Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3 review

The Doom Patrol really do have to be unstoppable this month or their new mission of ‘saving the world by saving the monsters’ is dead in the water. Negative Man and Robotman are being chased by two Green Lanterns they try to get a new metahuman to the relative safety of their HQ.

Their charge has a look that will be familiar to readers of classic Justice League tales.

He looks like a typical victim of the extraterrestrial warlord but Starbro is something more – when a baby Starro set down on Mason’s face, his latent metagene activated. Now he’s a powerful psychic and feels more comfortable in his own body than he ever has. And Cliff really should use that punny name their charge has come up with, says Larry.

Meanwhile, GLs Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner are wobbly about the idea of someone with a faceful of Starro spore running free. Those things tend to spread.

While Larry has used the Negative Spirit to knacker the GLs’ tracking ability, Guy and Kyle still have their eyes and speed, so do eventually catch our boys, in Denver, Colorado. Cue the Negative Spirit

And Robotman has a very cool trick up his rusty sleeve.

Eventually, though, the Lanterns force Cliff to stop the car and it’s time to talk.

Honestly, the Lanterns are disappointing in what’s otherwise a very enjoyable guest shot. Sure, the Doom Patrol are a little to the left of most DC Universe super-teams, but surely they’ve been associates of the Justice League long enough to deserve the benefit of the doubt? Heck, the JLA were at Elasti-Girl’s wedding to dreamy Mento!

Kyle is pretty out of character, he’s usually a chilled chap, not the type to cave in to Batman’s ‘MY city’ nonsense. But that’s definitely Guy, following orders while enjoying the moments of chaos.

That’s my only negative criticism with Dennis Culver’s script because this is my favourite issue of the DP’s mini-series yet. It’s focused, fast moving, full of character and action – a terrific read. Which isn’t to say I didn’t like the first and second issues a lot. It’s just that, the groundwork having been laid, we can sit back and reap the rewards of the hard work of Culver and artistic partner Chris Burnham.

Ah yes, Chris Burnham. The art here is a real treat, with some lovely ‘acting’ even from characters like Larry and Starbro, whose faces are covered. The way Burnham animates the Negative Spirit is especially nice, and I loved the flashback to the birth of Rebis in Grant Morrison and Richard Case’s Doom Patrol #19. The success of that image is also due to the work of colourist Brian Reber, who matches the original hues. When it comes to his own choices Reber is equally excellent, whether it’s something as simple as twilight or the way the GL rays play against the power of Negative Man in that knotty image a few pars back. Oh, and how about this colourful page showing us what the rest of the new Doom Patrol are up to as Larry and Cliff collect Starbro?

I certainly shan’t be sad if next issue we see the full encounter with Animal Vegetable Mineral Man. If this is all we get, though, well, we’ll always have bejewelled dinosaurs.

Another great visual is the movie poster-style opening spread which accompanies Culver’s clever title, The Fast and the Nebulous (mind, the story would allow for ‘spurious’). The ever-talented Pat Brosseau gives us the perfect title design along with the rest of the issue’s lovely lettering.

Ben Abernathy! I’ve not mentioned him, he’s editing and he’s a contributor to this splendid series. Well done, Ben.

The cover, showcasing Cliff’s cracking car, is as great as the rest of the issue. I realise the glow around the logo is likely motivated by the green guests – we get extra GLs on the cover – but can we keep it? It really lifts what is, like so many new DC logos, a rather flat treatment. One thing – given an extra issue has been announced, shouldn’t the numbering read ‘1 of 7’?

However many issues we get, I’ll be glad of every one – this well-written, wonderfully visualised series is prime Doom Patrol steak.