DC's Doom Patrol were created by Arnold Drake in 1963, and recently received more exposure when Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance became the newest writer of the absurdist comic book series. It is almost unanimously agreed, however, that their greatest adventure occurred in the early 1990s, when crazy genius Grant Morrison took the reigns. Teaming up with the marvellous Richard Case and a handful of other talented artists, he crafted one of the best superhero stories ever told.
Comprised of DC's most outlandish characters, the Doom Patrol are a team that deal with threats far too bizarre for the more conventional heroes. Prior to Morrison's run, however, this wasn't entirely true. They were still pretty odd, but they largely resembled other teams of outcasts like the X-Men, so the new creative team decided to take the book to higher levels of insanity. Negative Man, who was initially very similar to Marvel's Human Torch, became Rebis, the enlightened fusion of a white man and a black woman. The shape-shifting Elasti-Girl was replaced by Crazy Jane, whose 64 alternate personalities each have a different superhuman ability.
Across the 45 chapters of the series, the Patrol deal with a range of foes who threaten the nature of reality itself, such as the Scissormen, who snip people out of reality, and the Brotherhood of Dada, who want to throw all logic and reason out of the window. Each page of these adventures is bursting with creativity and ideas that only Morrison could ever dream up. Despite being so other-worldly, the comic does deal with real-life issues such as mental-health, sexuality, religion and science. As a piece of meta-fiction, it'll also have you questioning your own existence - is the real world as real as we think it is?
Primary artist Richard Case isn't a big name in comics outside of this run, which is surprising, as his art is phenomenal. Every panel is beautifully psychedelic, making the reading experience like some kind of comic-induced trip. This isn't a series you should rush to finish - the backgrounds of each panel are filled with interesting images, such as bizarre references to Christ and hints at what is to come. Guest-artists include horror legend Kelley Jones, Kirby-inspired Ken Steacy and Gorillaz co-creator Jamie Hewlett.
The final arc of the series is a real masterpiece, tying together all of the plot threads from previous stories to make it truly feel like the ultimate Doom Patrol story. Not all of the questions you have will be answered, however - some of the strangest parts of the comic will forever remain a mystery, open to the reader's own interpretation.
Morrison and Case's Doom Patrol is a true work of art that should be read by comic fans not just once, but over and over again. Each read of the series reveals things you've never noticed, and deepens your understanding of the story and its characters. Not only that, but this team of super-powered misfits and their adventures can teach you a lot about yourself. Is your view of the world undeniable truth, or is it just one of many interpretations of a much bigger picture? This comic won't give you the answer to that, but it'll make you think.
Rating: 10/10
Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol run consists of issues #19-#63, which you can find on Comixology. Trade paperbacks and an omnibus edition are also available.
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