ARCUDI ON DOOM PATROL

[MattBrady]

<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/DC/pic_lrgdopa16cvr.jpg" width="175" height="266" border="0" align="right" alt="Doom Patrol #16">by Alex Segura Jr.

They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysterious and spooky,
They're all together ooky…
The Doom Patrol?

Dubbed "The World's Strangest Heroes" upon their first appearance in the pages of My Greatest Adventure, the team has gone through a bevy of creators and interpretations over the years, earning their strange moniker.

With almost 20 issues under their belt, writer John (Thunderbolts) Arcudi and penciller Tan Eng Huat are the latest creative team to put their stamp on the warriors of weird. Newsarama caught up with Arcudi to get the latest on DC's merry group of freaks and what fans can expect to see in the coming months.

Brought together by Jost Enterprises, the team features Kid Slick, who can form force fields that allow him to slide and move objects; Fever, who can heat things up by raising their temperature; and Freak, who uses her tough hair to ensnare stuff. Throw in veteran Doom Patrol members Robotman, who was brought in to help the youngsters, and Negative Man and you've got the latest incarnation of the World's Strangest Heroes.

Aside from the usual Doom Patrol weirdness, the team has lost a member, faced off against a "new" Doom Patrol that features Elongated Man and Metamorpho and had their minds transplanted into the bodies of the original Doom Patrol. But that's only part of it.

<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/DC/pic_lrgdopa17cvr.jpg" width="175" height="266" border="0" align="left" alt="Doom Patrol #17">For those unfamiliar with Doom Patrol, Arcudi can sum up the team easily: family.

"Maybe the best way to describe the Doom Patrol is as a dysfunctional family that stays together because they really don't know what else to do," Arcudi said. "That's a simplification, of course. Each member has his or her motive for staying part of the team. Ted/Negative Man wants to be a figure of authority, Ava wants to feel less like a freak, Shyleen/Fever wants to help the world but lacks the confidence to do it on her own and Slick wants Shyleen. And Thayer Jost, the man who pays the bills, is in this to raise his international profile as billionaire/adventurer/philanthropist/etc. Some guys run for president, some fly hot air balloons, some buy super-hero teams. The point is, there is no unified cause for this group as you usually see in other 'team' books.

Readers can look forward to more off-the-wall stories in the coming month, Arcudi says, including a TV version of the Patrol.

"There's a TV version of the Doom Patrol that has shown up in the book - it's an attempt by Thayer Jost to make a little money off the license - and that begins to play a larger and larger role in the series,” Arcudi said. “Tycho Bray , who, for some reason, DC has called a Samurai, is returning to achieve his ultimate goal, as is the creature, Nao Yut. The background of both these characters will be filled out for old and new readers in a kind of fun way. It's not really a Doom Patrol story, but the way we handle it, it is. Just gonna have to read #18 and see what the hell that's supposed to mean."

While like other teams in the DCU, many different creators have handled the Doom Patrol since its inception, but unlike other teams, the team has crossed imprints, notably of course, a long run as a Vertigo title, which included a run by a guy named Grant Morrison. Given its hither and yons, the team has standard superhero stories in its background, as well as adventures that are a few steps away from Morrison’s The Filth.

<img src="http://classic.newsarama.com/DC/pic_lrgdopa18cvr.jpg" width="175" height="266" border="0" align="right" alt="Doom Patrol #18">Combining elements of the various versions isn't too tough to balance, though, Arcudi says. "It's not really a tough tightrope at all," Arcudi said. "All continuity is useful, for one reason or another. Any writer or artist can build on continuity. The tricky part is not stealing, but we've avoided that. Issue #20 is a great case of exploiting past continuity while creating a new story that fits right into the continuity of the present Doom Patrol incarnation. It's another of those odd sort of stories, but that's what makes this book fun."

Aside from crafting off beat stories, it's the characters that make writing the book a good experience, Arcudi says. "Writing people, and making them feel like more than just characters is what's most fun," Arcudi said. "If they're going to be around month after month, the reader has to care about them, so that's the most important thing to a series' success, in the opinion of some folks, anyway. It's also nice to conceive an unusual take on a story."

It also helps to have a solid artist putting pen to paper, and Arcudi says the title has one in Tan Eng Huat, a newcomer at the start of the series, who was immediately signed to an exclusive contract by DC.

"Tan is very gifted," Arcudi said. "We don't talk much, seeing as he's on the other side of the world, but he's fast and good. As to how his art has developed, well, folks will just have to look at issues #1-#16 and see for themselves."

Picking up Doom Patrol is a no-brainer if you ask Arcudi. "Well, the book is beautiful," Arcudi said. "The art is just tremendous, and it's not a bad read. The kinds of stories coming up in the next four issues - particularly #'s 18 and 20 - you just can't find in any other comic. That ain't a boast, just plain truth. See for yourselves. Besides, where else are you going to find characters like the Purple Purposeless?"

[RotSman]

Doom Patrol is one of those books that gets a huge mythological boost by all the different interpretations. Take the "classic" team, contrast it with the stuff from the late 80s and early 90s, and now this different-sounding version, and you've got a team with a lot of depth. Imagine if The Avengers went through that kind of creative process!

Doom Patrol also gets a bad rap as DC's version of the X-Men, but I don't think it's entirely deserved. DC has certainly tried that riff with DP every so often, but Marvel did the same with New Warriors (their Teen Titan-esque book). The differences in both cases outfavor the similarities.

I think I'll give this book a shot if I see it on the stands.

Matt
<a href="http://www.infiniteplayground.com" target="_blank">http://www.infiniteplayground.com</a>

[Philip A Moore]

It nice to see Doom Patrol getting some publicity it not my favorite read but it's not that bad good day

[rockieman]

I've heard alot of good things about the book, but I haven't had the chance to check it out yet.

Unfortunately the book has already been cancelled. I think #22 will be the last issue. I guess I'll try to pick it up after the fact at a deep discount.

[PopCultureKid]

The DP has always looked interesting but I didn't get on board at the beginning.

Any news on possible Trade Paperbacks collecting this series?

[Gelogurte]

I'll tell you guys the truth: I NEVER read Doom Patrol. Not one single edition. That's why I'm not reading it now. But it's a talented creative team. Any trade paperbacks around?

[Act of God]

[quote]Originally posted by rockieman:
<strong>
Unfortunately the book has already been cancelled. I think #22 will be the last issue. </strong><hr></blockquote>

A lie.The book is NOT being cancelled.And it is indeed excellent...
:mad:

[Harry Tzvi Keusch]

I discontinued my subscription on the current run. The art was nice, but the stories didn't really grab me.

As to TPB's, there is atleast one DP TPB including the first 7 issues of the Morrison run. I think it's called "Climbing from the Wreckage".

[Tommy]

I bought the first issue on a whim, and it's consistently one of my favorites. Doom Patrol and the Ultimates are always the first things I read on my list. Pick this book up!

[PeregrineReviews]

Geek Mode ON

Sorry, but the Negative Man appearing in the current run is not a veteran member. He's a rookie who was saddled with the nickname because of his pessimistic outlook. His original codename was something like Flashforward or something equally lame. The only true veteran member on the team is Robotman, and welll... that's a long story also.

Geek Mode OFF.

[John Jakala]

Nerd Nitpick Alert: I was surprised to hear Arcudi refer to Ted as "Negative Man" - I thought Ted's codename was "Flash Forward" or "Fast Forward" or something like that. Yes, I know other team members call Ted "Negative Man" due to his negative attitude, but I never thought Arcudi intended for that name to stick. In any event, Ted is certainly not one of the "veteran Doom Patrol members" as the article states - he's a new character appearing for the first time in Arcudi's run.

[OM]

[quote]Originally posted by RotSman:
<strong>Doom Patrol also gets a bad rap as DC's version of the X-Men, but I don't think it's entirely deserved.</strong><hr></blockquote>

...Especially because the original DP was DC's version of the Fantastic Four.

[DarthRandall]

This is a solid read. It's not as great as Powers or Ultimates, but it does deliver the goods month in and month out.

[quote] Unfortunately the book has already been cancelled. I think #22 will be the last issue. I guess I'll try to pick it up after the fact at a deep discount. <hr></blockquote>
:confused: Got a link to any news on this?

[Scott Wherle]

Often comedic, sometimes dramatic, always good. DP is a fresh take on the superhero team dynamic. Love this book. In my top five reads every month. Been picking it up since Issue 1 and haven't been let down since. Give it a shot. The rumors of its demise are exaggerated.

[Chris Galdieri]

----------

[Jeremy Williams]

I decided to not pick the book when it first came-out because i really thought it was going to be a mini-series. When it went past issue six, i thought that it was a twelve-issue mini-series :D . Now it`s recognised as a good book, but i`ve missed a big chunk of it...damn. And i only buy paperbacks about non-super-hero stuff like Vertigo etc...

Oh well..let`s hope it gets cancelled soon so i don`t have to see every month in "Previews" this good book that i might have read...

That`s what you get with poor marketing, i guess.

[Gerson Agena]

[quote]Originally posted by rockieman:
<strong>Unfortunately the book has already been cancelled. I think #22 will be the last issue. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Although sales have not been good, Doom Patrol has NOT been officially cancelled. Like many others I'm enjoying this title and I'll keep Doom Patrol in my pull list as long as it lasts.

[steveupson]

I also would highly recommend this book. It's generally agreed that Tan Eng Huat's art is beautiful (& Seth Fisher's 2-parter was excellent as well), but I think Arcudi has built some great characters that each have unique voices. I really enjoy the dialogue--dysfunctional family sounds like a cliche, but in this case it fits. They're all likeable characters, even when they're not being so likeable--if that makes sense.

[gOgIver]

Arcudi's current Legends of the Dark Knight arc is great. It's nice to see the Joker again!

[Elayne Riggs]

[quote]Originally posted by John Jakala:
<strong>Yes, I know other team members call Ted "Negative Man" due to his negative attitude, but I never thought Arcudi intended for that name to stick.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't think Arcudi would have so many scenes where Ted says "don't call me Negative Man!" if he didn't intend the name to stick. :)

This book is a consistently good read, and I'm really enjoying the byplay between the characters. It also wins my vote for most consistently funny use of a cell phone.

- Elayne

[dollman]

[quote]Originally posted by Harry Tzvi Keusch:
<strong>I discontinued my subscription on the current run. The art was nice, but the stories didn't really grab me.

As to TPB's, there is atleast one DP TPB including the first 7 issues of the Morrison run. I think it's called "Climbing from the Wreckage".</strong><hr></blockquote>


I did the same thing, dropping the title at issue 15 or thereabouts. The thing that disappointed me was it never explained what happen to the last team (the Vertigo version). I kept waiting and waiting for Arcudi to explained what happened to Rebis (nee Negative Man) and the Chief. I dropped the Vertigo version a couple issues after Morrison left, so there's a gap of stories from the previous series to the current that I really wanted some answers to.

I realize writers aren't bound to what previous creative teams have done. However, with it's rich and somewhat convulated history, it would had been nice if some explanation had been provided. There was the story with Dorothy from the last team, which answered nothing. So many questions....

[little kon-el]

[quote]Originally posted by OM:
<strong>

...Especially because the original DP was DC's version of the Fantastic Four.</strong><hr></blockquote>

nope, the DC versin of the Fantastic Four was the Challengers of the Unknown. The Doom Patrol is DC's version of the X-Men...being created at roughly the same time as X-Men #1. The whole professor in a wheel chair and a group of young people who were freaks lends itself more towards the x-men than anyone else.

little kon-el

[rockieman]

I should have made mention in my earlier post that I don't think it has been "officially" cancelled, but I was told by someone who actually works on the book that it has been cancelled.

As for trades, it seems that DC (in general) is a little slow putting out trades for series that are doing well (i.e. Legion), let alone a series on the chopping block. Hopefully they will come through.

[Greg Saunders Fan]

[quote]Originally posted by dollman:
<strong>
I did the same thing, dropping the title at issue 15 or thereabouts. The thing that disappointed me was it never explained what happen to the last team (the Vertigo version). I kept waiting and waiting for Arcudi to explained what happened to Rebis (nee Negative Man) and the Chief. I dropped the Vertigo version a couple issues after Morrison left, so there's a gap of stories from the previous series to the current that I really wanted some answers to.

I realize writers aren't bound to what previous creative teams have done. However, with it's rich and somewhat convulated history, it would had been nice if some explanation had been provided. There was the story with Dorothy from the last team, which answered nothing. So many questions....</strong><hr></blockquote>

Actually John explained exactly what happened to the last incarnation of the team. Dorothy's powers blew up Cliff, Kate and herself. They showed that George & Marion were (and apparently still are) at the house in Violet Valley. The Head (previously the Chief) is off to explore new worlds, as was detailed in the last issue of the Vertigo series.

Rebis, Crazy Jane are from a previous incarnation of the team, and their fates were already resolved by Grant Morrison (Rebis is exploring Danny the World, and Crazy Jane is either still there or died in a suicide attempt, depending on how you look at the last Morrison story and a couple of issues of Rachel Pollack's run).

John is using the history of the Doom Patrol quite well IMO, since he has at least acknowledged (and in some cases validated) all the incarnations and imprints of the team. He did "pander", if you want to call it that, to the old-time fans by bringing back the original team )(in his own inimitable, and very Doom-Patrol-like style).

I'd love to see something of the Morrison team come back into play myself, but I can't see a good justification from bringing back Rebis, Danny or Crazy Jane (and Flex Mentallo is out for reasons of legality).

--Rich

[Alex Segura Jr.]

[quote]Originally posted by Chris Galdieri:
<strong>

Any chance the online comics press could make using "it's" and "its" correctly its New Year's resolution for 2003?

"It's" is the contraction of "it is." "Its" is the third person neuter possessive pronoun. Never use "it's" as a possessive.

Please?</strong><hr></blockquote>

IT'S been fixed. Thanks for catching it. ;)

Alex

[LFKittsteiner]

[quote] Originally posted by little kon-el:
nope, the DC versin of the Fantastic Four was the Challengers of the Unknown.<hr></blockquote>

But I thought the Challengers predated the FF by a couple of years! Can somebody help me with the dates?

LFKO.

[COREMARK]

I love this book, it's not your standard superhero fare and the art is amazing. I hope DC puts out a trade for this run soon, friends of mine have been unable to find many early issues.

[cannon]

DOOM PATROL deserves a trade. It's the kind of fun, solid, neat, and amusing book that doesn't make waves on a monthly basis, but would quickly pick up fans if they could devour chunks of it in one sitting.

Jim Cannon

[Tenzel Kim]

Doom Patrol is by far one of my favorite books currently. Not only does it have great art but the stories while being completely different from anything I've seen in connection with Doom Patrol it still has a strangeness that makes a worthy successor of both of the previous series.

One of the things I love about this book is that every issue ends on a great cliffhanger that makes you want to read the next issue right away. But unlike a lot of other books you don't feel that you've been led on and that it is being done to make you hang on. It is just another part of what makes the book good. The cliffhanger is often resolved very quickly in the following issue and often turns out to be only a very small and not neccesarily very important part of the following story but when reading the individual issues that along with the great charactarization make the series one of the most entertaining books around.

Great to see it get some attention. It certainly derserves it, just as it deserves much better sales than it has now, so all of you who aren't reading it go pick up an issue right away!

Tenz.

[SonOfTheJoker'sDaughter]

Maybe I’m horribly optimistic here, but I would hope we are all far enough into the electronic information age to realize that the whole “Hey I heard from someone on the inside that this book is canned” stuff is pretty much bunk. If you have info, share your source . . . name names, or get off the pot (so to speak).

DOOM PATROL is the best team book DC publishes right now, only CATWOMAN keeps me from saying it’s the best book period. It’s a pretty fresh new take on the original concept, and extremely well done.

I hate the idea of “I’ll pick it up in trade form,” because when a book has no trades announced. Plus, a typical TPB can run you anywhere from 14 –20 dollars depending on the size. If you go that route, and don’t like the story, you’re out that money, but if you just drop 3 bucks on a single issue, you can pretty much figure out if it’s worth your time, and still be up by about $10.

(and for the guy who was put off by the current team not telling what happened to the last incarnation – he did. The two members you named, Rebis and the Chief both had their stories completed in the last run, thereby negating John’s responsibility to explain their whereabouts).

[stlfan79]

Doom Patrol is the best team book on the market today BAR NONE. The art and stories are consistently stellar and I am always waiting eagerly for the next issue. Tan-Eng Huat is an up and comer and John Arcudi writes the characters so well it is disgusting. If you have not tried this out do your self a favor and do so.

[cmdrkoenig]

[quote]Originally posted by little kon-el:
<strong>

nope, the DC versin of the Fantastic Four was the Challengers of the Unknown. The Doom Patrol is DC's version of the X-Men...being created at roughly the same time as X-Men #1. The whole professor in a wheel chair and a group of young people who were freaks lends itself more towards the x-men than anyone else.

little kon-el</strong><hr></blockquote>

WRONG little kon-el, The Doom Patrol is not DC's version of the X-Men...they both came out at almost the same time, but Doom Patrol was first by a few months...it was just a miraculous coincidence.

[Nakedmanatee]

DP is the best team superhero book out there. It's kinda weird and kinda quirky, which a book like DP should be. If you're buying X-Statix, I would recommend DP for more clever, strange takes on the super-hero life.

[OM]

[quote]Originally posted by little kon-el:
<strong>nope, the DC versin of the Fantastic Four was the Challengers of the Unknown. </strong><hr></blockquote>

...Nope yourself. Challs was the first comic Kirby did after breaking up with Joe Simon, and saw print in 1957. FF came next in 1961, while DP showed up in 1963. They each share some common elements, but each one derives and expands upon its predecessor.

Next time, if you never read the originals as I did, try doing a little research, eh?

[quote]Originally posted by cmdrkoenig:
<strong>WRONG little kon-el, The Doom Patrol is not DC's version of the X-Men...they both came out at almost the same time, but Doom Patrol was first by a few months...it was just a miraculous coincidence.</strong><hr></blockquote>

...If anything, DP is more of a synthesis between the FF and X-Men. You have four persons trying to cope with being societal outcasts due to their metahuman abilities, while at the same time using those powers not just to protect those who fear them but to actually explore the world around them. Look at the similarities:

Reed Richards & Niles Caulder - geniuses who are responsible for the group's well-being, not to mention the current conditions, respectively, of:

Ben Grimm & Cliff Steele - Both became monstrosities while in the pilot/driver's seat of a high-performance experimental vehicle.

Sue Storm/Rita Farr - Women who are able to extend their reach thru various means, and have some connection with Hollywood.

Johnny Storm/Larry Trainor - Their abilities allow them to fly, but produce a hazard when used.

...Again, the original DP was DC's answer more to the FF than it was to X-Men, but some elements were adapted. Not the first time one company's ripped off another, and probably won't be the last.

Especially when DC dusts off Ambush Bug to compete with Joe Quemas, Jr...er...Gus Beezer...

[TheRay]

I can't recommend this book enough, especially to those who just love quirky and oddly lovable characters and stories. Anyone who loved Madman, The Atomics, The B-Sides or anything remotely similar... check Doom Patrol out.

It's been a consistently entertaining read... and Tan's pencils are pretty damn neat. He's got a unique style that seems to fit in perfectly with Arcudi's great characterization and plots. Plus... he's consistent! You don't find too many other great artists with the same great consistency (aside from Rags Morales on Hawkman and Scott Kolins on Flash... 2 other awesome DC titles).

Pick it up. It's definitely fun! And that's what comics should be about, right? Putting a smile on your face? :)

[cmdrkoenig]

[quote]Originally posted by OM:
<strong>

...If anything, DP is more of a synthesis between the FF and X-Men. You have four persons trying to cope with being societal outcasts due to their metahuman abilities, while at the same time using those powers not just to protect those who fear them but to actually explore the world around them. Look at the similarities:

Reed Richards & Niles Caulder - geniuses who are responsible for the group's well-being, not to mention the current conditions, respectively, of:

Ben Grimm & Cliff Steele - Both became monstrosities while in the pilot/driver's seat of a high-performance experimental vehicle.

Sue Storm/Rita Farr - Women who are able to extend their reach thru various means, and have some connection with Hollywood.

Johnny Storm/Larry Trainor - Their abilities allow them to fly, but produce a hazard when used.

...Again, the original DP was DC's answer more to the FF than it was to X-Men, but some elements were adapted. Not the first time one company's ripped off another, and probably won't be the last.

</strong><hr></blockquote>
:mad:
The Doom Patrol is not a rip-off of anything and you're really reaching on some of your DP/FF parallels. Cliff Steele was not driving an experimental race car...it was just a race car, Sue Storm was a model, Rita Farr an actress and Olympic swimmer...and Larry Trainor could not fly, Negative Man was the one who flew when he was projected from Larry's body. Some of the concepts are similar and some "borrowing" was probably done, but hardly a rip-off. The group was very original as a hero team. The Doom Patrol still came out before the X-Men...so that comparison holds no weight...it was just a freaky coincidence....that's it.

[Vacuumboy9]

[quote]Originally posted by Jeremy Williams:
<strong>Oh well..let`s hope it gets cancelled soon so i don`t have to see every month in "Previews" this good book that i might have read...
</strong><hr></blockquote>

What?
I hope that's sarcasm, because it makes no sense.

you know why it makes no sense? Because if you asked me, a complete and total stranger you don't even know, I would track down all the issues up to the current one for you, buy them and sell them to you for LESS than I paid for them.

That's how much i love this book.

i'm not joking. I've done it before. And i will do it for you, if it gets you reading this FANTASTIC book. Just drop me an e-mail.

[Vacuumboy9]

Why do i like this book so?

GREAT ART. The art is always absolutely gorgeous and totally in line with the weirdness of the stories. Tan Eng Huat is a powerful storyteller, infusing each character with raw emotion with his stylistic interpretations. And the amazing thing is that the lettering and coloring fall perfectly together with Tan's style. There is true synergy here. (You know a book has got to be good when you notice how great the lettering goes with the book!)

WEIRD VILLAINS. The group started out dealing with simple tasks like rescuing refugees and fighting hired thugs. But as things progress the villains get stranger, more unique, and more sinister, including ancient Chinese spirits, a giant parasite and a fallen angel.

MYSTERIOUS SUBPLOTS. With every question this book answers, two more are raised. And not in a confusing, "I'm never gonna figure out what the heck is going on" kind of way. But in a "gotta read the next issue and find out what the heck is going on" kind of way. It's brilliant that way, and John Arcudi has done an excellent job of keeping us guessing throughout the series.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT. Just as the villains have gotten weirder with each issue, just as the ongoing mysteries have heightened, the characters have gotten more interesting. This is very much a book about BUILD-UP rather than instant gratification, and that shows in the characters. In the first issue the new kids seem like cardboard cutouts from Generation X. But their personalities come to light over time, and they fit perfectly under the Doom Patrol umbrella. Their "normal" facades have been slowly sliding away and underneath they're very human characters that we can all relate to.

A SENSE OF HISTORY. While it is an all-new cast, this series does recognize that DP is a group of characters that have evolved over the years, and it is trying to show respect for those older characters.

HUMOR. I guarantee you a laugh or two per issue, but not in such a way that it takes away from the serious aspects of the story.

Finally, there's the PRICE. 2.50. Soon to be one of the least expensive books DC produces. Gotta love that.

This is one book that literally has it all.

[Daniel Harvey]

[quote]Originally posted by Vacuumboy9:
<strong>
i'm not joking. I've done it before. And i will do it for you, if it gets you reading this FANTASTIC book. Just drop me an e-mail.</strong><hr></blockquote>

He's not kidding. I've seen him do it before. Hell, he's even done it for me!

[Looney As A Toon]

[quote]Originally posted by little kon-el:
<strong>

nope, the DC versin of the Fantastic Four was the Challengers of the Unknown. The Doom Patrol is DC's version of the X-Men...being created at roughly the same time as X-Men #1. The whole professor in a wheel chair and a group of young people who were freaks lends itself more towards the x-men than anyone else.

little kon-el</strong><hr></blockquote>

Actually, didn't the Challengers and Doom Patrol precede the Fantastic Four and X-Men to the newsstands? This would seem to make the FF Marvel's answer to the Challengers Of The Unknown and the X-Men Marvel's answer to the Doom Patrol...not to mention that after the Justice League of America was published and became immensely popular - not to mention the Justice Society preceding both by 20 years - did Marvel decide to come up with their own supergroup, the Avengers.

The House of Ideas, my Aunt Emma's hairy moustache!

[Geoff in the UK]

Hurrah!!!
Finally some PR on The Doom Patrol!!
Let's hope it's not too late. Come on you none believers, dip you toe in the water!! Don't leave it for a trade paperback it might be to late.
This is one of the best comics out there. Well written, superbly drawn, what more could you want for your money. i'd never picked up a Doom Patrol comic before this version (apart from coming across them via there appearance in the Wolfman/Perez classic New Teen Tirtans) and it never hindered my enjoyment once. :)

[rockieman]

[quote]Originally posted by SonOfTheJoker'sDaughter:
<strong>Maybe I’m horribly optimistic here, but I would hope we are all far enough into the electronic information age to realize that the whole “Hey I heard from someone on the inside that this book is canned” stuff is pretty much bunk. If you have info, share your source . . . name names, or get off the pot (so to speak).</strong><hr></blockquote>

First off, is it that hard to believe that someone was actually given real info about a book that the person actually works on. And I'm not talking about the guy who runs the printing press. I believe he said #22 was the last. Issue #16 is the latest out, I believe, so we only have to wait and see for a couple of months.

I have 2 views on this though. One, I hope I'm wrong for the sake of all the people who love this book. Two, I hope I'm right so you can take your cynacism and shove it.

[MikeC]

So, in which issues do Metamorpho and Elongated Man appear?

[Daniel Harvey]

[quote]Originally posted by MikeC:
<strong>So, in which issues do Metamorpho and Elongated Man appear?</strong><hr></blockquote>

4 and 5.

[dollman]

[quote]Originally posted by Greg Saunders Fan:
<strong>

Actually John explained exactly what happened to the last incarnation of the team. Dorothy's powers blew up Cliff, Kate and herself. They showed that George & Marion were (and apparently still are) at the house in Violet Valley. The Head (previously the Chief) is off to explore new worlds, as was detailed in the last issue of the Vertigo series.

Rebis, Crazy Jane are from a previous incarnation of the team, and their fates were already resolved by Grant Morrison (Rebis is exploring Danny the World, and Crazy Jane is either still there or died in a suicide attempt, depending on how you look at the last Morrison story and a couple of issues of Rachel Pollack's run).

John is using the history of the Doom Patrol quite well IMO, since he has at least acknowledged (and in some cases validated) all the incarnations and imprints of the team. He did "pander", if you want to call it that, to the old-time fans by bringing back the original team )(in his own inimitable, and very Doom-Patrol-like style).

I'd love to see something of the Morrison team come back into play myself, but I can't see a good justification from bringing back Rebis, Danny or Crazy Jane (and Flex Mentallo is out for reasons of legality).

--Rich</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks for the update. Rebis is exploring Danny the Street? I thought it was Crazy Jane who remained with Danny, and that Rebis and the Chief were part of Pollack's team. Again, I knew nothing of Chief's fate as I only stuck around for a couple of issues of Pollack's run. Therefore I had no idea who George and Marion was.

[Jeremy Williams]

you know why it makes no sense? Because if you asked me, a complete and total stranger you don't even know, I would track down all the issues up to the current one for you, buy them and sell them to you for LESS than I paid for them.

Oh. My. God. You sure are a fan! :) The comic-book community should have more dedicated fans like you. Although i will decline the proposition since in term of buying comics i have to literaly pick my spots every month.

[Vacuumboy9]

[quote]Originally posted by Jeremy Williams:
<strong>Oh. My. God. You sure are a fan! :) The comic-book community should have more dedicated fans like you. Although i will decline the proposition since in term of buying comics i have to literaly pick my spots every month.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Thanks for the compliments... but obviously I wasn't dedicated enough if you're not going to be picking up the book. :)

[Jeremy Williams]

LOL

The thing is, i`m in a situation where i have to literaly have my tongue on the floor to buy a comic. I mean i must be so excited to buy it that if i had to choose between eating today and readind that comic i would choose reading that comic(exagerating of course!). While i had a fascination in buying Doom Patrol it never came close to that.

Not only the comic has to look like it could be good, but it has to be "important". It has to say:"this only comes once in a lifetime so go get it!" like say when The Ultimates came out: it was by two juggernauts, Millar and Hitch and it was The Avengers revisited. Event + Quality Me: :p

[cmdrkoenig]

I am not entirely pleased with the new Doom Patrol, but it does have it's moments. I will continue to buy it (as long as Cliff remains in the book) and hope it has a long run.