The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries [2024] #2 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 2 April 2024

Despite the relative simplicity of Joseph Torres’ script for Issue Two of “The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries”, this comic’s visit to Slaughter Swamp probably still proved something of a hit with fans of the famous media franchise. Indeed, if someone were to swap out the supposed presence of undead villain Solomon Grundy for a much more generic, rancid revenant, then this twenty-page-periodical’s basic plot would probably not have looked too out of place as part of the “Hanna-Barbera” American animated television series’ initial run in 1969; “Well, I would’ve gotten away with it if it wasn’t for these meddling kids…”

Sadly however, as a super-hero book supposedly based upon Batman trying “to save some Gothamites from a zombie disaster”, the publication is debatably far less successful. For starters its narrative divulges far too early on that Cyrus Gold’s alter-ego cannot possibly be stalking the quicksand-infested marshlands because he’s currently incarcerated inside Blackgate Penitentiary. Such a revelation genuinely ruins any build-up of the Caped Crusader eventually encountering Alfred Bester’s co-creation in a fist-fight, and also frustratingly ruins the usual criminal ‘unmasking’ at the tale’s end, by pointing the finger squarely towards the sole character in this story who could be capable of impersonating Grundy.

Likewise, there isn’t an awful lot for the Dark Knight to achieve within this adventure, apart from rescue Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo from a sticky mud bath. Without the threat of Solomon genuinely showing up, Velma Dinkley definitely takes centre-stage, challenging Cyril Gold’s paranormal tourism scam and deducing the con-artist’s motivation for making Slaughter Swamp far from worthless land. In fact, the brainy young woman even manages to instantly guess exactly where some underground tunnels lead whilst exploring the surrounding countryside.  

Easily this comic’s most bemusing aspect though has to be Scott Jeralds’ inconsistent layouts, which at times, most notably when sketching the selfie-obsessed campers, appear to have been pencilled by an entirely different illustrator. There’s no doubt the artist can do a first-rate job of depicting Mystery Incorporated. But his Solomon Grundy repeatedly appears to have been clumsily resized in some panels. Whilst occasionally, a scene’s cast appear so disconnected with their location as to be highly reminiscent of the old Seventies “Super Friends” all-action transfer sets by “Letraset”.

Written by: J. Torres, Drawn by: Scott Jeralds, and Colored by: Carrie Strachan