Vol. 1 of Scooby Apocalypse was crazy fun to read.   Incredible graphics and vivid colors really draw the readers attention.  The relationships between the characters were authentic to what we have come to know, while at the same time being fresh.  Interesting story-line with the gang in the thick of things as usually.  I look forward to reading more of  this revamped  series and  my favorite Scooby characters.  How can you not fall for a series with a gun wielding Daph?

Scooby Apocalypse Vol 1 by Keith Giffen 

Star rating: ★★★★ ☆ 4/5 stars

Format: ebook galley

Summary: In a retelling of Scooby-Doo, the Mystery Gang meets each other in the wake of an apocalypse. Humans all over the world have been transformed into all sorts of monsters, from vampires to demons. Yet the biggest threat might just be... Scrappy Doo.

Review: I recieved a free galley copy for review via NetGalley.

 Overall, I thought this was super fun. I would definitely read more to see where this goes. It's a cool reworking of Scooby-Doo. I don't normally like explaining Scooby-Doo himself, I prefer that he's just a talking dog and everyone accepts it. But for this story, I think it works having him be a government experiment works with the rest of it. 

I do have an issue with Velma in this series. I don't like that she's been made to be so smart she doesn't have friends because she thinks she's better than everyone else. She shoves her friend in high school away because she goes through puberty and makes a few friends over summer? She was busy inviting Velma to meet them and make her social group bigger and she goes off on her saying she's not her friend but a "pet monkey" she used for her own amusement? What? And then she doesn't even feel bad about her behavior? What the actual hell? How is this Velma?? Velma was always smart yes, but she was also extremely compassionate. I'm really unhappy with how she's being portrayed in this series, I sort of hope that she can actually become friends with the rest of the gang but I'm not holding my breath. Also an up skirt shot of her was completely unnecessary. No thank you.

I also do not like how Scrappy has been made a villain here. Look I get it, most everyone hates Scrappy. Then just ignore him!! You don't have to keep using him as a villain. I know I'm the real minority that actually likes Scrappy, he's not my favorite but I don't hate him. I don't know, I feel it's just expected to use him as a villain because he is so disliked. 

The Mystery Machine is pretty cool, and I appreciate how the gang is having a moral dilemma over having to kill monsters to survive since they were once humans. I think Shaggy is great in this, actually I love what they've done with everyone except Velma. Which is sad because Velma is my favorite usually. 

In general though I'm liking this comic and I want to read more. 

Recommendation: I think if you like apocalypse stories and Scooby-Doo this would be a fun comic for you to check out.

I love Scooby Doo. Not sure I liked how Velma was portrayed as an evil scientist and that Daphne was very aggressive towards her. The comic was engaging and makes me want to read the next volume. The drawings were well draw and eye catching. I'm not sure if I like that Scrappy-Doo is portrayed as a bad guy. I'm so used to him looking up to his Uncle Scooby, but it made the story come together perfectly with what's happening around the world. Shaggy and Scooby's personalities are by far my favorite in that they're still the same, but not the scaredy cats that they usually are when faced with monsters and trying to run away.

Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo

The 13 Ghosts of Scooby-Doo

A Pup Named Scooby-Doo

What's New, Scooby-Doo?

Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

Scooby-Doo! and the Witch's Ghost

Scooby-Doo! and the Alien Invaders

...and many many more.

If you haven't already guessed, there have been many series in the Scooby-Doo franchise. The lovable great dane has always held a special place in my heart - despite my dog allergies - and since it played a large part of my childhood, it's a franchise that I cherish.

I know that big franchise such as Scooby Doo are always going through revamps but so far, most of the series seem about the same. However, with Scooby Apocalypse,  the story and its characters seem to be taken to a new level.

Okay, let's put it right out into the open: The monsters are real. There's no dude hiding under a mask trying to steal hidden treasure; the gang is literally dealing with bio-engineered monsters. Now, having "real monsters" is nothing new to the Scooby Doo universe. In fact, some of my favorite Scooby Doo related shows/movies were where the monsters were real, whether that was either via the supernatural (Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost) or science (Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders). In this case it's science. And in this universe, Velma is seemingly to blame for these monsters...

Yep, you read that right. Velma has got a lot of explaining to do...

If you remember the original series, Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, the original gang fell nicely into pretty flat characterizations: Fred Jones, the nice guy, trap maker, and leader; Daphne Blake, the beautiful damsel in distress; Velma Dinkley, the smart one with stereotypical glasses (that she is always losing); and Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo, the lovable goofballs/scaredy cats (er, dogs?) that will never pass up on food. Many different series usually stick to these basic characterizations and even Scooby Apocalypse  has the gang fall into some of their old characterization if only for brief nostalgic nods to the original series. However, what I really appreciate about Scooby Apocalypse Volume 1 is the depth that they have added to the characters but specifically to Daphne and Velma. 

Even as a young child, I always felt that they played Daphne and Velma against each other. I mean, as far as I can remember they never had an all out fight but it was definitely obvious that they viewed things in different ways. Though previous installments have tried to flesh out these two characters, especially Daphne, sometimes the level of depth for these two female mystery sleuths were lacking. In Scooby Apocalypse, the creators went much further than making Daphne just "the pretty one" and Velma just "the smart one". They made them human. Daphne is a disgraced TV reporter with a hot temper and a very unforgiving version of justice while Velma is depicted as an anti-social brilliant genius who has never really felt like she belonged or was wanted by anyone and who includes a failed experiment that she was probably going to get rid of soon (Scooby) as one of her small number of acquaintances.

It was very interested to see these two characters play off of each other. In previous versions of Scooby-Doo, I always felt that most of the focus was always on Scooby and Shaggy. Though I love Scooby and Shaggy, it was pretty awesome to see Daphne and Velma take more of center stage, seeing their success and their faults both apart and together. In all honesty, I think that's what really won me over in regards to this reboot along with the plot. In previous versions of Scooby-Doo, I always felt like each episode or movie was about the end goal: Who done it? With Scooby Apocalypse I can actually see that it's more about the journey, as cliched as it sounds. Though Volume 1, containing issues 1-6, seem to focus a lot on Daphne's and Velma's backstories and character development, I am eager to see what the creators of this series has in plan for Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby (though I will admit, when I realized who from Scooby's past was also in this series I giggled for a few minutes, mostly because I could only read their dialogue in their original voice actor's voice).

Anyway, despite Shaggy being almost unrecognizable (I mean, honestly, if you didn't show him with the rest of the gang I would have just thought he was some random hipster character) and despite the plot being probably one of the darkest plot in the Scooby-Doo universe (probably not something you want little kiddies to read just yet), I was pleasantly surprised with how much I didn't dislike this revamped version of Scooby-Doo and the gang. I don't know how I feel about other creations of Hanna-Barbera being revamped (I know there's a Flintstones revamp out there) but if they all have the same ability to keep the core of the original characters while also adding depth to them, I wouldn't be too hesitant to check them out.

Scooby doo has been around since before I was on this planet.  And he is still popular.  But until now he has always been more of an entity for kids.  A group of mischievous kids and their dog out to solve mysteries.  This graphic novel gives us a new origin story, and the group comes together because of a zombie/vampire apocalypse.  One caused by Velma and her research.  Daphne and Fred are a TV news crew, Shaggy is a dog trainer, and Scooby-doo is one of the first smart dogs.  Except his experiment was not successful.  This is a version of Scooby doo that this adult wants to keep reading.  It’s dark, adventurous, yet still contains the fun that made me fall in love as a kid.  Plus the graphics are amazing.  There are a few of these images I would love to hang on my wall. They are bright and colorful, without being comedic.  Loved this, and can not wait for the next volume.
#scoobyDooRocks

Added Goodreads
Added Litsy

Scooby Apocalypse by Keith Giffen
February 7, 2017

 
The Hanna-Barbera cartoon classic is re-imagined for a new generation in SCOOBY APOCALYPSE VOL. 1!

When the world is tossed into chaos, it's up to a group of meddling kids --Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and their dog, Scooby-Doo-- to solve the mystery and survive hordes of zombies! But can they save the day and cure everyone or will they become brain-eating zombies? The creatures of the night are among us, and the crew of the Mystery Machine has to fight to survive--because in the apocalyptic badlands of the near-future, the horrors are real!
 
I went in without the best of hopes, I picked this to read because I’ve loved Scooby Doo since I was a kid but reboots as a general rule make me nervous AND they were jumping on the zombie trend.
 
It was like Walking Dead meets Scooby Doo.
 
I was glad that the original characters were kept and just brought into a setting where zombies existed. It was surprisingly well thought out and the story organized in a ‘realistic’ manner, as realistic as you’re going to get with zombies and the apocalypse. There was plenty of humor, a good story line and it was updated for an older audience so adults can actually appreciate this. I liked that they balanced the action scenes with a solid story to tell, felt very much like the old cartoons.
 
The premise was interesting and where the story could’ve become campy they did a good job of keeping it interesting. The graphics were done very well and fit the story perfectly.
The dialogue was done very well, it was set up in a good conversationalist manner and came off realistic. The only problem I had was some of the phrases seemed to be used on repeat which got annoying.

I have wanted an adult Scooby for the entire time I've been an adult. I love everything about this series, the art style, the story itself, the bad guy! I honestly hope this continues for a long time because I will read every issue.

I had no idea what to expect with this book, and I really didn't set my expectations very high. They were pretty low, actually. I'm not a fan of reboots, rewrites, or refreshes. My view is that most of the time, they are not necessary, and are simply a push for nostalgia. I was pleasantly surprised by this book. 

It is a reboot, of course, but it is well-written and well thought out. I definitely liked the back story of Scooby being a test lab subject, and Shaggy being his handler/trainer. I liked seeing Velma as an actual scientist and doctor. Even Fred and Daphne reworked, worked. Oh, and I really liked the new Mystery Machine. :D

Aside from the characters, the story was pretty typical for the gang. There are a ton of "inside jokes" referencing the old Hannah-Barbara cartoon. The artwork was good, too. 

If you grew up watching Scooby and the gang, you need to get this book!

Scooby Apocalypse is a fun read. The old gang is back rebooted and hunting monsters. Howard Porter’s art is solid and enjoyable to follow. The color pencils look gives it a nice texture. The Jim Lee covers are a delight. I was also with the writing and the humorous bits though the continual rehashing and berating of Velma for her past offenses did get tiresome. It felt like some of that could be tightened up.

Yes, this isn't out yet, however the 6 issues that this one is comprised of are all out. 

When I spotted this I just fell in love. I love Scooby Doo, have watched all the shows, the movies, the specials, even the live action. I have read several books/graphic novels about Scooby and the gang. Yes, I am a big big fan. So you can imagine that I just had to try this one out. Scooby Doo in a different setting? Apocalypse? Monsters? Real ones at that (and not like as it is in most Scooby series that the monsters are just humans)? Yes, yes and yes please!

The characters are slightly different. Velma, Shaggy and Scooby know each other because they work/are at the same place. They do know of Daphne and Fred, but mostly because of the fact that Daphne is making her own TV show. Until this event they weren't a team. Well, even after all the crap that happened they weren't that much of a team. Yes, Daphne, Fred, Scooby, and Shaggy are a team, but Velma is a bit of an outsider. She does get grudgingly accepted, but most still don't trust her because of her involvement with the apocalypse situation. Which is totally logic. 
Even if they are slightly different they are still so much the same. Daphne is definitely the most changed though. She is less ditzy, and more focused. But you can still see it is Daphne. Fred is still Fred, always in love with Daphne, and quite a bit of an idiot at times. Shaggy still eats everything and isn't always the smartest. Scooby, well he is now a bit of a cyberdog, but still totally awesome, even more awesome if I have to say because he does some kick-ass things in here. Velma, well even though I hated her (while I normally like her) she is still smart, still anti-social, still awkward. 

I love how even though this is a new version of the Scooby Gang they still wear the same-ish clothes. Shaggy still wears jeans and a green shirt. Fred has his ascot and white shirt + dress pants. Daphne still loves purple and still has an orange scarf. Velma, well Velma just wears the same stuff she always does. And Scoob, is just Scoob, just now with some fancy thing over his eye. :P

I did love that the relationships between characters was still pretty much set. I liked seeing things like Shaggy being interested in Velma come back. :)

I did like that in this one Scooby's speech thing was explained. I loved that they added that, and also added why he was so sweet and kind. It is just perfect.

We get a bit of a backstory on Velma and how the project came to what it is. But sorry, even after that I still can't like her. Especially when she clearly says she is lying. 
Which is kind of odd for me, as I normally love Velma. But apparently in this version I just want to throttle her and throw her in front of some monsters. 

The monsters are definitely creepy, and I am curious to see what our gang will be doing now. How will they survive. They got some epic weapons at least, especially Daphne, and I just loved seeing her blast some monster ass, even if it took her a bit to actually do it. Which I can imagine, those monsters were human not that long ago. :(

There was a lot of talking, and that was a bit annoying, I would rather have a bit more action and mystery. Now I sometimes got a bit bored with it all. Yes, I know the monsters are out there, yes, we get that x and y, and z happened. Really, just get on with it. 

And yes, this might sound silly, but I am giving this book 0.5 stars less than I wanted to. Why? Because they introduced the worst character in the franchise back again. Scrappy Doo. Aka, why is he still not dead, erased, gone, exterminated from this planet and franchise? I hated him in every Scooby series. He was rotten puppy. He was a bad puppy. He was terrible to Scooby, and also to various other characters. :| 

The art is pretty good, though at times the eyes are a bit weird (the whole eye is coloured in instead of just the iris). But mostly I am definitely liking the art and how it looks. 

But I am definitely a fan of this comic, and I will definitely be reading further issues/volumes. I want to know how it will go, and what our gang will do to fight the monsters and save the world!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com

Jinkies! This was amazing!

An eccentric departure to the gang that we all know and love but a welcome arrival to a sci-fi world with an apocalypse with a twist!
I loved the inclusion of Scrappy-Doo(my fave from the original series) and in a whole new level of 'bad' too! 
Definitely a must read for any Scooby gang lover!

Those medeling kids are here, not back, because in these books they haven't met yet.  

Nanites have been released on the world and have been activited turning most humans into monsters, however, the gang was in a safe room when the nanites where activatied and thus are ok so far, but are fighting for their lives and those of humanity.

I was actually skepible about these books having grown up with the original Scooby Doo, but I found I really liked these and I hope you will too.  These are not books for little kids but is awesome for those who grew up with Scooby Doo and are ok with a little more.  This comic is action packed and there a few surprise twists that I can not wait to see how they turn out, so please DC please let me keep reviewing these graphic novels, they are so awesome!!!

This will go live Feburary 7th 2017

This is a solid reimagining of the Scooby Doo gang meeting in a world about to be over run by mutated  humans. Velma is at the heart of the scientific  think tank, while Shaggy is in charge of the animal research  labs and a special dog named scooby.

When Velma realizes the extent of damage the nano virus will cause she brings Daphne in for an interview  to expose the operation  only to witness the entire complex go on lockdown as the entire complex morphs into monsters.

The art in this volume is spectacular  and there is a nice balance of action and exposition ,

What a fantastic reimagining of a classic cartoon. The story drew me in quickly and I was surprised by the the minor changes to the characters that I grew up watching on Cartoon Network.

what is not to love???  I grew up with Scooby and the gang and I loved everything about this graphic novel!!!

Thank you for the opportunity to review this publication.