The atoms are buzzing. The daydreams crowd sentient streets, and the creative team has been warned, “Turn back now or suffer the mighty consequence of sheer, psycho-maniacal mayhem.” Generation-arsonists unite—this is DOOM PATROL, and the God of the Super Heroes is bleeding on the floor. A blenderized reimagining of the ultimate series of the strange, DOOM PATROL combines elements from classic runs, new directions, and things that could not be. Our entry point is Casey Brinke, a young EMT on the graveyard shift to abstract enlightenment, with a past so odd that she’s not entirely sure what is real and what is not. Along with her partner, Sam Reynolds, the pair blaze a path through the city and its denizens, finding the only quiet that exists at 3am is the chaos of the brain. When the pair answer a hit-and-run call, they find themselves face to face with a familiar Cliff Steele, AKA Robotman. “It gets weirder from here,” writer Gerard Way had to say about the book, with artist Nick Derington gripping tightly on the wheel of the ambulance. The pair’s only communication? Shouting out of the open windows while at high velocity. Who needs a new roommate? Who names a cat “Lotion”? And when do we get to see all those muscles?
Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer who served as frontman, lead vocalist, and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance from the time of its formation in 2001 until its breakup in 2013. He is the author of the Eisner Award-winning comic book series The Umbrella Academy (now a Netflix original series) and The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys. In January 2014, he announced via Twitter that he and artist Gabriel Ba will begin work on Umbrella Academy Volumes 3 & 4 in late 2014/early 2015. His debut solo album Hesitant Alien was released on September 30, 2014. Way lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife Lindsey (bassist of Mindless Self Indulgence) and their daughter, Bandit.
If you're confused as to why there is a foil-wrapped gyro on the cover of 'Doom Patrol #1' by Gerard Way with art by Nick Derington, you need only read inside to find out what it all means. Or maybe it won't make any sense to you either.
The book opens with a series of four panels. What they have to do with anything isn't explained here. Are they the future or the past or some fever dream? We don't find out...yet. Next we meet Casey Brinke who is whiteknuckling an ambulance through town on her shift. She's our main focus for this issue it would seem. She has a cat named Lotion and a box full of the smashed up parts of Robotman (which she plans to put back together). Add in plans for an alien run burger joint, and the meaning of life in a gyro, and you've got an odd ride.
But it's a good one. This title is on DC's new Young Animal imprint. It feels a bit like Vertigo, and a bit not. The writing is out there and I can't wait for issue 2. The art is great and I'd like to throw a shout out to colorist Tamra Bonvillain who really makes things pop off the page, especially those first four frames. What a ride!
I received a review copy of this issue from DC Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this comic book.
i feel like as a first issue this was lacking. if you don't know what doom patrol is already, then it's almost incoherent. especially with the added characters. with that being said, i do like gerard's way (lol) of storytelling. there's something different about it that you don't get from people who only write comics for a living.
I bought this out of nostalgia. I don't remember a ton about the Grant Morrison run on Doom Patrol in the 90s other than that I liked it because it was *weird*.
This has a similar feel, but somehow more modern. It's not just weird--I laughed out loud a couple of times. It was fun and I didn't want it to be over. That's rare of anything I read.
This is the first monthly DC book that I've read in a long time that wasn't hot garbage. Now I have to decide if I want to keep buying it every month like a sucker or wait for the TPB.
First off, I'm not sure what this new imprint for DC is going to be like. I mean, is it like Vertigo? or is it going to be like Image comics? Not sure. time will tell.
Now, on to the comic. I haven't read much that included the Doom Patrol, I'll be honest. So, I was particularly interested to see what they're like. I have a feeling this was way (author pun!) different than the previous incarnations. While I didn't particularly love it, I didn't hate it either. It had some good moments, and I liked a couple of the characters. But some of the scenes seemed a little thrown in, and I didn't quite grasp what happened. But Not a bad comic. The artwork was okay, and felt like the new wave of comics coming out from the indie comic companies.
I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley.com and the publisher.
The verdict's still out there on this one. Not sure how I feel about introducing new characters into Doom Patrol but we'll see how they pan out. The writing's good and keeps you reading, so there's that.
I own three different covers of this comic because Gerard Way is my favorite person in the entire world and I was able to meet him again and have him sign them at New York Comic Con. Now that you understand what made me pick this up, let's get to the review!
After reading it, I had zero clue what I had just read. I get the storyline just a little bit now but it's only the first issue so there's still so much left to find out. I really like Casey though, and her cat because it's name is awesome.
I gave this a 3 out of 5 because it was so weird but I was into it. It left me confused but actually wanting to continue it and see what happens.
An interesting start, but also a bit... off. Like, it felt as though some things had been cut that shouldn't have, and some things were added that weren't nessicary. I think this run will end up being pretty good though!
I'm not quite sure what I just read, but it was an entertaining experience. Pretty weird story with amazing artwork by Nick Derington. I think I have a preference to Gerard's writing in the Umbrella Academy, but that's not a slight on Doom Patrol. I prefer that style of storyline. The variant covers were an added bonus in this gn, especially the Allred pieces. BUT, the Simon Bisley alt cover is the shit and should be on a wall at MOMA.
I have no idea of what I just read. I didn't see much of the doom patrol in this first issue, so gotta wait for the next ones. It was pretty weird and I got a bunch of questions, and 30 pages it is not enough to get an idea of what the hell is going on when there are so many things happening at the same time. This is my first tme reading anything realted to the Doom Patrol, and I'm not sure if this is the best way to start, but I'll give it a try.
This is a very fun look at Doom Patrol. But, completely takes the wackiness that is the Doom Patrol and dials it up even more. Best way to read this book is just try not to think about the consequences too much. And probably to reread it because it is pretty convoluted.
Great to finally get to this run and see what's up with Casey Brinke and the gang. I really dig the art here. It's the best it's been since the Grant Morrison era.
I enjoyed this first issue so much. First of all, the art and colour is absolutely fantastic. I would continue reading simply for the visual spectacle of it all (the panels that seem to be digital colour under pencil line work and shading are especially pleasing), but the story is just as exciting.
With dialogue and internal monologues that read like MCR Danger Days lyrics and fantastically bizarre characters and situations to match, the story whips along in a surreal and seemingly disjointed manner that nevertheless managed to pique my interest rather than leaving me confused.
There are just enough hints and flow between scene jumps to provide a feeling of cohesion to this strange, yet gloriously intriguing volume, and the characters take things in there stride in a way that prompts the reader to do just the same. I think I will definitely be coming along for this ride. 4.75 stars.
I am enjoying this book so far although I have no idea of what's going on. The artwork and the characters are interesting in their own ways so I'm looking forward to finding out what will happen with them next.
I am hoping that the writers will bring things in the story together over the next few issues because I've always enjoyed the thought of the old Doom Patrol and want to see what will happen with them in the Young Animal Universe. This is also peaking my interest for other Young Imprint titles such as Shade The Changing Girl, Cave Carson, and Mother Panic. I just hope that the story picks up in the next few issues and makes more sense and not become a book that's weird just to be weird. Time will tell, but so far I'm along for the ride and encourage others to give it a shot!
(Luckily I managed to find a copy of the first printing and now have the gyro sticker on my MacBook)
Anyway, I can't wait to read the rest of this series. I've read a few reviews previously and I can agree that this comic is choppy. But in a good way. It doesn't make you comfy and cozy; it makes you high and alert because it switches back and forth from different settings and different characters. Some parts are confusing here and there because I haven't read Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol before. Later I'm probably gonna read it again just to be familiarized with things.
If anybody is thinking about reading this, there is two scenes with mild profanity, so this probably makes this a teen or young adult comic.
Giving it a middle~ rating because I literally have no idea what was going on. I've never read any Doom Patrol comics before this so I don't know if I'm missing out on extra info that would've helped me understand this better. Really liked the art though, and I'll continue on with the issues I have on pre-order.
Wonderful art and a twisted, interesting universe that we are plopped into. Favorite quote:
"The world is hard and unforgiving. It can change you. Because we are made up of the things that happen to us. The GOOD things fill your heart. But the BAD things and what we choose to do with them, really make us who we ARE."