The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries [2024] #5 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 5, July 2024

Considering that this twenty-page periodical’s plot is essentially a retread of “the classic Scooby-Doo, Where Are You episode Nowhere To Hyde”, it still must have landed pretty flat upon its audience in May 2024. In fact, many a bibliophile were probably left scratching their heads as to just what Matthew Cody was trying to achieve with this comic’s utterly lack-lustre narrative, apart from perhaps marking out Velma Dinkley as an arrogant, highly dislikeable amateur sleuth; “That tree looks like every other tree we’ve passed in the last hour, Fred.”

For starters the "brains" of Mystery Incorporated appears to be on some sort of personal vendetta against the quartet's established leader, repeatedly questioning Jones' driving, bravery, and having the unmitigated gall to do “the whole pulling-off-the-mask thing” without her. This 'unfriendliness' is perhaps best demonstrated when he somewhat clumsily fills the reader in as to the background behind the televised cartoon story this adventure is based upon, and Dinkley agrees with Daphne Blake that the ascot tie-wearing detective simply can’t help ‘Fred-splain’ everything – even though without his information an already bemusing tale would arguably prove even more unfollowable.

Similarly as bizarre though is Batman’s surprising decision to offer Velma the job of being his new Robin, as the role’s current colourfully-costumed incumbent “is [apparently] getting older”. This curious conversation comes completely out of the blue and also debatably results in an uncharacteristic unwillingness on the young girl’s part to put any effort into taking the proposal seriously – instead simply using her severe short-sightedness as an excuse to immediately turn it down.

Perhaps this comic’s biggest befuddlement however, is just what Doctor Kirk Langstrom is doing visiting Henry Jekyll’s abandoned laboratory in the first place. There’s clearly some logic to the Caped Crusader wanting to find the scientist’s old notes in an effort to permanently stop the Man-Bat from ever appearing again. But considering Bruce Wayne is a highly accomplished scientist himself, there doesn't seem to be any reason why the Dark Knight would invite the villain to actually accompany him – unless Cody simply couldn't conjure up a valid excuse as to why the monster would inconveniently materialise during this yarn’s sagging middle, and subsequently cause artist Puste to pencil the terrified teenagers making their trademark dash for safety..?

Written by: Matthew Cody, Drawn by: Puste, and Coloured by: Carrie Strachan