Gotham Should Be Immune to Scarecrow's Fear Toxin, & 2 Unbelievable Pop Culture Heroes Prove It

Warning: Spoilers for The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #7!

Summary Scooby-Doo and Shaggy accidentally discovered a way to neutralize Scarecrow's fear toxin by constantly being afraid of other things.

Gotham citizens could potentially be immune to Scarecrow's fear toxin by embracing their fears of other threats, similar to Scooby and Shaggy.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #7 explores how Shaggy and Scooby's daily fear exposure makes them immune to Scarecrow's fear gas.

Two pop culture legends have cracked the code on how Batman's city, Gotham, can beat the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow's fear toxins have plagued many a Gothamite in the past, further inducing fear into a city that already has plenty to be afraid of. However, the most unlikely of heroes may be immune to his toxins — or, rather, accidentally stumbled on the best means to combat the toxin's effects.

It's Scooby-Doo and Shaggy who manage to overcome Scarecrow's fear toxin better than anyone in Gotham has in The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #7 by Ivan Cohen and Puste. Since Shaggy and Scooby are notable scaredy-cats, their near-constant fear seems to neutralize the effects of the fear toxin.

In the past, heroes and villains alike have struggled to handle Scarecrow's fear toxin, and the joy he takes in the toxin being so unstoppable is partially why Scarecrow loves being a villain. However, it looks like Gothamites can beat it best by just embracing their fears of everything else, as Shaggy and Scooby-Doo do.

Related Scooby-Doo Just Flipped Its Iconic 'Unmasking' Cliché in the Funniest Way In DC's Scooby comics, the number of the Gang's classic tropes have been flipped on their head, including the iconic ending to most episodes.

Scooby-Doo and Shaggy Can Handle Scarecrow's Fear Toxin

Because They're Afraid of Everything Else

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The latest upgrade of Scarecrow's fear toxin, as showcased in this issue, is one where he has little capsules that produce micro-doses of the toxin. His fear toxins have always had minor variations over the years, but in this issue, the toxin induces a specific phobia into the victim's mind, even amplifying it if the victim already has that phobia. While invading the Gotham City Bravery Awards, Scarecrow infects everyone with Eremophobia, the fear of being alone or abandoned. Scarecrow's attack affects everyone present except Scooby and Shaggy, much to everyone's confusion — including their own.

Shaggy and Scooby-Doo weren't so much immune to Scarecrow's fear gas as much as they're just used to living with such fears every day.

As Scarecrow is being arrested and sent away (to his beffudlement, as a man with two degrees in completely different fields), Batman and the Scooby Gang theorize how Shaggy and Scoob could have been immune. Batman points out that Velma and Daphne have their own theory on the matter. They proceed to explain that Shaggy and Scooby-Doo weren't so much immune to Scarecrow's fear gas so much as they're just used to living with such fears every day, being afraid of everything already. Scarecrow's toxin has little to no effect on them as a result.

Gotham City Should Also Be Immune to Scarecrow's Tricks

The City Lives in Fear, Literally

In short, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo just embrace living with their fears on a daily basis, so it becomes easier to accept the fear gas' effects. By that logic, Gotham citizens should be immune to fear gas themselves. At the rate and size of Batman's rogues gallery now, there is a new, terrifying threat each day from all angles. In theory, there comes a point when a Gotham citizen just accepts living in fear every day, much like Scooby and Shaggy. Having Gothamites embrace their fear of villainy helps prepare them for one of Batman's greatest enemies: the Scarecrow.

The Batman & Scooby-Doo Mysteries #7 is available now from DC Comics.

THE BATMAN & SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES #7 (2024) Writer: Ivan Cohen

Artist: Puste

Colorist: Carrie Strachan

Letterer: Saida Temofonte

Cover Artist: Puste, Carrie Strachan