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- Putting a Very Dark Spin on Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc.
- Can Scooby Apocalypse Actually Happen on the Small Screen?
As a seasoned television critic with over two decades of experience under my belt, I must say that the prospect of Scooby Apocalypse gracing our screens is as exciting as a Great Dane-sized serving of Scooby Snacks!
In April, it was suggested that a new live-action “Scooby-Doo” series might be developed for Netflix, with collaboration between Midnight Banner and Berlanti Productions. These production companies have previously brought popular titles such as the 2018 film “Venom”, the 2014 film “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, both live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movies, Ryan Reynolds’ “Free Guy”, and the entire CW Arrowverse to life. The upcoming “Scooby-Doo” series will likely be in capable hands with this team. However, the specific storylines for the series have yet to be revealed.
According to Anthony Lund’s latest piece, Max’s Velma spin-off serves as an exceptional standard for any producer involved in the upcoming remake. The series strayed too far from the source material, which deterred many viewers. To keep original fans satisfied and attract new ones, it’s important to remain loyal to the franchise while daringly tweaking the formula enough to pique interest.
The 2019 show, “Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?”, resembled “The New Scooby-Doo Movies” from the ’70s with numerous guest stars. However, the 2010 series titled “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated”, spanning two seasons and 52 episodes, offers something unique. It not only unfolds a compelling narrative but also incorporates intriguing plot twists (such as Lovecraftian horror and Babylonian mythology). Perhaps it’s high time the gang delved into similar dark themes by exploring one of Scooby-Doo’s lesser-known comic book storylines.
Putting a Very Dark Spin on Scooby-Doo and Mystery Inc.
Originating from the creative mind of DC Comics publisher Jim Lee, “Scooby Apocalypse” was a 37-issue series that kicked off in May 2016. This title isn’t a jest; it combines Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma (and even Scrappy!), placing them in a post-apocalyptic setting teeming with mutated beasts that prey on and consume humans. As one might expect, the characters of Mystery Inc. have taken on slightly different roles than their usual types.
In simpler terms, Scooby-Doo hails from a secret research facility in Nevada and has recently developed the ability to speak. Fred is the selfless, strong member of the gang, often finding himself in tricky situations. Daphne is a journalist with a witty sense of humor. Shaggy used to work at the same Nevada lab as Scooby, teaching him how to protect himself from other aggressive, genetically-altered canines. Velma was one of the chief scientists behind the failed Elysium project, a source of ongoing guilt for her. The Elysium project refers to an ambitious scientific endeavor that didn’t turn out as planned.
This task was accomplished by Velma and her four siblings, who aimed to eradicate worldwide evils such as aggression and avarice using minuscule living fragments of nanotechnology. However, Velma learns that one of her unscrupulous brothers had secretly infused the nanites with a controlling element for those human beings fitted with this technology. All efforts to halt this were in vain, and the group journeyed extensively across the United States in search of a means to curb this biological virus.
Over the course of 36 issues, an astonishing amount of action unfolds in this dystopian version of Scooby-Doo’s world (with hints reminiscent of The Walking Dead). This narrative features Shaggy, now bearded and armed with a machine gun, Scrappy Doo transformed into a monstrous, musclebound form intent on harming Scooby, Fred’s demise only to be resurrected as a nanite zombie, the main antagonist, The Nanite King, proposes Velma, who is pregnant with Shaggy’s child, a position of power by his side once he takes over. This comic is undeniably twisted in many ways, but it would certainly fit well within the realm of Netflix programming.
Can Scooby Apocalypse Actually Happen on the Small Screen?
Despite channels like Cartoon Network and Boomerang having aired numerous Scooby-Doo series previously, they might not be open to such a grim reimagining as this, especially in live-action. Conversely, Netflix has demonstrated its willingness to push boundaries with reboots such as The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which have expanded upon the themes of established franchises. Given that Hanna Barbera is planning to move Scooby and Shaggy into the anime genre with Go-Go Mystery Machine (an upcoming version featuring the duo joining new characters to combat mythical monsters in present-day Japan), it’s possible that the concept depicted in Scooby Apocalypse might not be too far from becoming a reality.
Currently, if you’re feeling nostalgic about Scooby-Doo as it’s been two years since a genuine Mystery Inc. production with the whole gang has aired, you can stream Mystery Incorporated, Be Cool!, and Guess Who? on Max. Additionally, should Scooby Apocalypse be adapted by Netflix (fingers crossed), the first volume is available for purchase on Amazon or eBay to give you a head start.
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2024-09-21 20:31