“Yesterday’s” Comic> Scooby-Doo Team-Up #25

Still better than what Green Arrow had in mind.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #25

DC Comics (June, 2017; as posted to volume 5 of comiXology’s trade collection)

“Ghosts Are Not Healthy For Dogs And Other Living Things”

WRITER: Sholly Fisch

ARTIST: Dario Brizuela

COLORIST: Franco Riesco

LETTERER: Saida Temofonte

EDITOR: Kristy Quinn

The gang are called to an aging hippie commune under attack by the ghosts of their parents. With the help of Green Arrow and Green Lantern, who are on a trip across America, they find out it’s actually the hippie’s kids, who did an about face and moved out to have normal lives but wanted their parents to go with them. As they begin to reconcile the Psycho-Pirate uses his powers to get everyone mad at each other again until Black Canary shows up and snaps everyone out of it. All our heroes decide it’s time to visit their families.

What they got right: Apparently Fisch wanted to do a tribute to the time when Hal and Ollie did their trek to “discover America” in the 1970s. This allows the Greens to be here to help the gang.

What they got wrong: Isn’t Psycho-Pirate supposed to wear a special mask to mess with people’s emotions? Black Canary just showing up, and making me realize that the symbol I use for The Tronix Tumblr and used to use for my sprite comic namesake is way too close to hers, comes off as a deus ex machina. She just shows up, Canary Cries Psycho-Pirate, and the day is saved. At times Ollie and Hal’s dialog almost sound like a parody of the “road trip” storyline than a tribute.

What I thought overall: I’m possibly sounding more negative than I actually intend. Blame Psycho-Pirate because I actually did enjoy the story. The theme of being with your family despite your differences was good, and the story was fun overall. At this point I’m waiting for the gang to be inducted into the Justice League proper. Wendy, Marvin, and Wonderdog got in, so why not Scooby and friends?