This is one of the strangest mash-ups that I have read. DC has taken the characters of Scooby-Do and cast them as adults in a world about to go crazy. Velma is a scientist at a secret installation who reaches out to former star reporter Daphne and her trust cameraman Fred to expose the nefarious deeds of "The Four". They are interrupted by Shaggy (a dog trainer) and Scooby-Do, (an upgraded canine subject) at the Burning Man Festival. They went into the installation to get the evidence when things go very, very awry! Now most people have turned into monsters. Finding out what is happening is now the quest as the gang escapes in a handy Mystery Machine. The gang is now together, the mystery is afoot, and then DC throws in a very sick, evil villain. Only a very twisted mind would think to cast this appropriate a character as a villain! Read and find out who this mysterious character is!

I really hesitated about requesting an ARC of this graphic novel.  Based solely on the cover I did not anticipate liking it (sorry...judging a book by its cover - I do it).  But it was my enjoyment of the graphic novel <em>Future Quest</em> that pushed me in to taking a chance on this.

Unfortunately, I did not care for it.

We are either in a dark(er) version of the present day, or just slightly in the future.  Velma is a unsocialable scientist working for her brothers developing some pretty sinister tech.  Scooby, a cybernetic hybrid dog, is a result of some of that tech, gone slightly awry.  Shaggy is a Gen-Y'er with a passion for animals and the underdog, and is hired by the lab to be an animal trainer.  Daphne is a documentary producer and Fred is her wimpy, whipped cameraman.

Fred and Daphne show up at the lab and are given a tour by Daphne just as the shit hits the fan. An assortment of viral-lab-created monsters over-run the lab, the city, maybe the planet.  Scooby comes on strong, saving the day on multiple occasions, and Daphne is the strength behind keeping the group focused and strong.

I grew up with the Scooby-Doo shows and it's really difficult for me to see these characters in any other way.  These characters are, in many ways, so different that they could be any new character(s).  There's nothing about Shaggy, for instance, that resembles the classic Shaggy, other than his name and that he says, "Zoinks."  If Velma didn't wear clothes that looked like the clothes she wore in the 1960's and didn't say, "Jinkies" we wouldn't know that this was Velma.  This is, for me, a re-boot that doesn't work.

Because there is all-new back-story to tell on each character, the book takes quite a bit of time to develop the action and even there it's a pretty repetitive scenario.  Monsters come and attack, they are repelled, the group talks.  Monsters come and attack, they are repelled, the group....

There is an interesting plot developing, featuring a pretty dark version of Scrappy-Doo.  This might be the only reason to stay with the story, though I'm not sure it's a strong enough reason for me.

The art is fair - again, it's difficult to really assess because it's intentionally deviating from the known quantity of the Scooby-Doo gang.  I really, really disliked Fred's appearance throughout, and I don't think I can get used to the new look on Shaggy.  Velma looks like the Velma of old, she's just a much more anti-social and curmudgeonly character, while Daphne probably comes off the best by being more than just a pretty face, but a tough professional woman.

I wish I liked this better, but it shows that I should have trusted my initial instinct on this one.

Looking for a good book?<em> Scooby Apocalypse, Vol. 1</em> is a graphic novel that moves the Scooby Doo gang into a dark future where the demons are real and not masked locals.  This is not your father's Scooby Doo.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really just don’t know what I think about this.
I know that Scooby has mutated over time.  My Scooby was the OG>Scrappy. It changed and quite frankly seemed diminished as time went on.
As part of the current wave of reimagined Hanna-Barbera books, they are once again a changed Scooby and the gang.  And what do I think?
It’s Resident Evil meets Mad Max. The book opens with the dawning of a monster apocalypse.  Velma is now a scientist from the secret lab responsible for the disaster. Shaggy was a dog trainer at the lab, while Scooby was the product of experimentation.  Daphne is a fading investigative reporter who now does a Josh Gates shtick, while Fred is her camera man with a crush. And Scrappy, well… let’s not talk about Scrappy.
The fundamental dynamics have changed as well.  Rather than a group of friends who investigate phenomena that always turns out to be real estate fraud, the Gang are just meeting. While Scooby & Shaggy have strong ties, there is tension between all the others. And this time, the monsters are all too real.
So yeah, I don’t know if this is for me.  But it was a very interesting read that will be for someone. And give it strong marks for execution. The creative team has a plan and are doing a great job of making it happen. In particular, the art seems to be some of the best that I’ve seen from Rebirth.
So while I’m still a bit on the fence, I’m down for more of this crazy new version of Scooby.

This is a completely new take on the classic Scooby-Doo characters. In this telling, the gang has yet to meet and live in a world that is on the brink of an Apocalypse full of rampaging monsters. Daphne is a journalist with Fred as her lackey cameraman. Velma is a member of a secret lab. Shaggy and Scooby are connected to the lab, but are still that comic duo everyone loves. 

I really like how these classic characters were re-imagined. Aspects of them are modernized. Shaggy's hipster look alone is very now. 

The concept is cool, but the execution isn't quite there. The story is slow and the exposition is prevalent. The art style is excellent and the designs of the characters and the monsters are really cool. The allude to classic monsters from the original series. The references to cliches from the show are done well. There's always a twist to them. 

I give this graphic novel a 3.5/5. Although I did enjoy it, I never was truly pulled into the world. The storytelling is slow and there were many dragging parts. I recommend this to Scooby-Doo fanatics, but if you're unfamiliar with the classic characters there isn't much for you in this comic.

Unfortunately this book completely missed the mark for me. I was so excited to get an updated version of Scooby and the Gang but what I got was so far from the originals it was ridiculous. Other than the names and the slightly similar appearances of some of the characters, there was really nothing of our old favorites in these characters. I think if the characters HADN'T been associated with Scooby and the gang I might actually have enjoyed it. The graphics were good, the story in and of itself was fine, it was just the jarring war in my head trying to make these characters BE Scooby and the Gang, I just couldn't do it. Sadly, I won't be continuing with the rest of the series.

Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 1 collects issues 1-6 of a graphic novel by Keith Griffen, Jim Lee, and Howard Potter.  Fred. Daphne. Velma. Shaggy. Scooby-Doo. Roaming the globe in their lime-green Mystery Machine, they've solved countless crimes and debunked dozens of sketchy supernatural shenanigans. But what if the horror was real? Something terrible has transformed our world, turning millions of people into mindless zombie hordes. And only five people well, four people and one mangy mutt have the smarts, the skills and the sheer crazy courage to stare down doomsday.  Can these pesky kids and their canine companion using every incredible contraption in their arsenal defeat the evil that has overwhelmed planet Earth? 

Scooby Apocalypse is a complete new look and origin story for the Scooby gang. I have seen so many different takes, that I was fine with that. I liked that the story started completely fresh, and that it is much more complex than what most expect from Scooby and friends. I liked the use of Daphne's television show and connection with Fred, which has been a tool in previous incarnations- but not to this degree, and not without the rest of the crew already connecting. I liked the twists on Shaggy and Scooby as well, making them more than the comic relief that they often get used for. Shaggy is a much more complicated and compassionate character than I was used to, and not nearly as goofy. Velma is also much more defined in this story, I do not think I ever got more of a backstory for her than her being very smart and isolated- here readers get a multidimensional look at her. The action and story lines are unique and very well done. I will admit that it took me a bit to get used to the gangs new look, and I still wonder why Daphne and Fred still insist on wearing those scarves. I think that the harsh lines and dramatic look are very suited to the story, even if it is not my normal preference.

I will definitely be looking for the second volume of Scooby Apocalypse. I am honestly intrigued and want to see where this is going. I have a feeling that I will be buying the full run and saving it for my son. He is a huge Scooby fan, but is not quite ready for this version. However, he is really close so I am pretty sure that when the run is complete he will be ready for dive on in.

This isn't the Scooby-Doo that you grew up with. This is the end of the world as we know it.

The characters have the same appearance, names, and similar personalities, but they are in a different setting. Daphne has a cable show investigating mysteries and Freddy is her cameraman. Shaggy is a dog trainer and works in a military "smart dog" experiment, and Scooby is one of the project's dogs. Velma is a PhD researcher with the project. And the Mystery Machine is a pet project of one of the researchers and is more like the APC from the movie "Aliens" than the groovy van from the Saturday morning cartoons. 

When all the characters come together, they discover that a plague of sorts has been released and is mutating people around the world. And the sad part is, the cause of the plague was supposed to "better" humanity (shades of "Serenity"), but instead folks have different reactions, becoming strange creatures. Between the mutants roaming around, the breakdown of civilization, and the pack of other "smart dogs" that escape from the military complex, the gang will have a hard time staying alive - much less finding a cause and a cure.

Revamped for a new generation of fans with a level of violence and gore best suited to ages 12+. Those readers will also be mature enough to understand the concepts of conspiracy, suspicion, pursuing ideals, and the sarcastic humor. A favorite example: Velma, "Please! This isn't a comic book!" Shaggy, "It's sure starting to feel like one."

We reviewed it on our podcast!

http://www.krayzcomix.solitairerose.com/?p=1057

3.5 Stars

As a child I used to love to watch the Scooby Doo tv series on Cartoon Network. Okay, who am I kidding, I still love to watch that series and when I find it on whilst zapping through the channels, I immediately stop and cherish whatever episode’s just running. So when I saw this new comic I just had to request it. And luckily, I got accepted. 

Sadly, I didn’t quite enjoy it ass much as I’d hoped to. I guess I’m just too stuck on my favourite Monster Inc gang from the television that I’m used to. This story by Keith Giffen takes the characters I adore so much and gives them new personalities and a new story. It’s quite inventive and it was really good thought-through. But I like my versions that I’ve known for so long already of Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, Fred and Scoob a little better. 

The best part of the series for me used to be the ending when the “monsters” would reveal themselves as whichever human being had a reason to haunt his victims. This story takes on real monsters instead. Some kind of zombies slash vampire monster thingies that try to eat everyone. The Monster Inc gang which doesn’t use this name, though, tries to find a way to save the world and although they’re not really friends, they save each other. 

The story is fast-paced, has great artwork and has a lot of plot twists, some that I never saw coming. The Mystery Machine got a serious upgrade and Scooby Doo is revealed to be a human experiment on dogs to enhance them for military purposes. (Say whaaaat? :P)

All in all, I’d say if you love the Scooby Doo series, you should pick up this new “revival” and check it out for yourself! Everybody has their own opinions and I’m going to rewatch some episodes right now because this comic made me miss the TV series so much (in a good way!).

This is a comic I did not expect to like. Scooby Doo has been part of my life for, well, ever. I remember being offended (when older) with the films when they made it more pot-humor filled and this comic from concept actually seemed rather odd. The redesigns especially seemed a bit odd (Shaddy with the impressive beard and moustache, Fred being almost Johnny Quest etc). 

But as I began reading the story, I came to a fun realization, I kind of like it. The Jim Lee redesigns at a glance seem odd but on paper, actually work really well. The story flows like an episode of the series (albeit more the newer series  Mystery Incorporated where it was very story based and, well aliens etc).   The art feels very well done and there is a lot of talking (as there should be for this type of comic vs splash pages)..

Many people I see as very not sold on this as, look wise, it is a big departure from what we're used to. But if you liked Mystery Incorporated and that type of Scooby Story-telling, this story will win you over after the first few pages and that is a very good thing. All things said and done, I am looking forward to more of these stories of Scooby Doo and I think this is just the type of modernizing it needed, we just didn't know it.

The classic gang of Scooby Doo, 'remixed' via a more comtemporary adult themed visual rhetoric.. Interesting story, but nothing that really would hook me into a continued story line.

Review - Scooby Apocalypse, Volume 1
Scooby Apocalypse, Volume 1 by Keith Giffen, Jim Lee (Illustrations), Howard Porter (Illustrations)), J.M. DeMatteis 

* Read via NetGalley for review

4 gnomes out of 5 gnomes

Scooby-Doo plus the Apocalypse equals a mystery like never before. This is a very different account of how this team gets together than what you usually see. I really like how everything came together though and how the characters are written. Especially cool is the explanation for Scooby being the way he is. The only kind of blah thing was how much text was crammed onto every page. My favorite difference has to be how Velma and Daphne act oh and a certain other dog too. I would definitely be interested in seeing where the story goes from here.

As a fan of Scooby Doo and the gang from their very first incarnation throughout their evolution from cheesy goodness to romantic and angsty situations, I've always found comfort in the essential foundation of four friends and a dog solving mysteries. There was always a sense of homecoming in the subtle humor and villains that were easy to identify that made everything right in my world.

With this modern take on the Scooby Gang almost everything is turned upside down as this unlikely team races to save the world from a virus run amok. These characters have little similarity to their past incarnations as they're edgier and angrier. From the very start they're at odds with one another, suspicious of Velma, and reluctant to count on each other to find a cure to the human mutations running rampant. This time around Daphne's no longer "danger-prone" but more of a kick-ass heroine full of suspicions trying to resurrect a journalism career that had her falling from grace. Fred's still enamored with her though and protects her every step of the way though he's not as physically capable as her. Unfortunately he doesn't have traps to count on in times of need, but he has another quirk just as endearing. Velma's still the "smart one" here but is weighed down by depression, insecurities, and a desire to leave her mark on the world. She's lonely, doubts that anyone could be her friend, and her life-long isolation had my heart aching for her. Shaggy's still portrayed as a hipster but with a harder edge courtesy of multiple tattoos. He's a kindhearted soul, good with dogs and an asset to the government's program to turn canines into vicious weapons. From the very start Shaggy becomes Scooby's guardian angel as Scooby's seen as a failure, too tender-hearted to be a killer canine. What he does have though is nanotech that enables him to talk (which gives fans a clever reasoning behind his lifetime of being able to talk) and has him becoming a vital member to this ragtag group's journey through the zombie apocalypse. Even the Mystery Machine is back, albeit in a much more militarized way. It all adds up to a delightfully nostalgic wink to the past while setting itself firmly in the here and now.

This graphic comic is visually appealing with its blend of a dark landscape and bloody and gory creatures of the night. Daphne's still dressed in purple and is a warrior woman full of anger towards Velma that got a bit old after awhile. Just when you thought she formed a tenuous friendship with Velma she would once again rage. Fred's a good guy who finds himself forming a bond with Shaggy as they're both goofy and charming and they luckily have Daphne there to protect them. Everyone's ultimately lucky to have Scooby as he's smart, strong, and not afraid to fight those creatures looking to harm his newfound friends. This comic's main theme of a mutated virus creating flesh-eating creatures is one we've seen before and is handled well here, keeping me on edge with danger coming from around every corner. The mystery behind who dispensed the virus, and if there's a cure, hangs over the entire story and drives the gang on while ramping up the suspense. The villainy is not only relegated to those who dispensed the virus though, but also to a character familiar to long-time fans which was a clever twist that had me smiling. It further puts the gang in jeopardy at a time where their burgeoning friendships are on fragile footing. All in all I found this a captivating read, visually stimulating, with a modern storyline that kept me furiously turning the pages and desperate for more as readers are left hanging after a jaw-dropping reveal.

Gritty/dark reboots of kids' media properties are right up my alley. I've read some of the Archie and Sabrina ones (despite not having been read the originals as a kid) and found that they exceeded my expectations by a lot. I was, therefore, very excited to see a Scooby-Doo reboot, as this was something that I actually enjoyed as a kid. However, this one was a letdown. On paper, the idea sounds interesting, but it really fails in execution. The artwork is boring, the writing is mediocre, and it's the bad kind of campy. As a fan of the Scooby-Doo universe, I had high hopes for this one, but unfortunately, it just didn't live up to them.

This is certainly a different take on the Scooby Doo cartoon we are used to but if you can keep an open mind and just enjoy the wonderful artwork and creative story it's a good, fun read!

At least nine times cooler than the original comic. At LEAST. The full review is up at http://pixelatedgeek.com/2017/02/review-scooby-apocalypse/

A group of meddling kids and their dog attempting to solve a mystery – that sounds pretty familiar. But what if the group is comprised of an investigative reporter, her loyal cameraman, a scientist, a dog trainer and a dog who happens to be the subject of experiments into creating more sentient canines, and the mystery is the end of the world? Well guess what – that's exactly what you get with Scooby Apocalypse. 

Obviously, this is a much grittier take on the Scooby-doo gang than we've seen before. And at first glance most people would think "what the hell?!". But as far as revamps go, it's not too bad. The gang is brought together when Velma (a scientist) contacts Daphne (investigative reporter, with Fred as cameraman) to give her the scoop on some sketchy research at a secret lab. Shaggy happens to be working at the lab as a trainer in the canine research department, where he comes across Scooby-doo, a reject of recent experiments in creating "smart dogs" that can talk and be used for various (military) purposes.

The research in question involves nanites that have been dispersed into the atmosphere. While in the lab, something goes wrong and the nanites are activated, causing mutations on a potentially global level. So, of course, the Scooby gang has to fight their way through monsters and figure out just what happened and if there's a way to save the world. Sure, it's over the top, but it's a comic based on a cartoon that had over-the-top mysteries every week. The writing and art are good, though the plot is pretty predictable. But as long as all the monsters don't turn out to be groundskeepers in masks, it should stay relatively entertaining.

When I was a kid, my main experiences of Scooby-Doo and the gang were from re-runs of "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" and the direct to DVD films.  Yet somehow, it still managed to become one of my favorite things ever.  It definitely sparked a love of mysteries and the "monster of the week" TV format (continuing to this day with shows like "Buffy" and "Supernatural").  That said, I was very wary of a Scooby reboot which dealt with the APOCALYPSE of all things!  I was not right to be worried and I think from now on I'll just have to trust in Hanna-Barbera (definitely something to keep in mind when I start their new Flinstones series)!

I was okay with art, though it could have been better, a little more interesting anyways.  That said though, I really liked that it rebooted all the character relationships and the whole Scooby being a govt. funded smart dog was a fairly solid explanation for his beyond the norm behavior.  Further into the volume we also get a peek at what the villainous Scrappy Doo is up to currently -- lets just say Scooby and the gang have unforseen trouble on the horizon.  Daphne and Fred having a show on the knitting channel cracked me up.  Velma is an actual scientist and I'm pretty sure she has some sort of personality or social disorder, which fits really well.  And Shaggy, while being his normal easy going self, is smarter than anyone gives him credit for and manages to always surprise the others when he speaks.  Basically Velma and the others she worked with at her facility wanted to "better" humanity, until she learned it was a lie.  Right as she's about to expose them, the shit hits the fan and almost the entire world population is transformed into actual nightmare monsters.  It's up to the gang to survive and try to return things to normal, which only they may be capable of; but first they have to find The Four and find out what the Hell even happened.

I'm going to try not to say anymore, if only to avoid any true spoilers.  But if you're a Scooby-Doo fan who still has a sense of fun in place, and you're not a purist, I think you'll most likely enjoy this a lot.  Also, have an open mind.  Don't let me convince you, let the comic speak for itself. 

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this in advance.  All opinions are my own and nothing is bought/paid for.