Behavior Modification is the second and final story in Scooby-Doo #11, by DC Comics. It was preceded by Hajj Dodger.
Premise[]
Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby go to Science Inc. to investigate their haunting by the ghost of Arnold Einsvein. While there, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo try to get their fear responses treated with behavior modification techniques.
Synopsis[]
Fred, Shaggy, and Scooby visit the Science Inc. laboratory, and after passing by the receptionist, they meet Dr. Von Brown, who requests their help. According to her, the ghost of Arnold Einsvein, also known as the Phantom Physicist, has been terrorizing the laboratory by hijacking the computers, and though none of the scientists are frightened, the ghost attacks are disruptive to their work. So, Fred begins investigating the ghost attacks, during which Von Brown conducts experiments on Shaggy and Scooby's behavior.
Searching a corridor, Fred finds tampered computer cables and a threatening message. He notes that the ghost always appeared regularly at the same times every day. Meanwhile, Von Brown uses various techniques to make Shaggy and Scooby less afraid of the ghost, but each time they run away from minor threats in terror. After four failures, Von Brown declares the task impossible, but Fred bribes them with Scooby Snacks. They immediately follow Fred's plan to capture the ghost in a trap.
The ghost is revealed to be the receptionist, who was mad about his pay and wanted revenge against his employees. The four times each day the ghost would attack coincided with the receptionist's break times, and Fred also found red wires connecting his desk to the computers, a red marker on his desk, and similarities between the receptionist and ghost's speech patterns. As the receptionist is handed to authorities, Von Brown asks Shaggy and Scooby for more Scooby Snacks for future research.
Characters[]
Main characters:
Supporting characters:
- Dr. Von Brown (only appearance)
Villains:
- Ghost of Arnold Einsvein (only appearance)(receptionist's disguise)
- Receptionist (only appearance)
Other characters:
- Scientists (only appearance)(no lines)
- Police officers (only appearance)(no lines)
Locations[]
Objects[]
- Computer cables
- Magic marker
Vehicles[]
- None
Suspects[]
| Suspect | Motive/reason |
|---|---|
| Receptionist | All of the clues Fred discovered seemed to all point to him. |
Culprits[]
| Culprit | Motive/reason |
|---|---|
| Receptionist as the Ghost of Arnold Einsvein | He felt he was underpaid and wanted to prank his bosses. |
Notes/trivia[]
Reprints[]
- Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #6 (April 2011).
Reception[]
The humor promised in the cover can be found in the second snack in Scooby-Doo where writer Chris Duffy and cartoonists Bill Alger and Bob Smith attempt to cure Shaggy and Scoob of their, in light of their experience, rather unbelievable terror in the face of the seeming supernatural.
The eleven panel inset assaulting extinction on page five must be seen to be appreciated. The first snack by the ever-reliable Terrence Griep Jr. employs a rather sophisticated motive for the spook in question as well as a plausible scientific explanation for the obvious culprit who amazingly for once doesn't spout those immortal lines, and "I would have conjured success from my schemes if not for those rotten kids." The art of Joe Staton and Andrew Pepoy provide more depth than one expects from a kids' show. The multiple camera angles and shadows combined with the smart script and an essay on Islam from Brownyn Taggert make Scooby-Doo an inexpensive treat for kids and adults who refuse to grow up.[1]
Quotes[]
|
References[]
- ↑ Ray Tate in Line of Fire Reviews