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Sunday, June 23, 2024

Comics Review: "SCOOBY-DOO, Where Are You? #127" Dives Into Fandom

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? (2010) #127
DC COMICS

STORY: Derek Fridolfs; Sholly Fisch
PENCILS: Walter Carzon; Scott Neely
INKS: Horacio Ottolini; Scott Neely
COLORS: Silvana Brys; Heroic Age
LETTERS: Saida Temofonte; Dezi Sienty
EDITORS: Courtney Jordan; Alex Antone (reprint)
COVER: Derek Fridolfs with Silvana Brys
32pp, Color, $2.99 U.S. (June 2024)

Ages 8+

“Dog Tag”

Welcome, dear readers, to my continuing journey through the Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? comic book series, which began publication in 2010.  I continue to renew my subscription so that I can continue to review this series for you, dear readers.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #127 opens with “Dog Tag,” which is written by Derek Fridolfs and drawn by Walter Carzon and Horacio Ottolini.  The story finds Mystery Inc.Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, and Velma enjoying a night of “Laser Tag.”  However, what Shaggy calls the “Freaky Fright Stalker” is taking the fun out of the game.  Can the gang solve this mystery?

As usual, the second story, “Con Games,” is a reprint story.  It is written by Sholly Fisch and drawn by Scott Neely.  [This story was originally published in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You #25 (cover date: November 2012).]  The story finds Mystery Inc. attending “MonsterCon.”  It's packed with authors, filmmakers, sci-fi fans, and cosplayers.  The con's organizer, Woody K. Wackerstein, is certainly happy about the turnout.  But when the “Phantom of the Con” makes his regularly scheduled appearance, the apparition threatens to put an end to the convention fun.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #127 has as its theme fandom and fan gatherings.  “Dog Tag” is set in a “Laser Tag” entertainment center, and although people have been playing it since the 1980s, “Laser Tag” remains popular.  The monster in the story visually references the alien, “Predator” that first appeared in the 1978 film, Predator, and also appeared as recently as the Hulu original film, the Emmy-nominated, Prey (2022).

I enjoy stories set in the world of science fiction and comic book conventions.  I still fondly remember author Sharyn McCrumb's 1988 satirical novel, Bimbos of the Death Sun, which is set at a science fiction convention.  This issue's second story is set set at a con, and features a number of pop culture references.  Woody K. Wakerstein, the organizer of “MonsterCon,” is a substitute for Forest J. Ackerman, an author and magazine editor.  Ackerman was also one of the founders of science fiction fandom.  Another substitute character is “Walt Palace,” who is based on director William Castle (1960s 13 Ghosts), who is known for his B-movie horror flicks for which he used gimmicks to promote.

The best thing about this issue is that it features the art of two of the best Scooby-Doo comic book artists, Walter Carzon and Scott Neely.  Each artist's illustrations also features gloriously shimmering bright coloring from Silvana Brys and Heroic Age, respectively.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #127 is a good issue, much better than the previous one, #126.  So grab your “Scooby Snacks” and read it, and maybe watch a Scooby-Doo movie, later.  And until next time, Scooby-Dooby-Doo!

B+

[This comic book includes a seven-page preview of the DC Comics original graphic novel, “Dear DC Super-Villains” by Michael Northrop, Gustavo Duarte, Cris Peter, and Wes Abbott.]

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


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