Some people shouldn’t have toys.
Scooby-Doo #54
DC Comics (January, 2002; as posted to comiXology)
PENCILER: Joe Staton
COLORIST: Paul Becton
SEPARATIONS: Digital Chameleon
LETTERER: Jenna Garcia
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Harvey Richards
EDITOR: Joan Hilty
“Scooby Dooby Voodoo”
WRITER: Dan Abnett
INKER: Horacio Ottolini
“Kayak Attack”
WRITER: Terrance Griep, Jr.
INKER: Dave Hunt
Our first story has the gang going to attend Mardi Gras in New Orleans, where there have been reports of a zombie running around. There is so much wrong with this story. Why did the Baron need the gang when he could have easily explained things, and why mess with Shaggy’s voodoo doll if he actually wants the gang to solve the mystery? Also, Abnett did not do his homework, and for a story trying to better clarify the religion he gets facts wrong. Voodoo started in Haiti, not Africa. (One source said slaves FROM Africa started the religion but its a Haitian religion that also is popular in Jamaica.) Zombies in voodoo also don’t look like the usual brain munchers but are simply animated corpses or humans drugged by bad witch doctors, which the comic claims haven’t existed in years but that’s a whole other debate. Point is for a story trying to be more factual in discussing voodoo it doesn’t get its facts right. Oh, and add to Velma’s family count.
The second story sees the gang kayaking in Nepal, where their vacation is ruined by a supposed spirit and a stolen idol. There is no mystery here at all. Velma’s explanations seem like guesses because they didn’t really get a chance to investigate anything. It was a fun story and made more sense than the first story but still not what I was hoping for.
Overall, not a terrible comic but not all that great either. It’s not really one you need to hunt down.
