The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries [2024] #9 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 9, November 2024

Taking the rather brave decision to relegate the Dark Knight to the side-lines for the entirety of this twenty-page periodical’s plot, Matthew Cody’s narrative for Issue Nine of “The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries” probably still managed to entertain a fair few of its audience, courtesy of a quite endearing appearance by the laughable lawbreaker Kite-Man. Indeed, for those Bat-fans able to take this comic’s silly storyline with a pinch of salt, there’s arguably a fair few laughs to be found within its phenomenally pencilled panels; “Look, I’m a very dangerous villain.”

For starters, “the acclaimed children’s author” pens a wonderful scene featuring the original Caped Crusaders appearing at Gotham City Comic-Con, and being surrounded by all manner of book nerds and cosplayers. Sadly short-lived, this set-piece should genuinely bring a smile to the face of any collector who has stood in line waiting for a guest celebrity to sign some piece of memorabilia for them, whilst simultaneously making them smirk at Batman’s evident discomfort when he’s pressured into saying the line “I am the night” out loud for the attendees.

Similarly as engaging though is also the Missouri-born writer’s handling of Chuck Brown’s flamboyantly inept alter-ego, who rather conveniently converts from committing felonies to thwarting them within the space of this publication. Obviously, so major a reversal in personality in so short a space of time isn’t terribly convincing. But it’s arguably nice to believe that just being in the company of well-meaning “losers” Shaggy Rogers and Scooby-Doo is enough to make the likeable rogue realise that he should be proud of his association with kites, rather than see it as an apparently necessary gimmick with which to commit crime.

Ultimately however, much of this comic’s success relies upon the gobsmackingly good layouts by Dario Brizuela. Sensationally shaded by colorist Franco Riesco, to the point where some scenes appear to have been almost ‘lifted’ straight out of an animated cartoon show, the Argentinian illustrator ensures every character is seen wearing their hearts upon their sleeves – with even the likes of Alfred Pennyworth being visibly hurt by Fred Jones' intimation that these days the elderly butler is only good for causing a distraction, as opposed to being able to actually ‘sneak’ about.

Written by: Matthew Cody, Drawn by: Dario Brizuela, and Colored by: Franco Riesco