Unstoppable Doom Patrol #5 - DC Comics

UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL No. 5, October 2023

Decidedly ‘tongue-in-cheek’ when it comes to its humour, Dennis Culver’s penmanship for Issue Five of “Unstoppable Doom Patrol” is arguably a masterclass in how to combine pulse-pounding action with jocular jesting. Indeed, the only disappointment with the American author’s storyline lies in it ending all too soon after just twenty-two pages, with many a bibliophile doubtless wishing the super-group’s enthralling attack upon Metagen’s headquarters in Illinois would've lasted for at least a couple more instalments; “Today’s setback was just an opportunity to learn. The next build will be better, and the one after that more so. Before long you’ll be facing an army of --”

Leading this high-octane assault upon it’s readers’ senses is the writer’s ability to completely catch them off guard with a good old-fashioned ambush, courtesy of the criminal corporation’s “elusive CEO” luring the Chief’s whacky team into a citywide trap. This plot twist is extremely well-timed and occurs just as some within the comic’s audience might actually be anticipating a betrayal by the chairbound Niles Caulder, rather than the sadly short-lived appearance of billionaire Brian McClane and his innumerable mechanical minions – the Robo-Townies.

Just as entertaining though is the combination of machine-busting punches and mental battles which take place throughout the narrative. The likes of Robotman and Elasti-Girl do a first-rate job of holding the attention whilst fending off a veritable army of androids and the formidably-powered heroine Metawoman. However, the original Chief’s invitation to join Metagen and continue his controversial nanotechnology-based work on “generously compensated” volunteers without fear of prosecution is equally as riveting, mainly due to the “expert surgeon” seemingly being staggered at such a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Also adding plenty of hilarity and dynamism into “Assault On Main Street!” is Chris Burnham, whose pencilling persistently adds extra levels to the personalities of all the book’s characters. Whether it be the immature churlishness of Beast Girl, who is unceremoniously left to sit out the fracas aboard Negative Man’s helicopter, or Caulder’s evident disbelief that anyone could understand his metahuman theories, let alone supposedly improve upon them, the Connecticut-born artist extraordinarily brings all their feelings to animated life.

Writer: Dennis Culver, Artist: Chris Burnham, and Colorist: Brian Reber