***THIS REVIEW WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON THE NERD BLITZ PATREON***
Here we are at the end of the line, the last of the new stories from this 50th anniversary special volume, gang.
I must admit, it hasn’t quite been the smoothest of rides thus far.
I some times wonder if I’m a bit more critical of comics because there are more elements at play than simply just “sit back, relax, and let your imagination run wild while the story washes over you.” that a straightforward prose story offers.
I give Fitz a lot of ball-breaking shit for his art snobbery in regard to comics, but I think I have a bit of snooty dick head in me as well…I will now hold for your stunned gasps at that shocking revelation…and breathe, now let’s continue.
With all of that out of the way, I know this story is written and drawn by the same person so the question now becomes will I be left wanting in either department, story or art?
Or, much like Amadeus, will it rock me?
Enough jibba-jabba, gang, let’s dive in and find out!
This is your official man in a mask disguised as a monstrous ***SPOILER ALERT***!
Hit that Davy Jones single!
Art By Scott Gross: After the last two stories, what a breath of fresh air this is.
There’s the slight squishieness and sloppiness that comes with actual new drawings of the gang, but they still remain on-model.
New characters look like they belong next to the gang, backgrounds have detail and only really blank when looking at a wall or when used for emphasis.
As I recall, from back in the day when I was able to read the monthly Scooby comics more regularly, Scott Gross was one of my favorite artists on the books, along with Scott Neely, Robert Pope, Scott Jeralds, Fabio Laguna, and Vincent Deporter.
All of them have the ability to put their own stamp on the characters, but hit the classic poses on occasion and still make them feel fresh and vibrant.
Gross still has IT!
Story By Scott Gross: The Gang has gone to Silver’s Gym to get their swole on when a jacked giant shows up and chases the rest of the clientele away.
The owner tells our heros that the rat bastard has been showing up all year to scare people and he may be forced to close before his big annual meat head meet-up next week.
So the Mystery Inc crew decides to step up their game to help this local institution by drawing out the gruesome ghoulie by putting Scoob into the competition.
This is a classic Scooby comic story, some small business is in trouble, let’s rally around it, and hopefully save the day.
Simple, easy, effective.
But Gross takes a story the could be rather paint by numbers and infuses it with some good humor from the incidental characters that lifts it up beyond the mundane trappings and makes it a bit more peppy.
Gross appears to be a double threat, he can actually write a decent story and also make it a pleasure to oogle while he’s at it, not many can pull that trick off.
The great thing about Scooby, as a franchise, is that it’s always been comfortable with the familiar, some times to it’s own detriment, but mostly it’s beneficial.
You get to hang with old friends, they solve a mystery or two, rip the mask off of some dippy asshat that’s wrecking havoc, get a chuckle or two, and part until you get to meet up again.
That’s about as high a compliment as I can muster.
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And finally, given the state of the world, do what you can to leave it a little bit better than you found it.
As difficult as that may be currently, it can have an impact far greater than you know.
Until next time, stay safe out there, gang.
