It's Always Feral Weather

This needs a stretch. (Feel free to remove when satisfied of completion.)

It's Always Feral Weather
Description
Part of	Scooby-Doo! #81
# of pages	12
Writer	Frank Strom
Penciler	Joe Staton
Inker	Andrew Pepoy
Colorer	Sno Cone
Letterer	Jared K. Fletcher
Editor	Joan Hilty
Chronology
Previous story	Cravin' the Raven
Next story	Under Pressure

It's Always Feral Weather is the first of two stories in Scooby-Doo! #81 by DC Comics.

Premise

The gang is in Australia to investigate a sabertooth tiger sighting on an animal reserve. It seems that both the sabertooth tiger and a group of feral cats have been harassing the game commissioners. The land was bought from an industrialist, Mr. Farnham. As Velma interviews the business man, she is not convinced that he is involved. The gang goes in search of the tiger.

Synopsis

Insert details here.

Characters

Main characters:

• Mystery Inc.
  • Scooby-Doo
  • Shaggy Rogers
  • Fred Jones
  • Daphne Blake
  • Velma Dinkley

Supporting characters:

• Dr. Herriot ^{(only appearance)}
• Norbert Burke ^{(only appearance)}

Villains:

• Mr. Farnham ^{(only appearance)}
• Sabertooth tiger ^{(only appearance)(no lines)(disguise)}/
• Real tiger ^{(only appearance)(no lines)(redeemed)}

Other characters:

• Jed ^{(only appearance)}
• Security guard ^{(only appearance)}
• Poachers ^{(only time mentioned)}
• Group of feral cats ^{(only appearance)(no lines)}

Locations

• Australia
  • Herriot Wildlife Preserve
  • Farnham Industrial zoo complex

Objects

• TBA

Vehicles

• TBA

Suspects

Suspect	Motive/reason
Mr. Farnham	Dr. Herriot said he and his associates owned the property that his wildlife preserve was built on years ago.
Poachers	Fred said they'd be the only people to profit from this whole Sabertooth Tiger scam.
Norbert Burke	Was determined to capture the Sabertooth Tiger.

Culprits

Culprit	Motive/reason
Mr. Farnham	Wanted the land back so he could sell fossils and artifacts he found in a cave.
A real tiger from Farnham's zoo, given fake fangs to be the Sabertooth	Set free on the preserve to terrorize people.

Notes/trivia

• TBA

Reception

Well, crud. I only have four comic books this week, and Scooby-Doo which usually offers superior entertainment fails miserably. The issue's not Scrappy-Doo bad, but it could have been so much better.

Frank Strom scribes the first story, which involves ABCs in Australia. ABC is an acronym for the Fortean term Alien Big Cats. England has been the spot for more than sightings of these feral beasties, and nobody is suggesting that the Grays had anything to do with unusual bestiary. Instead, the supposition is that a bobcat raised tame escapes its owner and turns wild much to the dismay of the local livestock. Another woollier possibility is that sometime in the past, a wild cat escapes and mates with say a large surprised stray tabby to produce a hybrid that runs havoc with its rural environs.

Mr. Strom sets up a fairly interesting premise in which the Gang are called in to investigate reports of an ABC attacking personnel at the Herriot Wildlife Preserve. There's substance to this since constables rather than Mulder and Scully usually scour the English countryside looking for hide and hair of ABCs. Mr. Strom does not however follow through with a plausible motive.

The international community would frown on any expert taking advantage of the consequences detailed in the story. The villain of the piece would not make any money off the deal, and his business acumen must seriously be doubted if he thinks otherwise.

Little things also trip up the story toward the end. The Gang treat the ABCs as if they were housecats even after the head honcho of the Preserve explains what such introductions mean to the ecosystem.

Joe Staton's artwork as usual flawlessly captures the look of Mystery Inc. and creates a distinctive supporting cast. However, the villain of the piece practically telegraphs his own diabolism.