Scooby-Doo is making yet another comeback, this time on HBO Max, but with Velma taking the lead. That should have you thinking about those shaggy comics.

There are some brands that refuse to die. Each generation updates the characters and makes it their own, and it becomes entrenched in the childhoods of millions. Spider-Man, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are all solid members of that prestigious club, but you can’t talk about enduring franchises without mentioning Scooby-Doo. 

Debuting on CBS in 1969, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? instantly connected with kids. Whether or not the entire series, not to mention a talking Great Dane, is simply Shaggy’s drug-fueled delirium is another question entirely. When it comes to cartoons, people and animals can have full conversations without the audience batting an eye.

In the 53 years since Scooby and the Mystery, Inc. gang strutted onto the small screen, they have staked their claim among pop culture’s most enduring franchises. Each decade brings a new brand of cartoons, and 2002 saw Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, and Fred strut into the land of live-action. Every few years, Mystery, Inc. gets a makeover. This time, The Office’s Mindy Kaling is spearheading the latest Scooby cartoon, Velma, for HBO Max.

In modern collecting, those kids’ show comic book adaptations have become prime targets. That should have you on the lookout for Scooby’s key issues.

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #1

When it comes to collecting those Scooby-Doo keys, the top of the mountain is a lonely place. By far, the one everyone wants is 1970’s Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? #1. Published under Gold Key Comics, this was one of several Hanna Barbera franchises on the market at the time.

While serious collectors may have turned their noses up at those kids’ comics in the past, the current market has changed plenty of perspectives. On May 9, a graded 6.0 sold for over $2k.

GOLDEN COMICS DIGEST #7

Technically, Scooby-Doo appeared six months earlier in an issue of Golden Comics Digest #7, but he was only featured in artwork for a puzzle. On the bright side, that gives you another classic Scooby key to add to the collection and at a more affordable price than Scooby-Doo #1.

Although it wasn’t part of a story, it still marks the first time Scooby-Doo artwork was featured in a comic. Need a copy? While there are no records for graded sales, the raw GCD #7s tend to earn close to $20 on eBay.

SCOOBY-DOO, WHERE ARE YOU? #2

If you can’t get your hands on that first appearance, then you might as well head over to the next best thing. In this case, it’s the next appearance in Scooby-Doo #2. Compared to its predecessor, this one is a bargain. The highest grade sold in the past year has been the 8.5, which brought $336 in September.

RUH-ROH, RAGGY

Velma may get the top billing in the new cartoon, but rest assured, Scooby-Doo and Shaggy will find their way into the show. The five characters are permanently linked to one another, and fans will be sorely disappointed if Scooby doesn’t make it onto the show at some point. Honestly, there’s no way WarnerMedia will let the fans down like that.

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*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.