Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #132 is written by Sholly Fisch and published by DC. Artwork is by Randy Elliott, colours by Silvana Brys and letters by Saida Temofonte.
Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #132 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
Mystery Inc. never expected that when they went to investigate a haunted courtroom, they’d wind up prosecuted by a ghostly judge. Unless they can unmask the gavel-wielding ghost and clear their names, they might just get sent up the river…Styx!
Review
Scooby Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang have gone through many different formats and interpretations over the years, yet with every version the core premise and structure mostly stays the same. A ghost/ghoul is causing a problem, the gang come along to investigate the mystery and they eventually reveal that said ghoul is just a person in a costume. This is a format that every show, film, game and comic has stuck to for years and this newest instalment of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is no different.
This issue gives us not one, but two short mysteries to read, the first of which is titled Trial and Error. This story, which can be seen on the cover, is the one that holds the most potential as it sees Scooby and the gang being put on trail for their years of meddling. The ghost of Judge Knott, along with his ghoulish security question the gang one by one as their previous cases are brought back to the surface.
Sholly Fisch’s writing here does a good job of blending the typical playfulness and humour of Scooby Doo with a new perspective that questions the heroics of Mystery Inc. from the ghosts’ perspective which is a refreshing spin on the typical formula. This is also cemented by Randy Elliott’s artwork and Silvana Brys’ bold colouring which makes each panel look as if they were taken straight from the original 60s cartoon or an episode of What’s New, Scooby-Doo?.
However, the issues here lie purely in the length of the story. Due to its brief nature, the dramatic or even comedic implications that this courtroom setting could squeeze from this narrative are short lived. Just as the questioning of the gang starts to get interesting the story conveniently finds a way to wrap itself up as we get to the unmasking of the ghost that every mystery ends with. As this story is as short as it is, it also doesn’t give the reader much of a chance to figure things out for themselves either. Outside of the main group, only two other characters are mentioned leaving a very shallow pool of suspects to pick from, meaning when the eventual reveal does happen, it’s incredibly obvious.
This is something the second story, Go For Broke, also faces. The mystery here is even briefer and wrapped up more abruptly than Trial and Error. The humour and artwork make everything here readable and Fisch tries his best to work within the pre-establised mystery format but these stories go by so quick that they end just as they’re getting to the good stuff that a typical Scooby Doo mystery would revel in, whether that be an iconic chase, gathering of clues or hijinks with the gang as they split up.
Verdict
Though the artwork captures the look of the original show to a tee, there is definitely room for improvement when it comes to the narrative approach of this comic. Just as you’re getting into the story and antics it’s over before its begun and leaves you feeling a bit shortchanged.
⭐⭐.5
