Scooby Apocalypse - Hopes and Fears

[doocentral]

I'm one very excited Scooby-Doo fan right now because Scooby Apocalypse is coming out tomorrow. I know lots of fans are skeptical about this new comic book series and what it could mean for the Scooby-Doo franchise going forward. 

Based on some scans of the first several pages of issue #1, I am theorizing that there will be an interesting and never-before-seen tension between Daphne and Velma. I get the impression based on these pages that Daphne's vanity which has been very scarce in older incarnations of the franchise and more present in newer ones (excluding Be Cool Scooby-Doo) is going to be a factor in this tension. She's ready to do whatever it takes, "even die trying", to bring her ratings for her TV show brought back up (anyone else remembering Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island?). Meanwhile, Velma is a scientist who evidently has intel on the impending end of the world. The first page of the issue will reveal her critical opinions on the general public and her role will definitely be vital to Mystery Inc's survival. 

The reason I think there will be tension however are the two girl's priorities. Will Daphne suspend her publicity ambitions to survive the apocalypse or will she use it for her own famous gain and win back the remaining living audience? Will her priorities clash with Velma's goal of survival and ensuring that she saves whoever she can? If Velma is going to be an important role and hold the gang together in this grim doomsday, she may overlook and criticize Daphne because of her selfish ideals. But of course, this is speculation. 

Another interesting plot I can foresee is a tension between Velma and Scooby. This has been seen before in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated when the two were fighting for Shaggy's attention. However, in this version of Scooby-Doo, Scooby is an experiment in the Complex at which Velma works and researches at. Could Scooby hold some resentment or hostility towards Velma for working with the very people who experimented on him? Or could this possibly be subtle bond that the two will have in the story?

Fred is the camera man for Daphne's TV show and has been revealed to have feelings for her. 
Shaggy works for the Complex and the first issue will apparently reveal how Shaggy and Scooby first met. According to an interview I read, this sub-story is one of the writers' favorites and will emphasize the bond that the two have always been known to possess. 

All this speculation on the story excites me. I'm very excited and hopeful for a cool and fresh take on the Scooby-Doo dynamic. What do you guys think? Do you have high hopes for this comic book series or are you dreading the story and have fears towards where it will take the gang? 

[russm]

May 24, 2016 13:31:28 GMT -5 doocentral said:

Based on some scans of the first several pages of issue #1, I am theorizing that there will be an interesting and never-before-seen tension between Daphne and Velma...

...The reason I think there will be tension however are the two girl's priorities...

Their priority is to stay alive. The whole thing about an apocalypse is that everything has gone to hell in a hand-cart, there's no cable tv, no viewers, no power... This is the biggest scoop of Daphne's career but only if they can save the world will she get a chance to show the world.

May 24, 2016 13:31:28 GMT -5 doocentral said:

Another interesting plot I can foresee is a tension between Velma and Scooby...

No, no, no, no and no. The last thing I want is another SD:MI relationship debacle. If they insist on this then I'll probably end up cancelling my subscription. And don't forget, Shaggy is complicit in this experimentation.

[Soupperson]

From what I've seen so far the characters are been treated close to the original. Daphne has to be more clumsy and a hopeless romantic with some of the dudes they meet. Hey the original Daphne is the only fictional character I relate with, so I'll beg until I get something.

I think Frelma would work great here, since they're using the original versions of the characters Fred could easily be the first person who understands Velma completely. Though I don't want romantic relationships to take center stage, mabye subtly in the last issues. I love Shaphne more then anything but I don't think it fit and it would just be relationship drama.

I hope Fred doesn't become sexualized (there's no need for shirtless scenes) , Shaggy doesn't do drugs, Daphne a Mary Sue or Velma doesn't become a forced lesbian. I'd actually much prefer Fred become interested in men rather than Velma be stereotyped, he never had a crush in the original. 

Recurring characters that we can grow to love and possibly some from the original. Hex Girls anyone? I'd love to see Vincent in this format too.

Oh and no evil Scrappy.

[scoobylover]

I love that Daphne's going to be a badass and probably will get the lead instead of Fred. That's probably the thing I'm insterested in the most. Can't wait to see her badass scenes.

[slicknickshady]

From a review. A little different then Mystery Inc where you have Fred being the one with the crush.

"Shuddering at the thought of Fred being a douchebro? His kinda-sorta relationship with Daphne has an astringent tension that feels refreshing"

This is the worst review I've read of it today. Considers Daphne mean. Hope that's an unfounded opinion.

www.weirdsciencedccomics.com/2016/05/scooby-apocalypse-1-review_24.html?m=1

[russm]

As with a balloon juggling porcupine there are a few ways this can go well and many ways it can go wrong. There are a few more panels in the io9 which give an idea as to what we can expect. I'm cautiously optimistic so far. I really don't want any relationships as that will annoy/alienate a lot of people. They've got enough on their hands at the moment.

I'm hoping for a darker, more grown-up story, more realistic interaction (anger, fear, laughter, banter...)but with that vein of humour and 'Scoobyness' that we know and love.

[slicknickshady]

May 24, 2016 16:47:28 GMT -5 russm said:

As with a balloon juggling porcupine there are a few ways this can go well and many ways it can go wrong. There are a few more panels in the io9 which give an idea as to what we can expect. I'm cautiously optimistic so far. I really don't want any relationships as that will annoy/alienate a lot of people. They've got enough on their hands at the moment.

I'm hoping for a darker, more grown-up story, more realistic interaction (anger, fear, laughter, banter...)but with that vein of humour and 'Scoobyness' that we know and love.

Wow. Another review mentioning Daphne being a jerk.

www.comicbookresources.com/comic-review/scooby-apocalypse-1-dc-comics?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Seems like that's the only thing they need to iron out. Daphne has never been a jerk. Out of all the reviews it seems like they got almost everything right. As this review said hopefully with the feedback they will iron it out. Or at least give some back story on why she may be a little cold.

Daphne is a hungry young reporter, with Fred as her loyal co-host. However, the Daphne-Fred dynamic is uncomfortable. In trying to portray Daphne as the strong wild card, they instead make her a bit of a jerk. In what seems intended to be one of the issue's few out-and-out jokes, Daphne punches Fred for a crack about a "ratings sensation." It definitely reads as uncomfortable rather than empowered, out-of-place instead of amusing. I couldn't quite figure out why the moment was even in the issue. Going forward, the creators will need to iron that dynamic out.

[doocentral]

I'm trying my best to avoid reviews because something I don't think the writers of these reviews understand is that Scooby Apocalypse is not supposed to be funny. I've read one who gave it a 4/10 because it lacked the comedic tones that are present in every other Scooby-Doo incarnation. How can you expect that out of a comic with that kind of book cover, premise, and a team of writers who write in the preview catalog saying "This isn't your parent's comics". It's not supposed to be like the other Scooby-Doo incarnations. Like Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated, Be Cool Scooby-Doo, and other recent incarnations, Scooby Apocalypse is trying to be its own thing. You can't walk into a horror movie and give it a 4/10 because it didn't make you laugh.

[slicknickshady]

Exactly. Great comments Doocentral. I enjoy you're Tumblr account as well.

Like my only concern is about Daphne right now. I am hoping some reviewers are just misconstruing Daphne. Some mention nothing bad. Some mention jerk or mean girl. But i have to think if that was the case it would be noticeable by all the reviewers. If what is said is true and it's Fred crushing on Daphne i mean i have a hard time believing she's mean.

Everything else looks great.

[russm]

This is an origin story, so perhaps Daphne IS a bit of a jerk to begin with.

As for the reviews you can't please all the people all the time. In some cases it reads like they had set their expectations, zombie apocalypse stories must be like this, Scooby stories must be like that... And so on so when it doesn't meet those then your already on the way to a so-so review.

[Soupperson]

May 25, 2016 1:28:06 GMT -5 russm said:

This is an origin story, so perhaps Daphne IS a bit of a jerk to begin with.

Could a clumsy, ditzy, dependent, hopeless romantic really come from a bad tempered news reporter? I assumed they just chose to use Zombie Island Daphne, but we'll find out today!

[slicknickshady]

May 25, 2016 1:48:01 GMT -5 Soupperson said:

May 25, 2016 1:28:06 GMT -5 russm said:

This is an origin story, so perhaps Daphne IS a bit of a jerk to begin with.

Could a clumsy, ditzy, dependent, hopeless romantic really come from a bad tempered news reporter? I assumed they just chose to use Zombie Island Daphne, but we'll find out today!

This is what I'm hoping for. Could be she's just stressed from career being in the toilet. Sure Fred has reasons for sticking by her side. She can't be a bad person.

[doocentral]

Not sure if you guys have read it yet but I actually really enjoyed the story. I will say I kind of agree with the reviews I've read when it comes to there being a lot of exposition but that's something that can be fixed in future issues.

I really enjoyed the artwork and the jokes that are in the story are silly. This version of Scooby is far different than any Scooby I've ever seen before in terms of personality. And the sub-story at the end which shows how Shaggy and Scooby first meet is delightful.

The storytelling is vague right now but I'm sure we'll be in for more information when the next issue is released.