The Batman and Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 review

That’s a pretty fun cover – given how often Mystery Inc visit Gotham, a Scooby signal seems entirely appropriate. It’s a bit of a shame that it represents the final page splash, but never mind, there’s lots of great stuff before that.

This issue’s hi-jinks kick off with Batman, Batgirl and Commissioner Gordon in Crystal Cove to see the members of Mystery Inc presented with the key to the city. They’ve unmasked so many fake ghosts, zombies and other ghouls that the citizenry wishes to celebrate them.

Everything is going swimmingly until a caped figure without the Bat-prefix makes their move.

Cue chaos…

… and a mystery to solve. Is the Joker behind the clique of clowns – or could it be someone from Mystery Inc’s reprobate realtor-riddled past? Whatever the answer, it’s going to be a trial for Daphne, Velma, Freddie, Scooby and Shaggy.

Yes, it’s another delightful issue of the latest series teaming the Caped Crusader with the Greedy Great Dane and pals. The jokes come thick and fast in a typically smart balance of action and character moments. As a bonus, we even get a prologue looking back to Shaggy and Scooby’s most Bruce Wayne moment.

I won’t spoil what happens next, but there’s a brillIant visual nod to a famous Martha moment.

The clever script is the work of Matthew Cody, whose Zatanna and the House of Secrets YA graphic album with Yoshi Yoshitani a couple of years back was terrific. He quickly sets up the Scooby-Doo-style conflict and throws in plenty of Bat-action as the story barrels along to the big reveal.

Scott Jeralds’ art is bright and breezy, extremely likeable, I’m particularly impressed by the range of body language and facial expressions on display. Meanwhile the colours of Carrie Strachan make Crystal Cove look positively edible, and the letters of Saida Temofonte include some fabulous sound effects.

Let me know if you’ve tried this Kristy Quinn-edited series, and if not, why not? If you’re a fan of either franchise, I’m pretty darn sure you’ll enjoy it.