Comic Grab Bag Part 5: Doom Patrol #6
Sorry for the delay,
Doom Patrol #6 (2010)
Backstory:
Originally created in 1963 by Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, the Doom Patrol is a group of superheroes who have banded together due to the fact that their powers have alienated them from the rest of society. Finding solace and leadership under Dr. Niles Caulder, the Doom Patrol were trained and lead to fight for the greater good.
If you've already guessed, yes, the Doom Patrol closely resembles the X-Men though it came before its popular Marvel counterpart. They even have a leader who sits in a wheel chair. Yet reports have said there was no foul play between the two companies and the creation of each comic were independent of each other. I still think there was some sneaking around somewhere but nonetheless it's interesting to see how one rose to ultimate fame and popularity while the other feel by the wayside. The Doom Patrol do have important roles in the crossovers like the Infinite Crisis, but more people on the street can name quite a few X-Men before they could mention a single character off the Doom Patrol.
Maybe it was just..Dooomed from the start.
Sorry, I'll let myself out....
Plot:
In this issue we are taken into the mind of Larry Trainor, or as he likes to be called "L." L is known to everyone else as Negative Man. Once a test pilot for a plane that would go into space, Larry fell from space and crash landed back in Earth, magically surviving the perilous fall. The miracle was not without its consequence, Larry was kissed by radiation while up in space and was ridden with a disease that required bandages to be put all over him that were chemically treated to contain the radiation.
If the Doom Patrol is the DC version of the X-Men, then Larry is their Wolverine. He's a loner, sarcastic and doesn't seem to care. He's also very critical of his group as well. He also seems to have a crush/relationship with the main female lead of the team.
But what was the question?
The comic is mainly a flashback/collage of the team's past iterations. It starts from how they were formed to all the transitions they went through and then the regroup that was recreated for the New 52 revival. The comic physically explains the powers of Negative Man without really telling the reader. There is a ghost like form he can morph into that is ethereal and leaves his human body limp. Apparently, this form can only hold temporarily and he must return before losing his life. But other than that, the issue doesn't really show much else. Heck, even wikipedia didn't help me much either.
Negative man has a love interest named Rita who was originally Elasti-Girl (and might have retired?). Anyways, after the explanation narrated by L, the story ends with Rita walking down to a bay and sitting next to L. We learn that L doesn't necessary like elephants physically and metaphorically. After that, it shows him go back into his nega-form ready for patrol.
Review:
I originally didn't like the whole tone of this comic. I thought that Negative Man's narration was cold and lifeless and that's when it hit me--it's supposed to be! I mean his name is Negative Man. So it made obvious sense that a character named Negative Man would have such an apathetic and dead pan tone while he discusses his origin and history. Though it does fit the character, I couldn't help but think it was a bad choice to narrate the story with such a lifeless character. This is my first introduction to a Doom Patrol comic and I guess I chose the wrong issue.
It was also my first introduction to the story and even on issue #6, nothing happens in this comic. The run for the New 52 was only a few issues and I can see why. Nothing happens in this story. We get a lot of backstory but no plot advancement. It is just pure and complete filler.
The art style is pretty neat. I think it takes a pretty talented artist to re-create the different styles and characters that came and went. Everything is pretty to look at and effects have a nice pop to keep you interested. It's a shame that the quality of art sort of just goes to waste since the comic didn't really have much action to draw.
Honestly, I'm on the fence of this comic. I wish I got something different where I can see how character interact with each other and some sort of plot advancement. I wouldn't reccommend this issues however, due to how short it is.
There was an included issue of Metal Men but I didn't consider reviewing just because it was not relevant to the Doom Patrol.
The Unique Thing:
So apparently Larry was a girl at some point? I don't know, he doesn't know, and well, it's just weird.
Doom Patrol #6 (2010)
Backstory:
Originally created in 1963 by Arnold Drake and Bob Haney, the Doom Patrol is a group of superheroes who have banded together due to the fact that their powers have alienated them from the rest of society. Finding solace and leadership under Dr. Niles Caulder, the Doom Patrol were trained and lead to fight for the greater good.
If you've already guessed, yes, the Doom Patrol closely resembles the X-Men though it came before its popular Marvel counterpart. They even have a leader who sits in a wheel chair. Yet reports have said there was no foul play between the two companies and the creation of each comic were independent of each other. I still think there was some sneaking around somewhere but nonetheless it's interesting to see how one rose to ultimate fame and popularity while the other feel by the wayside. The Doom Patrol do have important roles in the crossovers like the Infinite Crisis, but more people on the street can name quite a few X-Men before they could mention a single character off the Doom Patrol.
Maybe it was just..Dooomed from the start.
Sorry, I'll let myself out....
Plot:
In this issue we are taken into the mind of Larry Trainor, or as he likes to be called "L." L is known to everyone else as Negative Man. Once a test pilot for a plane that would go into space, Larry fell from space and crash landed back in Earth, magically surviving the perilous fall. The miracle was not without its consequence, Larry was kissed by radiation while up in space and was ridden with a disease that required bandages to be put all over him that were chemically treated to contain the radiation.
If the Doom Patrol is the DC version of the X-Men, then Larry is their Wolverine. He's a loner, sarcastic and doesn't seem to care. He's also very critical of his group as well. He also seems to have a crush/relationship with the main female lead of the team.
But what was the question?
The comic is mainly a flashback/collage of the team's past iterations. It starts from how they were formed to all the transitions they went through and then the regroup that was recreated for the New 52 revival. The comic physically explains the powers of Negative Man without really telling the reader. There is a ghost like form he can morph into that is ethereal and leaves his human body limp. Apparently, this form can only hold temporarily and he must return before losing his life. But other than that, the issue doesn't really show much else. Heck, even wikipedia didn't help me much either.
Negative man has a love interest named Rita who was originally Elasti-Girl (and might have retired?). Anyways, after the explanation narrated by L, the story ends with Rita walking down to a bay and sitting next to L. We learn that L doesn't necessary like elephants physically and metaphorically. After that, it shows him go back into his nega-form ready for patrol.
Review:
I originally didn't like the whole tone of this comic. I thought that Negative Man's narration was cold and lifeless and that's when it hit me--it's supposed to be! I mean his name is Negative Man. So it made obvious sense that a character named Negative Man would have such an apathetic and dead pan tone while he discusses his origin and history. Though it does fit the character, I couldn't help but think it was a bad choice to narrate the story with such a lifeless character. This is my first introduction to a Doom Patrol comic and I guess I chose the wrong issue.
It was also my first introduction to the story and even on issue #6, nothing happens in this comic. The run for the New 52 was only a few issues and I can see why. Nothing happens in this story. We get a lot of backstory but no plot advancement. It is just pure and complete filler.
The art style is pretty neat. I think it takes a pretty talented artist to re-create the different styles and characters that came and went. Everything is pretty to look at and effects have a nice pop to keep you interested. It's a shame that the quality of art sort of just goes to waste since the comic didn't really have much action to draw.
Honestly, I'm on the fence of this comic. I wish I got something different where I can see how character interact with each other and some sort of plot advancement. I wouldn't reccommend this issues however, due to how short it is.
There was an included issue of Metal Men but I didn't consider reviewing just because it was not relevant to the Doom Patrol.
The Unique Thing:
So apparently Larry was a girl at some point? I don't know, he doesn't know, and well, it's just weird.
Comments
Post a Comment