The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #2 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 2, January 2023

Somewhat sensationally declaring itself “the sequel that sprouted from the hit maxiseries”, Ivan Cohen’s storyline for Issue Two of “The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries” arguably soon captures the audience’s attention courtesy of a sub-plot depicting Daphne Blake as Batgirl. In fact, once Poison Ivy has been arrested for abducting Gotham City’s Mayor and infecting the metropolis’ Police Department with a super-scratchy facial rash, the ‘brave, black belt in karate and expert motorcycle rider’ takes the majority of this twenty-page periodical’s subsequent spotlight.

Beforehand however, the Dark Knight definitely takes centre stage, providing this comic with both the crime-fighting fisticuffs any reader would expect from the Caped Crusader, as well as some genuine loud-out-moments when he repeatedly sneaks up upon Shaggy Rogers and scares the absolute bejesus out of the amateur sleuth; “Like, we could leave a message! From the Batmobile! Or the Batcave! Or the Bat -- EEP!” These battles against giant writhing weeds and a humongous, carnivorous vegetable are pretty standard for an entanglement with Doctor Pamela Isley’s homicidal alter-ego. But they are still thoroughly enjoyable, especially when a killer tomato has Scooby-Doo humorously wolfing down his friend’s multi-layered sandwich just in case Shaggy is eaten by the bouncing salad plant.

Perhaps therefore this book’s sole drawback comes with the logic (or lack thereof) behind Poison Ivy’s ultimate goal “to raid the abandoned warehouse next door for its rare seeds.” Considering that the super-villain’s minions covertly break into the Thurman And Strong Import-Export Warehouse so as to help the incarcerated botanist escape the neighbouring old jailhouse, it seems strange that rather than go to such extraordinary lengths as kidnapping the Mayor, momentarily incapacitating the entire GCPD with toxic flowers, and then surrendering herself up to the authorities, Batman’s arch-nemesis didn’t simply steal directly from the store alongside her heavily-muscled goon squad.

Fortunately, Dario Brizuela’s marvellous layouts mean that any inconsistencies in this comic’s storytelling are easily overlooked in favour of his energetically sketched set-pieces. The aforementioned shenanigans occurring deep inside the mayor’s estate are a fitting example of the illustrator’s ability to bring this book’s cast to animated life. Furthermore, the penciler’s ability to make Batgirl clearly be "Danger-Prone Daphne" in disguise, though not to the point where it is clearly an imposter, is very well done and actually helps better sell the notion that the orange-haired investigator could convincingly pose as Batman’s female counterpart for a limited time at least.

Written by: Ivan Cohen, Drawn by: Dario Brizuela, and Coloured by: Franco Riesco