The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries [2024] #4 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 4, June 2024

Despite dealing with the disconcerting notion that innocent Gothamites can turn into grim-faced stone gargoyles at a moment’s notice, there’s debatably a distinct feel to Sholly Fisch’s script for Issue Four of “The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries” that the author is trying to be just a little too clever with his storytelling. Indeed, the very notion that Clayface would conceive of so elaborate a scheme simply so the shape-changer could “steal the Sprang Theatre’s priceless collection of theatre memorabilia at my leisure” is utterly unconvincing, especially as a well-selected disguise would just as easily allow the super-villain to commit the crime with a lot less effort.

Of course, the writer does attempt to tackle so obvious a reproach by having Basil Karlo himself counter such criticism by claiming to Daphne Blake that his convoluted plan would require his “greatest performance” yet. But such an assertion isn’t arguably all that convincing, especially once Mystery Incorporated point out that the spate of terrifying transformations won’t be stopped by the auditorium being specifically closed to the public, so why would the building's owner do such a drastic thing; “There are plenty of grotesques on the outside of the theatre too, not just inside.”

Equally as exasperating as this comic’s manufactured plot though is probably poor Velma Dinkley’s incredibly annoying insistence that every gruesome statue which isn’t sporting a rainspout is not referred to as a gargoyle. This supposedly funny repetitive gag gets annoying very quickly, as everyone from Detective Bullock, Fred Rogers and even Clayface himself, are chided for their incorrect nomenclature. In fact, the so-called joke sadly starts to overshadow some nice nods to the original live-action “Batman” television series from 1966, such as when the Caped Crusader replicates the famous line “Atomic batteries to power, turbines to speed” as the Batmobile speeds away.

Disappointingly also adding to this carousel of criticisms is Megan Huang’s artwork, which whilst providing this comic with some adequate enough visuals, still doesn’t quite capture any of the cast’s appearances correctly. The Canadian artist seems especially shaky at sketching an incredibly square-jawed Bullock, and regrettably infuses every one of the meddling kids with a rather amateurish-look too.

Written by: Sholly Fisch, and Drawn & Coloured by: Megan Huang