Scooby Apocalypse
Scooby Apocalypse is an American comic book series published by DC Comics that reimagines the Scooby-Doo franchise in a post-apocalyptic setting where monstrous creatures have overrun the world.[1] The series follows the core Mystery Inc. team—Fred Jones, Daphne Blake, Velma Dinkley, Shaggy Rogers, and Scooby-Doo—as they navigate survival amid chaos caused by nanite-induced mutations turning humans into grotesque creatures.[2] Launched as part of DC's Hanna-Barbera Beyond imprint, which modernized classic Hanna-Barbera properties for mature audiences, Scooby Apocalypse debuted with its first issue on sale May 25, 2016, and concluded after 36 issues in April 2019.[3][4] The creative team was led by writers Keith Giffen and J. M. DeMatteis, known for their work on titles like Justice League International, with an origin story co-plotted by Giffen and artist Jim Lee.[1] Lee provided the character designs, giving the iconic cast a grittier, more realistic edge suited to the horror-tinged narrative, while primary artists included Howard Porter, Dale Eaglesham, and Pat Olliffe.[3] The storyline blends mystery-solving elements from the original Scooby-Doo cartoons with survival horror, as the gang uncovers conspiracies behind the apocalypse, including rival survivor groups. Later issues incorporated backup stories featuring other Hanna-Barbera characters, such as Secret Squirrel and Atom Ant, expanding the shared universe.[5] Collected in six trade paperback volumes and later in a 2025 omnibus edition, the series received praise for its bold departure from the lighthearted source material while maintaining core dynamics like the gang's banter and Scooby's comedic loyalty.[2] It was rated for teen readers, emphasizing themes of friendship, adaptation, and unmasking threats in a world where "meddling kids" must confront genuine terrors.[3]Overview
Premise
Scooby Apocalypse reimagines the iconic Scooby-Doo franchise in a grim, post-apocalyptic setting where a catastrophic nanite virus has ravaged humanity. The virus originated from a failed experiment at the Complex, a secretive organization conducting Project Elysium to ostensibly improve human society through nanotechnology. Instead, the nanites escaped containment, infecting billions and transforming infected humans into feral, monstrous mutants known as "Beasties," which embody amplified fears, terrors, and primal instincts.[6][7] The world of Scooby Apocalypse is a desolate wasteland of ruined urban landscapes, overgrown ruins, and hazardous badlands, where small bands of survivors huddle in fortified enclaves amid constant threats from Beastie hordes. These survivors scavenge for resources while navigating a society fractured by the apocalypse, with some groups forming rigid hierarchies or cults to maintain order. The core narrative centers on the Mystery Inc. gang—reimagined as resourceful adults—who traverse this perilous environment in their battered Mystery Machine, applying their signature deductive reasoning and trap-setting expertise to unravel the mysteries behind the outbreaks and Beastie behaviors, all while evading capture or annihilation.[3][8] A pivotal plot device in the series is the enhanced Scooby Snacks, which grant the gang temporary superhuman abilities such as increased strength, speed, or resilience, allowing them to combat Beasties and overcome environmental hazards during critical moments. This adaptation of the classic treat underscores the blend of whimsy and horror, as the gang's unyielding friendship and investigative prowess become tools for survival rather than mere crime-solving. The overarching quest for a cure to the nanite plague drives their journey, highlighting themes of perseverance, loyalty, and the enduring human spirit in the face of existential horror.[8][9]Development
Scooby Apocalypse was announced on January 28, 2016, during DC Comics' Hanna-Barbera Beyond panel at a comics convention, as part of a broader initiative to reimagine classic Hanna-Barbera properties for mature audiences in a shared universe.[1] The series was positioned as a teen-plus reboot of the Scooby-Doo franchise, alongside titles like Future Quest and The Flintstones, emphasizing bold, adult-oriented takes on the iconic characters in fresh settings.[1] The creative team, led by writers Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis, envisioned Scooby Apocalypse as a fusion of horror, science fiction, and humor, drawing on their prior collaboration on titles like Justice League International to subvert traditional Scooby-Doo tropes for an adult readership.[10] Giffen handled initial plotting by annotating margins with story and character notes, while DeMatteis refined the scripts to emphasize character-driven comedy amid serious threats, ensuring the humor remained integral without overshadowing the genre elements.[11] This approach respected the source material's essence, avoiding drastic alterations to the characters' core personalities while introducing real supernatural dangers, such as a nanite virus that unleashes mutated monsters.[1] Influenced by post-apocalyptic narratives like The Walking Dead, the team decided to age up the Mystery Inc. members into adults facing genuine existential perils, incorporating gore and violence to dismantle the franchise's longstanding "meddling kids" innocence and fake-monster reveals.[10] DeMatteis cited Zombieland as a tonal benchmark for balancing levity with horror, while Giffen stressed eliminating rubber masks in favor of authentic creatures drawn from horror literature and film history.[10][11] Initial character designs by Jim Lee and an origin outline co-developed by Lee and Giffen provided the foundational apocalyptic framework, with artist Howard Porter contributing to the visual evolution of the cast.[1]Publication History
Main Series
Scooby Apocalypse debuted with a six-page preview in the free Scooby Apocalypse/Hanna-Barbera Preview Edition distributed on May 11, 2016, ahead of its full launch as a monthly series from DC Comics.[12] The first numbered issue, Scooby Apocalypse #1, was released on May 25, 2016, written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis with art by Howard Porter and inks by Andy Owens.[13] The series maintained a regular monthly schedule, producing a total of 36 numbered issues plus the initial preview, and concluded with Scooby Apocalypse #36 cover-dated April 2019 and published on April 10, 2019.[14] In January 2019, DC Comics announced the cancellation of Scooby Apocalypse alongside other titles, due to Hanna-Barbera no longer supporting the character revamps.[15] This decision ended the run after three years, with issue #36 serving as the planned finale to wrap up the narrative.[16] The creative team saw shifts over the course of the series, beginning with the core collaboration of writers Giffen and DeMatteis paired with Porter's pencils and Owens' inks for the early issues. Starting with issue #12 in June 2017, additional artists such as Tom Derenick joined for select arcs, contributing to the evolving visual style amid the consistent writing duo.[17] Key milestones included issue #10 (February 2017), which introduced major antagonists central to the series' conflicts, and issue #20 (December 2017), which incorporated crossover elements tying into the broader Hanna-Barbera universe at DC. Beginning with issue #16 in August 2017, the series integrated serialized backup stories featuring reimagined Hanna-Barbera characters.[18]Collected Editions
The Scooby Apocalypse series was collected into six trade paperback volumes by DC Comics, each compiling six issues of the main series along with select backup stories where applicable (e.g., Secret Squirrel backups in volumes 3–5, Atom Ant in volume 6). These editions provide accessible entry points for readers, reprinting the original artwork and stories in full color on standard comic book paper stock. Volume titles are simply sequential (e.g., Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 1).| Volume | Title | Issues Collected | Release Date | Page Count | ISBN | Cover Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 1 | #1–6 | February 7, 2017 | 176 | 978-1-4012-6790-2 | Howard Porter |
| 2 | Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 2 | #7–12 | September 20, 2017 | 144 | 978-1-4012-7373-6 | Dale Eaglesham |
| 3 | Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 3 | #13–18 | February 7, 2018 | 160 | 978-1-4012-7748-2 | Dale Eaglesham |
| 4 | Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 4 | #19–24 | September 19, 2018 | 160 | 978-1-4012-8445-9 | Tom Derenick |
| 5 | Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 5 | #25–30 | May 22, 2019 | 160 | 978-1-4012-8957-7 | Tom Mandrake |
| 6 | Scooby Apocalypse Vol. 6 | #31–36 | January 15, 2020 | 160 | 978-1-4012-9546-2 | Tom Mandrake |