REVIEW: ‘Unstoppable Doom Patrol,’ Issue #1

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 is a new series published by DC Comics, written by Dennis Culver, art by Chris Burnham, colors by Brian Reber, and letters by Pat Brosseau. The Doom Patrol has rolled into Gotham looking for a new metahuman causing trouble as the chief unveils a new mission statement.

Following the events of Lazarus Planet, the plot tries to utilize the same energy that both the previous comics and TV series have excelled at creating. It is the acerbic, bizarre nature of the team and their activities. This adventure is fun, but the plot can be difficult to process. The mission the Doom Patrol go on is a mad battle in the middle of Gotham, drawing us in quickly. Culver places the team within an important and current situation within the DC Universe, using the outgoing event to provide Doom Patrol with a mission.

But there are also machinations happening among separate groups in different parts of the world, the plot taking time to jump to these areas. This is the part that piques my interest, with the concept of this book always generating unpredictability. The mission statement seems to welcome newness and unexplored territories, but there are still callbacks and the inclusion of deep cuts in the DC archives of characters.

The cast of the Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 starts small, but there is clearly the intention of expansion. The initial roster is just four, with the new Chief, Elasti-Girl, Negative Man, and Robtoman being the group that walks into Gotham, but they aren’t the full team that leaves the city. These established figures are written brilliantly, and their dialogue is instantly recognizable and enjoyable. It isn’t a laugh-a-minute kind of story, with the crazy situations being the gravitation pull for the humor. At the centre is the new Chief, who has the intelligence and attitude to be the leader of an outfit like this. But they also seem more willing to help than the Caulder was, approaching situations with a different mindset.

 Just within this first issue, two new characters are brought in that match that is bizarre but instantly intriguing. They fit in perfectly with the angry misfits of the group. But Doom Patrol is being encroached on by other groups with a much larger outside cast. And with it being Gotham, a guest star is necessary. In this case, Unstoppable Doom Patrol needs to be careful not to get too busy and lose the individual voices. 

The art is very interesting. There is an incredible amount of detail in this comic. This is noticeable from the first true shot of Gotham. There is so much going on which generates a personality for the whole book. It’s an example of the world the Doom Patrol exists in. But every location, character, and pretty much every panel has added lines for more emphasis. And most of the time, this is used effectively. All the character designs are great, some being made creepier by more texture around the edges.

The beings they fight are brand new creations and are a mix of haunting and brilliant. The powers of the Doom Patrol and the battle itself are superb, incredibly noisy, and lively. But there are times when there is simply too much crammed into a small space. The incredulity of the situations is part and parcel of the comic, and that should never be considered a negative, but playing with scale whilst still maintaining the same amount of detail can sometimes be overbearing.

The colors are fantastic. There is a darkness to the comic, but that doesn’t prevent some more vibrant tones from making an appearance. There are these minion people that have blue costumes, and they are always standing among the sheer chaos of everything else happening. The blending of shades by Reber is superb, highlighting that the detail in the line art is mirrored by the colors as well. The lettering is always easy to find and read.

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 channels the attitude of the team within its pages. Following the success of the TV series, the issue actually amalgamates a lot of current goings on within DC TV and comics, giving both a direction to travel in within. From first glance, it is clear that there is a big story to be told that balances both the past and the future. The Doom Patrol seems reinvigorated with the potential for even more change, whilst the art team makes it a visually fascinating issue.

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 is available where comics are sold.