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Review: Scooby-Doo Team-Up #45

By Philip Schweier
January 2, 2019 - 08:10

Sholly Fisch delivers a tale well told of a classic DC character, while introducing new, younger readers to his backstory without a lot of baggage. When the Scooby gang meets Scott Free and Big Barda backstage after a show, they are attacked by the hordes of Apokolips. In the course of battle, Daphne and Velma are taken, requiring Mr. Miracle, Fred, Shaggy and Scoob to take a boom tube across the stars. Accompanying them is Shilo, Scott’s apprentice, with whom I am unfamiliar. I hope he’s legit, and not some kid sidekick introduced for the sake of this story alone.

It’s a fun story, reminiscent of Saturday morning, which is exactly what a Scooby-Doo tale should be. Simple, but with a few surprises along the way. An adult might find it a little predictable, yest still enjoyable. The artwork by Brizuela and Riesco is in the same economical vein as most animation art, but as professional as any other comic book illustration. It’s free from extraneous crosshatching and texture, like something from the Silver Age.

And that’s what I like best about this series. It fills the needs of those of us that appreciate the classic DC Universe. It’s simple and uncluttered with pesky things like tightly-woven continuity. The less complicated world of Scooby-Doo Team-Up is painted in very broad strokes, and you don’t have to follow multiple titles to keep up. A passing familiarity is enough for a brief visit, before moving on to other, more ambitious series.

For parents looking for a series they can enjoy with their kids, this one fits the bill nicely. It doesn’t require a lot of commitment, yet never fails to entertain, while introducing younger readers to less prominent corners of the DCU. It makes me wish DC would bring back the titles based on its animated universe – or reprint older stories from the 1960s.

Rating: 10 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12