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Review: Scooby Apocalypse #21

By Philip Schweier
January 10, 2018 - 09:12

At the end of last issue, Velma made the startling announcement that the virus that had changed all of mankind (with a few exceptions) into monsters was unstoppable. Rather than lay down and die, the Scooby gang is ready to make a final stand in the name of humanity. The first order of business is to determine where (a mall) and then figure out how – cuz it’s surrounded by monsters.

This issue is set two months after events of Scooby Apocalypse #20, and in that time, the gang has undergone some personal growth. Shaggy is far less cowardly than before, though it may just be to impress Daisy. Meanwhile, Daisy and Fred seem to be growing closer, though he’s still proposing to Daphne at the drop of a hat. Velma is determine to ease her guilt by ensuring they’re collective survival, and Scooby and Cliffy have become pals as well – a dog and his pet boy.

But all this is moot if they are unable to survive. Now that they have a course of action, I trust we have a plot to look forward to, rather than aimless wandering in a bid to avoid the monsters. All I can say is, it’s about time. I’d hoped the gang had come up with some sort of agenda beyond simple survival by avoidance.

I was always uncertain how much life Scooby Apocalypse might have, believing it to be a temporary variation on an old property. But perhaps it’s more than that. Many of DC Comics’ current Elseworld stories – such as Bombshells and Gotham Garage – aren’t so much new takes on old ideas, but separate ideas using familiar characters to sketch in the archetypes. Once you wrap your head around that, the concept becomes much more palatable.

And of course, there's the next installment of Secret Squirrel. Matters escalate for Agent 000, Moroccan Mole and Agent Bea, but there's still no sign of them working together. It's a lackluster chapter on the way to what I hope will be an epic conclusion (eventually).

Rating: 7 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12