I’ve been in love with the idea of Scooby Doo and the gang meeting real monsters since Cartoon Network made a big stinking deal out of Scooby Doo and Zombie Island in 1998. And, as much as the phrase “gritty reboot” has become wearisome in the last couple of years, DC is far from the first to reimagine the gang this way: Noelle Stevenson posted this fan art on her blog a few years before starting work on Lumberjanes, and threadless has been selling this t-shirt design since 2009. So seeing Scooby Apocalypse on the list of Hanna Barbera cartoons getting a “reimagining” from DC got me really excited.
I was not disappointed.
Writing team Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis bring just enough of the characters we are familiar with to this alternate universe. Daphne is still headstrong and just a bit reckless, but here she is a disillusioned journalist trying to resuscitate her failing cable show, with Fred as her loyal cameraman. While Fred doesn’t quite have the chance to say his most classic line (“Let’s split up gang”), he’s still somewhat of a voice of reason and quite proactive- and devoted to Daphne. Velma is brainy as ever, although we’re seeing her in a position we’ve never seen before- reformed villain, part of a secret organization of scientists. 
Shaggy, with his notable transformation from beatnik to hipster, is a dog trainer for the same organization working on their “Smart Dog” program, for which Scooby is the prototype. They’re still the always-hungry, good hearted, mellow duo that they’ve always been.DeMatteis’ dialogue really helps bring these familiar characteristics to the surface as these characters wind their way towards each other. All the ingredients for a fantastic Scooby series are there… except for the monsters.
Giffen, credited with the plot, has imagined a sci-fi conspiracy worthy of Bond… well, worthy of Moonraker, anyway. I don’t want to give too much away, but future issues could certainly feature classics like the Creeper- no old man in a mask required!
Artist Howard Porter creates scenes that are so busy it’s sometimes difficult to keep track of the action- crowded streets during a festival, a bustling laboratory. Even in the scenes where the gang is supposedly alone together, all five are crammed into one frame about half the time. Yet Porter’s designs are really what make the characters distinct from the originals: height differences are more drastic, facial features are more human and less cartoon-perfect (although that could be mostly attributed to the more realistic art style). Velma retains her classic red skirt/orange turtleneck combo, but Fred’s ascot becomes a red bandana, and Daphne trades her entire ensemble in for matching purple hiking boots and camo pants.
I am so excited for issue 2. This has the potential to be SUCH an interesting series, and to take these characters to totally new places- or rather, old places that suddenly have new meaning for us. I highly recommend checking out Scooby Apocalypse as soon as possible.
