Doom PatrolVol 1: Crawling From The Wreckage
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Richard Case and Doug Braithwaite
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Doom PatrolVol 2: The Painting That Ate Paris
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Richard Case and John Nyberg
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Doom PatrolVol 3: Down Paradise Way
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Richard Case, Kim DeMulder and Kelley Jones
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Doom PatrolVol 4: Musclebound
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Steve Yeowell, Jamie Hewlett and Mark Badger
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Doom PatrolVol 5: Magic Bus
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Richard Case, Stan Woch, Ken Steacy, Philip Bond and Mark McKenna
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
Doom PatrolVol 6: Planet Love
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Richard Case, Stan Woch
2009
Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/
The thing you need to understand about the Doom Patrol is that they are not like any other superhero team out there - not in the way they look, not the way they act and not in the way that they will make you feel. Unfortunately for them (fortunately for you) they don't get to foil bank robberies or go up against everyday criminal masterminds: instead they battle with their own self-loathing, surrealistic horrors and everything else that's left at the point when the world stops making sense. Volume 1's spot-on introduction by Tom Peyer sums up most of the things that I could want to say: unlike Superman or the Flash nobody would ever want to be a member of the Doom Patrol but their plights can be much more uncomfortably similar to how damaged the world can sometimes leave you. Originally published in the late 1980s and seemingly written by a brain gripped in the sweaty hands of a fever it's combination of old children's stories with alien cultures, schools of art with multiple personality disorder, mimetic theory with existential terror will fizz and pop in ways you won't expect - stealing moves from such writers as Borges, Burroughs and DeQuincey. On the bad side - the artwork - in the style of the time - isn't always that well-done and sometimes comes across as more of a first attempt rather than a finished product (shame it couldn't be more like Brian Bolland's wonderful covers).: but the writing is what will stay with you: worming it's way into your subconscious with it's crazy leaps of imagination and lots of nice little jokes. It's not a book for everyone - and I found Volume 3 to be particular hard-going - and please be assured that it's not just randomness for the sake of it (although that might be the impression you get if you try and dip into it mid-stream - best to start from the start) - there's never since been another book that's come close to matching it's toxicating and hallucinogenic appeal so for that at least - it's a must read - even if your head might not be in the same shape after you've done.
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Links: Comics You Should Own Review, Are You A Serious Comic Book Reader Why Doom Patrol Is Still Better Than Watchmen Article.
Further reading: Flex Mentallo, Animal Man, The Invisibles, B.P.R.D., Stray Toasters, Supergods, Justice League: A New Beginning, The Umbrella Academy, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Profiles: Grant Morrison.
All comments welcome.
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