Review – Scooby Apocalypse #23: Down In the Mall

Scooby Apocalypse #23 – Keith Giffen, JM DeMatteis, Writers; Ron Wagner, Penciller; Andy Owens, Inker; Scott Kolins, Backup Artist; Hi-Fi, Colorist

Ratings:

Ray – 5/10

Scooby Apocalypse has been in a holding pattern for several months now, with no major central villain and the group mostly moving from place to place trying to find safety. DC has spoiled that a major death is coming to the book in two months, which lends some urgency to the team’s current hangout in a mall occupied by an army of warring monsters belonging to different department stores, but Scooby Apocalypse #23 is mostly characterized by…nothing happening. The group’s set up camp on the top floor of the mall where monsters never go, and they’re trying to find a new dynamic with the addition of Daisy and Cliffy to their group. Cliffy, normally a sweet kid, has developed a bit of a mean edge as he struggles to cope with being cooped up in the mall, but his friendship with Scooby is keeping him stable, and the scene where the two of them team up to fight a stray monster is the issue’s best.

Unfortunately, the story involving the rest of the crew is essentially a dud. You have five adults on the top floor, arguing with each other about monsters’ rights and what their next move should be. Then the discussion breaks down into personal insults, as Daphne, Daisy, and Velma all start airing out their issues and it starts to feel like an issue of Jerry Springer. By the end of the issue, nothing much is resolved and the crew stays stuck in the mall for another issue, leading up to the big event in #25.

For the backup, Scott Kolins takes over on art – it’s kind of been amazing what kind of artists they’ve been able to get for Secret Squirrel stories. Unfortunately, too much of the story is devoted to Wily Wolf monologuing about his plan to kill Secret Squirrel and Morocco Mole. When the title critters actually show up, the story is a bit of fun, but it’s been dragging on way too long.

To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.

Disclaimer: GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.