The name’s Doo, Scooby-Doo, and he does his job well every time, that is of solving mysteries and catching criminals. The Great Dane from the popular animated series might not be the bravest person in the room, but his methods always end up as bad news for the bad people. Together with his friends Shaggy, Velma, Fred, and Daphne, he has been around for over 50 years and has been helping the cops catch those who thought their crime was perfect, and they would be untouchables.

There are two ways to know all there is to know about Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang — watch all the cartoons or read Benjamin Brad’s Scooby-Doo Encyclopedia. Since the latter will take less time compared to watching the entire Scooby-Doo collection, it’s better to get your hands on it before the ‘meddling kids’ get busy.

This very easy-to-understand book begins with an introduction, where the readers are told about the best way to use this book. Every prominent monster apprehended by Mystery Inc. gets mentioned in these pages. And to lighten the mood, some of the best clues, hilarious jokes, and Scooby’s favourite snacks also get their presence felt.

Fully illustrated and impressively researched, this book helps you understand why Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Machine has been relevant for over 50 years. It also helps you unmask over 200 monsters and villains who were apprehended thanks to Scooby and his friends. Every illustration in this official character encyclopedia has been illustrated to perfection by Tim Levins and is accompanied by every character’s in-depth profile, their modus operandi, and the motivation behind their actions that got them indicted.

So, if you didn’t know that Shaggy’s real name was Norvile and Scooby’s Scoobert, Velma’s height was 4 feet 9 inches and that Fred’s orange ascot keeps him both warm and cold, as per the conditions, then you must get your hands on this book. Not only does it explain the contents of the Mystery Machine on a good day, but also Scooby and Shaggy’s Top 10 Eats, Mystery Inc.’s Top 10 Road Trips, and a recipe to make your own Scooby snack!

That’s not all, everything from Scooby-Doo’s family tree to the many laugh-out-loud jokes are present here that have helped Scooby-Doo! become the favorite mystery series of people ranging from 8 to 80.

Unlock the Mystery Machine’s top-secret database with the Scooby-Doo! Encyclopedia and enjoy the episode breakdowns, detailed diagrams of prominent stuff, and never-before-seen illustrations before Velma gets to say the magic word — Jinkies!

Published in Dawn, Young World, July 15th, 2023