DCU Comic Book Reviews

DOOM PATROL #7

While You Were Out...

April 2010

Written by Keith Giffen

Pencils by Matthew Clark and Cliff Richards

Inks by Livesay

Cover by Justiniano

Synopsis

In Buena Suerte, Thayer Jost checks in to see how his money is being invested.  On Oolong Island, President Veronica Cale places Niles Caulder on arrest house.  In the hospital, Father Rocky Davis tries to talk to Caulder about recent events, but Caulder doesn’t want to talk to him. At Dayton Manor, Oberon leads a moving company to transport the Doom Patrol belongings.  Elsewhere, Father Davis is brought in to talk to a woman discovered wandering the beaches, who might be a little crazy.  In Nevada, the police catch up to Dr. Sven Larsen.  When they push him too far, he turns into Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man.  Afterwards, he is contacted by Thayer Jost, who wants him to join a new group he is putting together.  In Coast City, Doom Patrol prepare to return home.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

After reading this issue, I did a search of this here interweb thingy and learned that Larsen is a foe of Doom Patrol while Crazy Jane was a member of Doom Patrol during Grant Morrison’s run.  I think this is part of the problem I have been having with this series.  Normally, I enjoy the continuity of comic books and really get a kick out of writers who can successfully integrate the past and present into current stories.  However, Doom Patrol is the exception to the rule.  I am having difficulty with this series and I think it is because of the way Giffen keeps bringing in older characters from the different versions of Doom Patrol (and the Blackest Night tie-ins didn’t do the book any favors).  It is not so much that Giffen is bringing the characters back, but that he is doing it so early in book.  Part of it is my unfamiliarity with the team, both of its past but as well as the present.  I don’t know Doom Patrol, if you get my meaning, so I think it hurts the characters by constantly bringing in newer/older characters.  I want a story that features the team, you know, being a team.  I thought the best part of this comic was the brief scene with Niles and Rocky and the last page with the team.  Everything else in between just didn’t quite make sense to me and therefore didn’t interest me all that much.  I am guessing that Doom Patrol fans will really like this issue, but for someone like me, it is not grabbing my attention or getting my interest in reading more.  I want more of Doom Patrol that exists now, not a stroll down memory lane. 

Comic Connection

Thayer Jost was the financial backer of the team during the John Arcudi run on Doom Patrol (Volume 3) from 2001.  Crazy Jane, created by Grant Morrison, first appeared in issue #19 of Doom Patrol Volume 2.  Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man first appeared in issue #89 of the first volume of Doom Patrol. 

In issue #35 of the second volume of Doom Patrol, Morrison created a character called Danny The Street.  Literally, it was a sentient roadway.  On page 9 of this issue, that is Danny The Street (identified by the “Danny Gazette”) that was destroyed. 

The End Of The Road!

Written by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis

Art by Tim Levins and Dan Davis

Synopsis

At the police station, Dr. Magnus agrees to drop all charges as long as Professor Rumpus agrees to come work for him.  Elsewhere, the Metal Men fight Giganta.  Meanwhile, Leonard Ruttman, who believes he is Douglas, Robot Hunter, plants a bomb in the home of the Metal Men.  However, it backfires when the security activates, trapping him inside.  As he tries to make his escape, he receives a call from his agent who informs him his show has been picked up by SyFy for another season.  It is enough to shock him out of his delusion.  Just then the Metal Men return and the house explodes.  

Review

Like all the rest of this second feature, this was great.  I loved it.  I am going to miss this second feature.  This has consistently been a joy to read, funny as hell with great visual gags and wonderful character moments.  I loved every moment of this story.  Even the ending to this feature, as rushed as it felt as if they didn’t know it was ending until the last minute, still fit perfectly into everything else that was happening.  

 

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