Gnome Alone? is the second and final story in Scooby-Doo #12, by DC Comics. It was preceded by The Comic Book Convention Caper.
Premise[]
Mystery Inc. visits Velma's aunt at her mansion to investigate her lawn gnomes mysteriously moving at night.
Synopsis[]
Mystery Inc. visits Velma's aunt, Dahlia Pinkley, who owns a video game company and lives at a mansion. As they play in her bowling alley, she explains her garden gnomes seem to move at night, always appearing in different locations in the morning and leaving behind a jewel on her doorstep. Superstitious, she is afraid to move them back.
Mystery Inc. then goes inside to inspect the computer Pinkley uses to design her games. Because she sends her designs through the modem, they deduce the culprit is trying to steal her designs by using the electrical wires buried in the lawn. The culprit would dig the backyard at night, try to intercept the sent games, and move the gnomes to cover the holes. Pinkley breaks the jewels, confirming they are glass fakes, and suspects her former friend, Mabel Krebs, who demanded half her company despite just working as her technician.
That night, Mystery Inc. catches Krebs in the act tapping the wires. Hiding in the bushes, they do not stop her, but send a decoy, a terrible game, which would humiliate Krebs if she tried to sell it to a company.
Characters[]
Main characters:
Supporting characters:
- Dahlia Pinkley (only appearance)
Villains:
- Mabel Krebs (only appearance)
- Moving lawn gnomes (only appearance)(no lines)
Other characters:
- None
Locations[]
Objects[]
- Gnomes
- Computer
- Modem
Vehicles[]
- None
Suspects[]
| Suspect | Motive/reason |
|---|---|
| Mabel Krebs | She and Dahlia had a fight when she said she was entitled to half of Dahlia's company. |
Culprits[]
| Culprit | Motive/reason |
|---|---|
| Mabel Krebs | Moving gnomes to cover holes in the lawn as she tried to tap Dahlia's computer lines for industrial espionage. |
Notes/trivia[]
- Given Dahlia Pinkley's physical resemblance to Velma, it is possible that she is related to her through Velma's maternal side and that her surname is theirs.
- The culprit is not arrested or even directly apprehended in this comic; Mystery Inc. just foiled her plot.
Coloring mistakes[]
- Krebs' hair colour changes from red to dark brown between panels.
Inconsistencies/continuity errors and/or goofs/oddities[]
- None known.