Warning: Spoilers for The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #7!
Summary
Two pop culture legends have cracked the code on howBatman’scity, Gotham, can beat theScarecrow. The Scarecrow’s fear toxins have plagued many a Gothamite in the past, further inducing fear into a city that already has plenty to be afraid of. However, the most unlikely of heroes may be immune to his toxins — or, rather, accidentally stumbled on the best means to combat the toxin’s effects.
It’s Scooby-Doo and Shaggy who manage to overcome Scarecrow’s fear toxin better than anyone in Gotham has inThe Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries#7 by Ivan Cohen and Puste. Since Shaggy and Scooby are notable scaredy-cats, their near-constant fear seems to neutralize the effects of the fear toxin.
In the past, heroes and villains alike have struggled to handle Scarecrow’s fear toxin, and the joy he takes in the toxin being so unstoppable is partiallywhy Scarecrow loves being a villain. However, it looks likeGothamites can beat it best by just embracing their fears of everything else, as Shaggy and Scooby-Doo do.
Scooby-Doo Just Flipped Its Iconic ‘Unmasking’ Cliché in the Funniest Way
In DC’s Scooby comics, the number of the Gang’s classic tropes have been flipped on their head, including the iconic ending to most episodes.
Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Can Handle Scarecrow’s Fear Toxin
Because They’re Afraid of Everything Else
The latest upgrade of Scarecrow’sfear toxin, as showcased in this issue, is one where he has little capsules that produce micro-doses of the toxin. His fear toxins have always had minor variations over the years, but in this issue, the toxin induces a specific phobia into the victim’s mind, even amplifying it if the victim already has that phobia. While invading the Gotham City Bravery Awards, Scarecrow infects everyone with Eremophobia, the fear of being alone or abandoned.Scarecrow’s attackaffects everyone present except Scooby and Shaggy, much to everyone’s confusion— including their own.
Shaggy and Scooby-Doo weren’t so much immune to Scarecrow’s fear gas as much as they’re just used to living with such fears every day.
As Scarecrow is being arrested and sent away (to his beffudlement, as a man with two degrees in completely different fields), Batman and the Scooby Gang theorize how Shaggy and Scoob could have been immune. Batman points out that Velma and Daphne have their own theory on the matter. They proceed to explain that Shaggy and Scooby-Doo weren’t so much immune to Scarecrow’s fear gas so much asthey’re just used to living with such fears every day,being afraid of everything already. Scarecrow’s toxin has little to no effect on them as a result.
Gotham City Should Also Be Immune to Scarecrow’s Tricks
The City Lives in Fear, Literally
In short, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo just embrace living with their fears on a daily basis, so it becomes easier to accept the fear gas' effects. By that logic, Gotham citizens should be immune to fear gas themselves. At the rate andsize of Batman’s rogues gallerynow, there is a new, terrifying threat each day from all angles. In theory,there comes a point when a Gotham citizen just accepts living in fear every day, much like Scooby and Shaggy. Having Gothamitesembrace their fear of villainy helps prepare them for one ofBatman’sgreatest enemies: theScarecrow.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
