Writer: Sholly Fisch
Art: Erich Owen
Publisher: DC comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 8th, 2023
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #11 Review.
THE DISPATCH
To anyone who has seen the 2001 animated film, Scooby-Doo and the Cyber Chase, the plot of The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #11 may seem familiar, but with a Batman-related twist. It also provides some educational information for kids, such as IP addresses, and provides commentary about the dangers of AI technology, which many fear will be bad for our society in the long-run. This comic also shows us one of Batman’s lesser known rogues and utilizes him in a way that makes him seem more intimidating than he is. There is also reference to past issues, establishing that while art styles may vary from issue to issue, these stories are all set in the same universe.
ART
The artwork in The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #11 contains several homages to both Scooby-Doo and Batman mythos. The ghost in the machine looks strikingly similar to that of the Phantom Shadows from the classic Scooby-Doo Where Are You? episode, “A Night of Fright is no Delight”. Also, bat-fans will notice that Batman’s radio is practically identical to the one seen on the 1960’s television series. There is also a clever pop culture reference as Oracle puts Shaggy, Scooby and Velma in outfits resembling that of characters from The Matrix movie. The cyberspace world is intricately designed with bright green colors contrasted against a black background. Most impressive of all are the 3D computer-generated models of Batman and Scooby-Doo seen on the computer screen near the end of the issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #11 overall is a fun story with a lot of references and good humor. It brings in a minor Batman villain as a threat and showcases how Barbara Gordon is as helpful as Oracle as she is as Batgirl. The villain appears to be very smart, but it shows that he over-estimates his intelligence and makes a stupid error, allowing himself to get caught. This issue showcases more of Shaggy, Scooby, Velma and Oracle than it does Batman, but it still shows how Batman manages to cleverly outwit his enemies.