Comics Review: "THE BATMAN & SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES #9" Sends in the Clowns

THE BATMAN & SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES (2022) #9

DC COMICS

STORY: Matthew Cody

ART: Scott Jeralds

COLORS: Carrie Strachan

LETTERS: Saida Temofonte

EDITOR: Kristy Quinn

COVER: Scott Jeralds

32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (August 2023)

Ages 8+

Batman created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger

“Courtroom Circus!”

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries was a 12-issue comic book limited series that DC Comics published in 2021 and 2022.  The series brought the characters from both the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? and Batman comic book series together.  Over the past five decades, Mystery Inc.:  Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma, have joined Batman and (often) Robin to solve mysteries in various animated television series and comic books.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries sold well enough that DC Comics began a second series in October 2022.  The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 (“Courtroom Circus”) is written by Matthew Cody; drawn Scott Jeralds; colored by Carrie Strachan; and lettered by Saida Temofonte.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 (“Courtroom Circus!”) opens in Crystal Cove, and the city is proud of the tenacious teens known as Mystery Inc.  Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby-Doo are getting the key to city they call home.  Gotham City stalwarts:  Batman, Batgirl, and Commissioner Jim Gordon are also present for the ceremony.

Things take a turn for the strange when a purple and green car crashes into the stage and disgorges a gang of wacky clowns that immediately starts menacing the gathered crowd.  Before they know exactly what is going on, Commissioner Gordon is blaming Mystery Inc. for this attack, and mayor orders the gang arrested.

Batman is sure that the Joker is behind this clownish conspiracy, but Batgirl is not sure.  Can Scooby and Batgirl find out who is really behind this?  And how far back does this go into the case files of our favorite teen sleuths.

THE LOWDOWN:  As a child, the most important characters in my life were Batman and Robin and Scooby-Doo and company.  I am still excited about the worlds of Batman and Scooby-Doo coming together.  One of my favorites is the recent animated film, Scooby-Doo! & Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2018).  Obviously, The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries is one of those comic book series that are perfectly made for me.

SPOILER ALERT:

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 is a clever tale that references the first-season episode, “Bedlam in the Big Top” (first shown November 15, 1969), from the classic Scooby-Doo television series, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!”  I did not expect this surprise, which brings back what for me is one of the scariest Scooby-Doo ghosts ever, the “Ghost Clown” a.k.a “Harry the Hypnotist.”  I remember being chilled to the bone the first time I saw that particular episode.

Writer Matthew Cody offers one of the best written issues of this second series.  It is funny and clever and is filled with breezy dialogue.  Scott Jeralds, one of my favorite Scooby-Doo comic book artists, delivers storytelling with sparkling character action in a narrative that captures the imagination (and captured my heart).  Carrie Strachan's colors recall classic Hanna-Barbera animation, and Saida Temofonte's letters bring back the mode of classic kids' comic book lettering.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 is a fun comic book treat, one that I needed today.  I think it's worth another read.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS:  Fans of the union of the worlds of Batman and Scooby-Doo will want The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries.

[This comic book includes a six-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Superman of Smallville” by Art Baltazar and Franco.]

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Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

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