The Adventures of Sgoobidoo
Cathon, 142 pgs, Pow Pow Press, powpowpress.com, $19.95
Golly, I sure do enjoy reading stories about funny little dogs. Better yet, little dogs that solve mysteries! An adorable graphic novel modeled after Archie Digests, The Adventures of Sgoobidoo introduces us to a pair of inept but loveable detectives: a four-legged titular character and his human companion, Sammy.
The book consists of several short strips mixed with hilarious ads (anyone hungry for ketchup-flavored lollipops?) presented with retro-style fonts and old-fashioned dialogue. With its classic stylings and quirky humor, the stories bring to mind old favorites such as Archie, Ren and Stimpy, and of course its namesake, Scooby Doo; though in this case, our doggie detective is small, chubby, and often confused, with a plethora of hilarious poses and facial expressions.
Sammy and Sgoo aren’t exactly the brightest of detectives; innocent Sammy repeatedly consults Sgoobidoo for help, seemingly oblivious to the fact that he’s just a regular (and not very smart) dog. Additionally, Sammy’s childlike sense of wonder leads him to unusual interpretations of everyday situations or objects, such as reading a ketchup-stained napkin as a treasure map. In no great surprise, the cases often end on an unfavourable note, though our heroes always retain their cheery optimism and ignore the seriousness of the situation. After all, “how wonderful it is to wake up as a detective, prepared to embark upon mysterious and perplexing investigations.” Personally, I loved the book’s tone— pathetic, yet very endearing!
A brisk read, The Adventures of Sgoobidoo can easily be finished in one sitting, though I admit I read just one chapter per day; the book is so charming I didn’t want it to end! If canine capers, eccentric humor and retro aesthetics are relevant to your interests, I can’t recommend this book enough!