Mystery Inc. are back at it again this month. It's one of the books I most look forward to, as most of the time the issues are pretty solid. Even if they don't end up being amazing, they're pretty harmless little romps that don't make me, say, actively hate comics, which is more than I can say for some comics (looking at you Batman). That being said, let's see if this issue entertains as much as last month's.

Stone Cold Gargoyle

Stop me if you've heard this one before.

A dark night in Gotham.

Rooftops filled with gargoyles.

Random people...turning to stone?

Yes, this issue involves Gotham's notable amount of gargoyles as part of the plot. Or should I say grotesques? If you don't know the difference, you're in luck! The dialogue will remind you of the difference almost every chance it gets. We'll get to that in a second.

As previously alluded to, the plot of this book is relatively straightforward. Gotham residents are turning into these stone creatures at random, and it's up to Mystery Inc and the Dynamic Duo to figure out why. Nothing too complex and for the most part, I think Fisch handles the premise quite well.

The story isn't too long, so there isn't much I have to say about it, good or bad, but that doesn't mean I don't have thoughts.  For starters, I enjoy the way they utilise a good amount of Batman characters. I look at this series as a way to introduce new readers to Batman or comics in general. In this book, we get to see not only Batman and Robin but other noteworthy Gothamites like Harvey Bullock and Oracle. We have our core cast members, like Scoob and co. and the Bat duo, but a good revolving cast of side characters as well, which I always appreciate.

While the premise is good and the cast of characters entertaining, there are some drawbacks in the writing. The dialogue often feels a bit clunky, with the running joke of the difference between gargoyles and grotesques never seeming funny, and just ending up being annoying. I mentioned in my last review how I like Scooby-Doo stories to feel timeless, so you can imagine my slight disappointment with the small, but not unnoticeable, use of electronic devices.

Lastly, I just felt as if the Mystery Crew were a bit underutilized in this issue. They don't really aid in solving the mystery as it's mainly the Batfam who do the heavy lifting, which is a bit of a shame. All in all, these are minor gripes, but still worth listing.

Where does he get that wonderful art?

I really liked the art for this issue. Some may take issue with the style, but personally, it really works. I appreciate how Megan Huang interprets the characters in her own style whilst still making them feel authentic and iconic. She also pulled double duty this issue, both drawing and colouring, so nice job Megan!

I appreciate the brighter colours and was surprised to see that the Robin costume was red and black rather than green, but I welcomed the change. Not to mention, anyone who uses the '66 Batmobile is a winner in my book (yes I think it may be the best live-action Batmobile*.  Fight me).

*Editor's note: I'll allow it. -J

Recommended If...

• You need a break from, ahem, certain other books
• Scooby-Doo interests you
• The debate between gargoyles and grotesques enthralls you

Overall:

It's alright. I think it's fair to say that I didn't enjoy it as much as last month's, but it's not terrible by any stretch of the imagination.  My best advice would be to pick one up for a kid, or maybe wait for a the trade so you can pick it up whenever you need some lighthearted reading.

Score: 6.5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of this review.