Paranoidal Activity is the first of two stories in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #19, by DC Comics. It was followed by Most Haunted.
Premise[]
Mystery Inc. uses ghost-hunting technology to investigate a haunted silk mill.
Synopsis[]
Mystery Inc. visits the Spectral Silk Mill, a mill rumoured to be haunted. Fred, Daphne, and Velma bring various gadgets with them, but Shaggy and Scooby believe it is unnecessary to solve mysteries. At the entrance, they meet Stan Stanislaus and Oliver Oliveri, co-owners of the mill, but they argue over the state of the mill; Oliveri wants the building memorialized as a historic location, while Stanislaus wants to demolish it to build profitable condos. Mystery Inc. begins to investigate, but Shaggy and Scooby challenges Fred's group to a contest to see who could solve the mystery first.
Fred's group uses their devices to investigate while Shaggy relies on Scooby's scent to look for clues. As they enter, Fred, Daphne, and Velma use a device to detect the ghost's moans, but they also note slight scratching sounds. Daphne finds a green goo on the floor, which they believe is ectoplasm but Scooby finds tasty. As they use another machine to analyze the substance, they use night vision goggles to find the perpetrator behind a wall, using a phonograph to create the noise.
Breaking down the wall, they find Stanislaus on the other side, and learn the substance is really corn syrup and food colouring. Just then, Scooby follows the scent and catches Oliveri with a bucket of "ectoplasm," also responsible for the hauntings. While they each had their individual plans for the silk mill, they ultimately agreed to turn it into a haunted house. As Shaggy and Fred's groups each catch one culprit, their contest ends in a tie, but Fred's group agrees to return to their old investigation techniques, not relying on advanced machines.
Characters[]
Main characters:
Supporting characters:
- None
Villains:
- Stan Stanislaus (only appearance)(redeemed)
- Oliver Oliveri (only appearance)(redeemed)
Other characters:
- Phantom Phinders (mentioned)
Locations[]
Objects[]
- Ectoplasm
Vehicles[]
Suspects[]
| Suspect | Motive/reason |
|---|---|
| Stan Stanislaus | To force Mr. Oliveri to sign his half of the mill over to him and turn it into luxury condos. |
| Oliver Oliveri | To force Mr. Stanislaus to sign his half of the mill over to him and turn it into a museum. |
Culprits[]
| Culprit | Motive/reason |
|---|---|
| Stan Stanislaus | To force Mr. Oliveri to sign his half of the mill over to him and turn it into luxury condos. |
| Oliver Oliveri | To force Mr. Stanislaus to sign his half of the mill over to him and turn it into a museum. |
Notes/trivia[]
Miscellaneous[]
- Clues: A phonograph and "ectoplasm."
Coloring mistakes[]
- None known.
Inconsistencies/continuity errors and/or goofs/oddities[]
- None known.