This is how "font list" looks like (see attachment) when I click on it via Text Properties, or Story Editor. I wonder if it's due to graphics.
scribus_font_list.jpg
System info:
Scribus version: 1.5.8
Distro: Manjaro Linux base: Arch Linux
CPU: Intel Core i3-3240
GPU: AMD Caicos Radeon HD 7450
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.8
As far as I know the most common reason for issues like that is the window manager, and most likely its theme, and that piece of information you did not include.
Window manager is i3, however I have the same WM installed on my laptop and Scribus font list display looks OK. And even if I switch WM to Xfce (v. 4.18) and change theme the garbled menu remains.
What are the specs of your laptop? it sounds more like a display driver issue
@AdmFubar, I don't have the laptop here at the moment, but it has a newer GPU (Nvidia). My PC has an old AMD Radeon GPU (opensource driver). I suspect this to be the issue, but I wanted to hear a second opinion here.