystery Machine, Zoinks!, and even a "Let's split up!"
We don't get is much of a story. There's A TON of story being set up. But it's set up in that annoying, "I'm telling you there's a story here, but not telling you what it is" kind of way. You can get away with that if you've got a POV character, which would've worked great in this book because all we'd know is what that POV character sees and suspects, but when we've got the POV jumping to different characters, we never really learn what's going on, but CONSTANTLY hear THAT there's something going on.
It's almost like the book is set to run X issues, so instead of story, we're being threatened with stories to come. "Oh, when I catch up with that Scooby." "Oh, when the others find out my true role in this whole mess." It's fine to lay some of that in, but let's have one story happening in the present with others upcoming, not just sort of characters bouncing around, waiting for something to happen.
julianairving's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
whatthefawkes's review against another edition
3.0
This was a truly interesting reincarnation of my favourite cartoon, I wish I could rate it higher! My biggest pet peeve was Daphne Blake and the fact she repeated the same thing every other page. We get it. She hates Velma and blames her for the apocalypse, ya don't need to repeat it on every damn page. Who edited this thing and thought, "yeah, this isn't repetitive at all. Keep it as it is!"
jacob_books_corneryt's review against another edition
3.0
So many cool idea. Just wish it was better done. Will be continuing on tho
sabrinadb's review against another edition
3.0
The art was absolutely gorgeous! The story was interesting but it was a bit too different from the Scooby-Doo I’m used to
jhouses's review against another edition
1.0
Cuatro tomos me he leído de esta pérdida de tiempo porque no tenía el cerebro para más y debo decir que me han sobrado 3 y medio. Por algún motivo ($$$$$$$) Hanna-Barbera ha relanzado sus personajes clásicos en versiones actualizadas para la nueva generación y , si Los Picapiedra tenía un pasar, con Scooby Doo se han estrellado. El nuevo Mystery Inc. no esta formado por "esos muchachos entrometidos" y su perro, ahora son cuatro adultos visualmente similares pero con personalidades diametralmente opuestas. Hipster Shaggy puede ser el ejemplo más exagerado e innecesario pero el extraño intercambio de roles de Fred y Daphne tampoco va mal. Y luego la bomba. Esta vez los fantasmas y monstruos son reales, de hecho el apocalipsis ha terminado con el mundo y todos salvo Scooby y la pandilla se han convertido en monstruos. Scooby Dooo es ahora The Walking Dead, ¿qué podía salir mal? Pues todo: del gracioso [a:Keith Griffen|8549190|Keith Griffen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] de [b:Grandes Autores de la Liga de la Justicia: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis y Kevin Maguire. JLI|36356923|Grandes Autores de la Liga de la Justicia Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis y Kevin Maguire. JLI|Keith Giffen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1507190109s/36356923.jpg|58040413] no queda ni rastro excepto lineas y lineas de diálogo expositivo y repetitivo; conseguido enganchar al lector, los dibujos caen en picado y el argumento pincha una vez terminada la sorpresa inicial.
Casi mejor ver la película.
Casi mejor ver la película.