Scooby Apocalypse (2016-) #1 (Scooby Apocalypse

Scooby Apocalypse (Single Issues) #1

by J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen, Alex Sinclair (Cover Art)

Those meddling kids-Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and their dog, Scooby-Doo get more ghost-debunking than they bargained for when faced with a fundamental change in their world. The apocalypse has happened. Old rules about logic no longer apply. The creatures of the night are among us, and the crew of the Magical Mystery Machine has to fight to survive-because in the apocalyptic badlands of the near-future, the horrors are real! This new monthly series takes Scooby and the gang to a whole new level and features character designs by comics superstar Jim Lee!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Dc Comics, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Mystery

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2016

About the author

Also Credited As:
DeMatteis, John Marc
Ellis, Michael
Lombego, Wally

Bio:
J.M. DeMatteis was a professional musician/singer and rock music journalist before entering comics in the late 70's.

Credits include Spider-Man, Moonshadow, Brooklyn Dreams, Justice League, Abadazad, Hero Squared, the Life and Times of Savior 28.

Created I, Vampire , Creature Commandos, Moonshadow, Hero Squared (co-creator), Abadazad, Stardust Kid, Savior 28 and more.

Reviews

[Sam Quixote]

As part of DC’s “Rebirth” relaunch this summer, their Hanna-Barbera line is getting the Poochie treatment too with the most talked about title in that range being Scooby Apocalypse. In this version the Mystery gang don’t know each other but they come together when shady government scientist Velma leaks the secret of an apocalyptic threat to hack TV people Daphne and Fred with dog trainer hipster Shaggy and failed government project Scooby-Doo also somehow getting tangled up in it. So is the comic any good? Jeepers, no!

Read the full review over at Need to Consume here!

[Siona Adams]

(I read this as a physical single issue, but I'm not able to find that edition on GR, so I'm just going to use this one. I also bought this in the pencil/adult coloring book variant cover.)

This was amazing! It was definitely a departure from the source material, but that isn't a bad thing at all. I grew up with the original Scooby Doo series from the 70's, and the other iterations since then (namely, A Pup Named Scooby Doo and Scooby Doo and the 13 Ghosts) and some of the movies (Ghoul School, Zombie Island, Witch's Ghost, and Alien Invaders) so I'd like to think that I know my Scooby Doo lol

I will say, Fred's artwork is very... ugly to me. Like, the art is good, but the way Fred is drawn makes him look ugly. I'm not sure if that's the point or not, but I don't care for his look. Velma's personality threw me off also, but with her character in this it makes sense. I hope she becomes a little more human throughout the run tho.

And those Emote-goggle things? Super cool idea. I wonder how they'll play into the story since Scooby can still talk without them, but that was just an ingenious idea!

[Jessica (a GREAT read)]

Scooby Apocalypse is a whole new Scooby Doo universe! Here the gang is just getting together under new circumstances. And it's not about solving mysteries and catching bad guys in a creepy mask, here, the monsters are real!

The world is going to hell in a handbasket Velma is afraid it's partially her fault. She asks Daphne and Fred for their help in exposing the company she works for and that the virus or whatever you want to call it it, that will take out a human's tendencies towards evil and other bad things is irrevocably erased. But naturally, something went wrong with the program and the virus that is latching onto people is turning them into monsters!

Shaggy worked as a dog caretaker at the facility and Scooby Doo was the first "expierment" to make dogs more intelligent on a human level where they could even talk. But sadly, Scooby is a "failed" experiment for he never seemed to gain that killer instinct.

This first issue was more about setting the scene and circumstances and it ended in a most chilling way. It even includes an extra story of Shaggy's first day on the job!

Rating 5/5 stars

[Bambi Hyde]

I loved this book. The story, the art, the new designs, everything was fantastic. I highly recommend this book. I'm so excited for the next issue!

[Kevin Findley]

I signed up for DC Universe and this is one of my first issues read. I know it got chewed by a lot of critics and fans, but I think it's a good read.

Here, the human members of the gang are late 20s-early 30s. Daphne and Fred have their own mystery show on cable, Shaggy is a dog trainer, and Velma is an evil laugh away from being a mad scientist. Fortunately, she has a change of heart about her job, and goes to Fred and Daphne to expose her bosses. Our favorite Great Dane is pretty much himself, but just a little braver than we've seen in the past.

I won't spoil how this issue wraps up, but it could certainly be the storyboards for a new cartoon. I think a lot of fans will like it and should give it a shot. I'm certainly going to read the rest of the series.

Find it Buy it! READ IT!

[Sam "Norville Shaggy" Booth]

Interesting take on the Scooy-Doo characters with an engaging art style.
More appealing to a teen-adult audience with its humour and direction which is refreshing for the Scooby brand. Focused on world building and developing this universe's version of the well-known characters.
Starts somewhat slowly but feels expected for the first issue of the series.

[Tracey]

I like that it was a clean slate. Started fresh as an origin story.

[Jessie H.]

I've been interested in reading this comic since I heard that DC was going to reboot a bunch of my favorite old cartoons as comics. Scooby Doo was at the top of my list. I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't this. Not that that is a bad thing.

The story was interesting although we don't find out what causes the apocalypse until the very end. This plot is nothing like any of the previous Scooby iterations I've watched or read. In fact, we find out in a flashback that Shaggy met Scooby only three years prior to the start of this comic when he was hired by the company that creates smart dogs for the military as a dog trainer. Which outside of the emoji goggles Scooby wears, explains how a dog can talk. I hope we get flashback in later issues that explain more of Velma, Fred, and Daphne's backstories.

I'm interested to see where they take this from here. For me, Velma was the best part of the story. I will say that the art for this issue was excellent! It fit the story and was really colorful. I can't wait to get my hands on the next issue to see where things go.

*I received an ARC of this from the publisher via Netgalley.

[Puddlyduck]

If you've persuaded my shelves you may have noticed that I haven't read that many graphic novels or comics. Seeing one of my childhood favourites reimagined sparked my interest and I'm SO glad I requested a copy of this issue from netgalley.

The characters are more developed, and as you may have guessed from the apocalypse theme, this story is far grittier than the Saturday cartoons of old. Despite being set in a futuristic world, (I loved Scooby's emoticon googles!) everything feels more real than before. I particularly loved the backstory of Scooby's and Shaggy's first meeting and subsequent relationship, and I feel that like the original, their friendship will be a huge driving force.

Of course any Scooby's Doo story wouldn't be complete without a good mystery... Discovering that you're suddenly facing the end of the world as you know it sure is a doozy!

And as for the monsters? This time they're real.

Disclaimer: I received this graphic novel from netgalley in return for an honest review.

[John Shaw]

From two of the best creative minds
ever to write a comic
(my opinion of course, but I believe that anyone who
reads the old Justice League International
will agree)

Comes Scooby and the Gang for a whole new generation.

Spanning the decades since the original TV premier
in 1969 the Scooby Gang has undergone
countless changes.
Some successful
some not.

This new series attempts to restart the series back to zero.
Showing how The Gang comes together.
Recasting the characters into more palatable
21C versions of themselves.
The core of the characters are still there.

Is this a successful version?
It's still early days.
But if anyone can capture the sense
of fun and adventure
and sheer spooky-ness
from the original
than Giffen and DeMatteis can
and I am looking forward to seeing them try.

[°~Amy~°]

Unfortunately this book completely missed the mark for me. I was so excited to get an updated version of Scooby and the Gang but what I got was so far from the originals it was ridiculous. Other than the names and the slightly similar appearances of some of the characters, there was really nothing of our old favorites in these characters. I think if the characters HADN'T been associated with Scooby and the gang I might actually have enjoyed it. The graphics were good, the story in and of itself was fine, it was just the jarring war in my head trying to make these characters BE Scooby and the Gang, I just couldn't do it. Sadly, I won't be continuing with the rest of the series.

[Kid Disaster]

A very strong beginning to an all new Scooby Doo! Scoob's been in need of a makeover, and this is a very promising start -- not like that one time with Scrappy.

I'm looking forward to more dystopian hi-jinks.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie-Lee Turner]

Jinkies! This was amazing!

An eccentric departure to the gang that we all know and love but a welcome arrival to a sci-fi world with an apocalypse with a twist!
I loved the inclusion of Scrappy-Doo(my fave from the original series) and in a whole new level of 'bad' too!
Definitely a must read for any Scooby gang lover!

[Shastina Henderson]

I absolutely loved it.

[Vinton Bayne]

That is a really interesting take on the Scooby gang and a great set up.

[Letande D'Argon]

OK, now this one was a big surprise to me. You see, I don't like reboots. And I don't like it when they begin to turn the old characters into something they weren't supposed to be. Therefore, I expected this comic to be bad. Really bad. I mean... look at the cover? How can something like that be any good? Tempting - yes. But good? Nope. But guess what? Surprise-surprise! It is good. In its own way.

When I was a kid, back in 80s (that's when I saw my first few episodes of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!, by the way), me and my friends used to play a game. We took some characters from the pop culture and made up the entirely new stories for them. Those were always weird, thanks to children's imagination, there was, of course, Sci-Fi, monsters and stuff like that. You've got the idea. Sometimes the other people's imagination just wasn't enough for us. So, we added to it. But there was one important moment in all that. We still loved the characters and cared about them a lot. For example, we loved Indiana Jones. So, there was no way for him to become a stupid loser in our stories. But give him a mechanical arm and make him fight some ancient monster... that'll add a nice steampunk touch to it and will be a lot of fun. Got the idea? As long as you cared about characters, it was good.

And here it is. Scooby Apocalypse. Like I said, I saw my first episodes of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! in 80s. And, obviously, as a kid (born in 1982), I instantly fell in love with it. It was like all those cool mystery books, but easier for kids to understand and with a lot of fun in it. Characters were hard not to love, stories were charming and creepy... It was awesome. Still is. So, when I saw this comic... I was like "OK, here comes the new bottom". But I picked it up anyway. Just because I'm a very curious person. One of the things about me that didn't change since I was a kid. When I see something different? I want to check it out. So, I picked this one up. And guess what? I've changed my mind right after I started reading it. Why? Because they did care.

The best thing about this comic is that you can feel the original characters here. Like I said above, it won't be any fun to turn Shaggy into a tough killing machine. Because, obviously, it won't be Shaggy. But make him a big-hearted dog trainer at some research lab, who wants everybody around him to get along and be happy... and click! It works. And it doesn't really matter that Scooby wears a headgear here. The characters... they're here.

Actually, that's what makes this comic so good for more than one reason. You see, it's great that they didn't ruin everybody's favorite detectives. But the characters are actually a reason why the story in this issue works so well. I mean, technically, there's nothing really special in it. There are villains, who want to enslave the world and there's a small group of people who need to stop them. A small group of people who can't even get along. Not yet. Nothing really new, right? But add our good old Scooby Doo characters... and the entire story begins to shine. It makes so much easier for you to start caring about the characters and what happens to them (makes you more involved), it makes you to see their behavior in quite a different light (since you already know who they are in their hearts)... All that makes things much more fun. And, of course, since it's Scooby, there are hints of mystery here. A different kind of mystery, but hey! The mystery is still a mystery and the atmosphere is just right.

Also, there's a lot of joy for the old fans. Even though it looks like this comic was supposed to be for everybody, only those, who loved Scooby for some time now will get the most of it. They way writers played on catchphrases, all those hidden references, the way they created a new look for the characters... It's fun! It is a lot of fun! And artwork is great too. Totally fits the mood, so you won't be disappointed.

So, what's in conclusion? In conclusion, as long as you won't mind the idea of an alternative take on Scooby Doo, I'd say, give this one a chance. Because yep, it's not our usual Scoob. But at the same exact time... it is. The characters aren't ruined, the mystery is there, the atmosphere is just right, artwork is good and there's a lot of small details for the old fans. What else do you need? The only thing that can give you troubles here is the idea itself. So, if you're absolutely sure you can't take an alternative touch, then this one isn't for you. But if you can, give this one a chance. There's a huge chance it'll become a new guilty pleasure to you. It sure did to me.

[Jay]

A modern-day reimagining of the classic cartoon series. Scooby Doo is part of a governmental experiment in training “smart dogs” for military and civilian uses. One of the project administrators is Velma Dinkley, who has decided to become a whistle-blower to the real project - a nanite dispersion that is supposed to “pacify” the human race allowing for an decrease in violence and an increase in science and creativity. But when the nanites activate during her interview with the “mystery-busting” reporter Daphne Blake and her cameraman, Fred Jones, the group ends up locked in the bunker. But what’s happening outside?

There wasn’t as much humor in this issue as I expected. I thought with the likes of Giffen and DeMatteis putting this together, there would a lot of silliness! A lot of exposition had to be laid out for this new version of the series, so there may not have been as much opportunity as future issues may present. The characters are pretty recognisable even after their updates (though Daphne seems a bit more obnoxious), but their new backstories are pretty interesting. They certainly make a more unlikely group than they did originally. Things are just getting started, so I’m curious what the world will be like and how this group will fit in and find a purpose.

I’ve long been a fan of Howard Porter’s art. This seems a bit more cartoony than his previous outing on Justice League 3001, but that’s utterly appropriate for this book. He does a lot up close, or in medium shots of the characters which is great for really seeing their expressions and reactions to what’s happening. He draws a great Scooby, so that adds to a lot of the fun here. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this.

Entertaining first outing for this book and it has a lot of potential. I’m looking forward to seeing more of this.

[Kiarra]

This popped up on DC Universe and I had to check it out. At first, it was hard to swallow the differences (especially how Shaggy looks like Green Arrow), but I kept finding myself grinning like an idiot. Pretty much every time Scooby talked. I just love Scooby-Doo so much.

The art was pretty, but if felt like there was some disconnect between it and the writing. Expressions felt like they should've been a bit more goofy to go with some of the text, but instead they seemed super sincere which was weird. Daphne punching Fred when he was providingsome comic relief also was weird. I get that this is a darker more serious take, but there's a talking dog and this is the Scooby Gang. It can handle some levity. The colors definitely lend themselves to that, just gotta get some big expressions on there. And maybe some more body language.

I'm gonna keep reading this. Absolutely. Scooby Doo is a true and deep childhood favorite. One that I haven't gone back to almost at all SINCE my childhood. I didn't realize how much I missed it until now.

[Osnar Chávez]

Read the whole series and it is really good.
Yes, at the beginning, during a couple of issues, the characters tend to be very one-noted, and the same beats are reiterated time and time again. Also, it's a little disappointing that almost all monsters look just like random beasts, because it would have been interesting for Mystery Inc. to tackle some monstruos versions of their classic villains.
Yet, once it finds it voice, it manages to create an intriguing set of main characters that feel unique to this interpretation, at the same time that are clearly recognizable, taking the best parts from others iterations. The series really takes advantage of its serialized nature to explore different characters' dynamics by doing different pairings, at the same time that it allows the relationships to evolve and become more complex.
Especially the ending, even tough it is a somewhat rushed and relies a little too much on text, it does manages to feel important, like a true conclusion to everything we have seen before, and a bittersweet goodbye to this characters.

[Frank]

This is part of the DC reboot of classic Hanna Barbera cartoons. It has it's moments but overall I can't say I'll look for more of this one.

The story starts with gang not knowing each other. Fred and Daphne are no longer at their peak camera man and talent (respectively) for the Knitting Channel, Velma is a scientist at a secret lab, with Scooby a test subject in their 'smart dog' research program and Shaggy is an animal trainer in the lab.

The story brings them together reasonably well, and includes some back story of how the characters got to where they are, but since in the end it really is the Apocalypse, at least of a sort, the feel of the show is totally lost. They aren't kids who figure out the scam, and there was always a scam, they are adults (late 20's at least) who are living in a real horror story. This is a horror story using the names of popular characters and very little else. it's not Scooby Doo, there is no lesson to be learned from it.

[Madison]

3.5 stars

4.5 stars for the story and minus 1 star for the ugly artwork that is Fred Jones. Seriously... everyone else is pretty great, especially Shaggy and Scooby, but Fred? He looks like awful. A few panels had him looking better, but overall his face and hair make me cringe.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed the twist on how the gang got together. The colors and graphics for the most part really make for an interesting atmosphere. And it takes place in a dystopian-esque/pre-apocalyptic (I think?) world. How cool/i> is that?

[rebecca]

That was fun - Velma’s job may have taken a turn for the worst when a dangerous element is set loose on the world. No old greedy dudes in rubber masks here, as the body count rises and the rest of the gang pitches in to stop the apocalypse or die trying.

I’m on deadline so I’m trying to resist slip sliding down a Scooby Apocalypse slope tonight but I think it’s too late - I’m hooked and, like Scooby w a box of Scooby snacks, I lack self control...

[Steven Shinder]

This was a decent introduction to the series. We get to see the Mystery Gang really get together in Paris a year before what I assume will be the present day events, and we see what leads to the apocalypse. It’s kinda funny reading here that Scooby was a lab experiment, as that’s what was done with Wile E. Coyote in the Lobo/Road Runner one-shot. The backup story where Shaggy meets Scooby “3 years ago” is very heartwarming.

[Ohdie]

Awesome but way to short

Brand new universe of Scooby Doo which is great! But I hate that it's so short especially for the price. I may wait till they consolidate all the volumes for a better price point.

[Holly Grace]

THE ART IS SO BEAUTIFULLLLLL
There was a lot of world building in this issue so it was a bit slow, but I feel like it'll improve as it goes on
I really loved the ending with the mini story about Shaggy and Scooby - so cuteeeeeee

[Natalie]

The graphics are wide-eyed beautiful. Fast yet smooth...like an intoxicating memory. Beware they aren't the same spastic bunch we remember. They've evolved and so has their hijinks...just like us. I never imagined Shaggy would be a late bloomer lol.

[Jenan]

I really enjoyed it. Wish to read the rest of the story. The art is beautiful and the characters are different than what we saw in the movies. It shows how the characters met each other the first time. It's like a whole new story. I really enjoyed it! Shaggy is such a heartthrob in this version!

[Plain Fox books]

Reading this comic was so nostalgic. I used to love watching Scooby-do as a child.

[Sara]

This. Is. SO. Fun.

[Niko Bloom]

HELLL YEAH