Secret Six Versus Doom Patrol

Secret Six (Volume 3) #30
Written by Gail Simone
Art by J. Caliafore

This is the first part of a crossover with Doom Patrol that has some great moments including Bane on a date and King Shark biting off a piece of Elasti-Woman. Gail Simone creates a great new villain in the form of a dead beat young man who spends his days playing video games until one day he finds out  that he has inherited a criminal empire from his grandfather. Once again Simone hits it out of the park with this issue but I mean how many crossovers can this book have?

Just Bring On The Eclipso

Justice League of America #53
Written by James Robinson
Art by Mark Bagley

 

I was disappointed with the conclusion to this arc. I mean it was better then anything pre-Robinson but man was it not that great of an ending and Bagley…he must have known he was leaving when he drew this cause this was a weak issue on his part. That last splash page could have used some serious editing. Elasti-Woman is wearing the wrong costume and Damage is there – Damage is dead! Come on DC! I am looking forward to next month’s Rise of Eclipso story though!

North Korea Chainsaw Massacre

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #18
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark

 

There is something very “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” about the Aristocrats aka the Boswicks in that they are like a rich immortal british version of the twisted family from that film series and they also have a house of horrors to go along with it. Luckily, the Doom Patrol manages to escape that house and get the hell out of Dodge er well North Korea. It was a good issue, not as great as last but still I am loving this book more and more with each issue.

Introducing The Aristocrats

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #17
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

 

Giffen has created some of the creepiest yet fascinating villains in this issue called the Aristocrats. Immortal Aristocrats who murder people – not sure if that is what keeps them alive or not or why they have captured Veronic Cale but they are some awesome villains for the Doom Patrol and this was one of if not the best issue of this series yet. Cale being the new Chief is also a great idea and definitely creates an exciting new dynamic for the Doom Patrol. I also like that Giffen is finally utilizing Bumblebee more.

Chief Robotman

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #16
Written by Brian Keene and Keith Giffen
Art by Giffen

 

Former Doom Patrol member Fast Forward shows up and accidentally brings evil alternate version of the team into this reality causing all kinds of craziness meanwhile Robotman wonders if he is the same as Niles Caulder was now that he is leader of the team. It was a decent issue. This is actually my first exposure to Giffen’s art I think and it wasn’t bad. I still like how Giffen is pulling from the while spectrum of Doom Patrol history.

Pelican On Panel

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #15
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark

 

The Doom Patrol defeats the Kryptonian powered Chief. I am not sure what exactly happened in the final pages? Did the science squad just send Caulder’s body adrift in space? What is going on with Negative Man? And we finally see the Pelican he is always talking about? Crazy stuff but this is the Doom Patrol so what do you expect.

Butt Maps And Flying Chiefs

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #14
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

 

This was a great issue as Niles Caulder somehow manages to gain Kryptonian Powers by extracting them from a Kryptonian he must have taken from New Krypton and now feels he no longer needs the Doom Patrol. Basically he is a big dickface and the Doom Patrol should not forgive him this time. I loved the Ambush Bug musical opening to the issue and his fourth wall breaking – and the use of Bumblebee who isn’t used enough in this book. I wonder what the Robot meant when it said Kryptonians have different types of Reproductive Organs than humans? Weird.

Putty Woman

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #13
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

 

Elasti-Woman reveals to her teammates the truth about her ressurection and how she is really a protoplasm form (Kind= of like The Matrix Supergirl!) and has to remember what she really looks like every morning to reform herself. It adds a whole new dimension to her character and I liked it. I am not sure why she went all crazy on Mento at the end but I am sure she has her reasons besides revenge for him stalking her in her mind. The dating on her journal bothered me – there is no way she adopted Beast Boy in 2006! I wish writers at DC would just use the Unauthorized Chronology of the DC Universe already! It happened in early 1993 according to that heavily researched and great timeline that DC should make official! Anyways this was a good issue as I continue to enjoy this book more and more.

Brave and the Bold 34 and 35

Brave and the Bold #34
Written by J. Michael Straczynski
Art by Jesus Saiz

This was a decent issue featuring the Legion meeting the Doom Patrol and stopping a black hole. It was okay, but nothing really to write about it.

 

 

Brave and the Bold #35
Written by J. Michael Straczynskiz
Art by Jesus Saiz

 

This was an amusing story about the Legion subs teaming up with the Inferior Five. I love how the Legion Subs just leave them in 2010 at the end haha. I hope we see them again soon.

Doom Patrol 10 – 12

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #10
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

Jost is planning something against the Doom Patrol and has added Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man and this crazy Porcelain Doll woman to his roster of villains. Crazy Jane is back for good I guess and that is a good thing! I definitely like the character.

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #11
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

 

Um…what the hell happend at the end of this issue! Jost just took “Toy’s” head and crushed it with his bear hands and something came out of his back!!! What! This is crazy and I love it. Adding Ambush Bug to the cast of this was also brilliant as he is as hilarious as always. This book is getting pretty good all of a sudden.

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #12
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

So Jost was being controlled by a guy from the Brotherhood of Dada I guess? It isn’t really explained very well. A lot of the confusion in this comic seems to come from Clark’s art, I really think things would make more sense if he actually drew faces to fit the expression of what the characters are saying. That being said Giffen is writing a pretty nice little epic here – weaving in the Doom Patrol’s history with new concepts and creations and I am enjoying it finally.

Crazy Trio

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #9
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark and Ron Randall

 

Giffen’s dialogue in this book can be might confusing sometimes. Maybe it is because Clark doesn’t draw the right expressions I don’t know. I actually didn’t mind Clark’s art that much in this issue so I am not trying to rip on him. I just think this book started out accessible to new readers and has quickly degenerated to becoming incomprehensible. DC needs to put recaps at the beginning of the issues! That being said Crazy Jane, Danny the Street, and Ambush Bug are always fun…heck they are more fun then the main Patrollers.

Doom Patrol 7 and 8

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #7
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. Dematteis
Art by Joe Mcguire

 

The main story was all set up and I am not really sure if I completely got what was going on. Is someone assembling a team to fight the Doom Patrol? It was cool to see Crazy Jane back, I hope she stays with the team, This issue featured the last time the Metal Men will co-feature and while it was funny, I can’t say that I will exactly miss it.

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #8
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clarke and Ron Randall

Clarke’s art is still not to my taste and this issue seemed a little…well…wordy. But I liked the idea of Danny the Street coming back. I love that Giffen’s not afraid to play with Morrison Doom Patrollers.

The History of Negative Man

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #6
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. Demateis
Art by Kevin MaGuire

 

This issue was basically a crash-course in the history of Negative Man through his own words. I wonder if it was done in a narrator style if it would have been easier to follow. I think so. Giffen definitely made the wrong choice there but what can I say, maybe it’s the artist. I enjoyed it none-the-less. I love continuity as you all know! The Metal Men back-up was amusing as always and still loving all the Chicagoland references.

The Back-Up Is Better

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #5
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Justiano
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. Dematteis
Art by Tim Levins

The main story was good if not a bit confusing. What happened to the Doom Patrol – they got boom tubed off the island? What has happened to Niles? I have no idea and I blame the art. I still love the way Giffen is telling these stories with the wikipedia-like entries but the art on this and Clarke’s normal art is just awful and distracting. The Metal Men back-up is hilarious as always even with a guest artist – and one who emulates Kevin McGuire very well I might add. I love how Gold  treats Copper in this issue – always calling her the wrong name and all of the references to TV shows was perfect!

Same Art

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #4
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Justiniano
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. Dematteis
Art by Kevin Maguire

The main feature’s art is unfortunately very similar to Matthew Clark’s to my eye and that is not a good thing. I was hoping for a different artist and he just seems exactly the same. The story was good (even if the whole Black Lanterns showing up and scaring people thing is getting old) and unlike what Caleb says on his blog, you don’t really need to know anything about past Doom Patrol continuity as it is all explained within the issue. The Metal Men back-up introduces a bunch of female robots called the Clique – who want to rule the world! This is going to get good.

Mega-Confusing

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #3
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art by Kevin Maguire

You know this series is inconsistent. I love Niles Caulder and his notes and the concept of the black hole character – but this was a rather dull issue. I am not sure what the hell happened in it. What was going on? Was this written for NASA? Why was it so damn confusing? How did they defeat him? What happened to Elasti-Girl? I just don’t get it.And as you know I do not enjoy Clark’s art. The Metal Men back-up was pretty funny as new nemesis Douglas, Robot Hunter turns out to be a crazy actor with a fake blaster gun.

Attack of the Hole

Doom Patrol (Volume 5) #2
Written by Keith Giffen
Art by Matthew Clark
Co-Feature by Giffen and J.M. Dematteis
Art by Kevin Maguire

Giffen’s writing is really good. I love the idea of a sentient black hole only interested in writing an encyclopedia. But this issue is really hurt by Clark’s art. He makes everything confusing in the way he draws. I do not like it at all. DC needs to either fire him or he needs to change his style because he is making a good book unreadable. That may sound harsh but it is true. Anyways, it looks like Vox and Bumblebee are now divorced which is sad but I look forward to looking more into Bumblebee’s psyche. The Metal Men back-up was entertaining and funny and I love how the Metal Men’s new headquaters are in Glenview, near where I grew up! And I am still loving how nobody remembers who Copper is – not even Will Magnus.