Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 - DC Comics

UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL No. 6, November 2023

Packing every sort of super-villain a comic collector could imagine within its twenty-two-page plot, including a walking/talking pachyderm, Issue Six of “Unstoppable Doom Patrol” must surely have mesmerised its audience with its unrelentingly assault upon each reader’s senses. Sure, the pulse-pounding pugilism never stops as the titular characters are “caught off guard” by the Brotherhood of Evil in their very own headquarters. But American author Dennis Culver still somehow manages to provide several of the team’s roster with some notable character development, especially the likes of Niles Caulder, the Man of Muscle Mystery and the members of “the all-new Flex Force.”

Furthermore, this book contains an impressive hook straight from the start in the form of Flex Mentallo providing his fresh-faced, inexperienced trainees with “the ultimate test” against the Chief’s A-listers. This sort of narrative will arguably take many a nostalgia-hungry bibliophile back to the days of Stan Lee’s New Mutants and Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, as the inexperienced squad attempt to “capture the flag” from a determined Robot Man, Elasti-Woman and Negative Man.

However, this publication doesn’t stop there, due to General Immortus launching “his attack against the Doom Patrol right in the heart of their home base, the Shelter” and readily revoking memories of Magneto’s many assaults against the Uncanny X-Men with his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. So savage a sudden strike allows the writer to pen plenty of the aforementioned high-octane-laced pandemonium, whilst simultaneously intriguing his audience with all the different special abilities the numerous metahumans on show seem to impossibly possess; “Invisibility! Invulnerability! Super-speed! She’s got every power you haven’t thought of, so start naming them! Super-strength! Heat Vision!”

Working his own magic throughout this publication is artist Chris Burnham and colorist Brian Reber, whose talents combine together to create some truly memorable panels, such as when Robot Man absolutely smacks the overly-confident Elephant Man straight into tomorrow with a sock to his tusk-filled jaw. In addition, towards the end of the comic, when the Immortal Flame and Monsieur Mallah seeks to seemingly raise Dorothy Spinner back from the Dead, the illustrators do a marvellous job of imbuing the creepy night-time scene with all the palpable trepidation and strangeness anticipated for so unnatural a sequence.

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

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

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #4 - DC Comics

UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL No. 4, August 2023

Announced during the “Dawn Of DC” panel at Wondercon 2023 that this six-issue mini-series was being “bumped up” to include a seventh instalment, it is arguably easy to see why Dennis Culver would decide to use the opportunity to try telling the supplementary tale in a slightly different manner than normal. However, it is difficult to imagine all that many bibliophiles were particularly happy with the author’s decision to pen an entire twenty-two-page plot from the perspective of a psychiatrist session or five. Indeed, the dialogue-heavy discussions debatably do so little to progress the limited series’ overarching narrative, that “Breakthrough Breakdowns” disappointingly smacks of simply being a ‘filler’ edition of the “Unstoppable Doom Patrol”, rather than a rare chance to further explore the meta-human community’s increasing unease as to what Kay Challis’ heroic band of “freaks and misfits” are up to. 

Arguably aiding this sensation of the publication lacking direction is the fact that the author just seems to have rehashed the origin stories of the strange team’s roster, including a brief synopsis of their resident therapist, Doctor Syncho – a being who “channels five Fifth Dimensional entities into one super consciousness to delve deep into the psyches” of her team-mates. These consultations are probably fascinating for those within the audience who are unfamiliar with the considerable cast of characters on show. Yet for fans more acquainted with Arnold Drake’s co-creations from the Sixties, the only psychoanalysis sessions possibly of any interest are those involving reluctant member Degenerate and Kareli’s “brand new” furry alter-ego Beast Girl; “We usually don’t get much farther than this before you storm out.

The understandable decision to replace “series co-creator Chris Burnham” with artist David Lafuente due to time scheduling constraints also somewhat jars upon the senses, courtesy of the Spanish-born illustrator’s cutesy, almost cartoonish pencilling style. Admittedly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this book’s interior layouts or Brian Reber’s predominantly bright colour choices. But having become acclimatised to the more detailed drawing technique of this title’s Connecticut-born regular contributor, the ‘different look’ debatably just reinforces the feeling that this comic was somewhat ‘done on the fly’. 

Fortunately, the periodical does appear to at least finish on something of an intriguing conclusion, with the Chief’s subdued Crazy Jane personality evidently being deeply unhappy with the mysterious machinations of her dissociative disordered host. This revelation greatly contrasts to Jerry’s satisfactory assessment of Doom Patrol’s overall mentality, and tantalisingly doesn’t bode well for the team leader’s current battle for control of the Shelter’s operations with rival Doctor Niles Evelyn Caulder.

The regular cover of "UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL" #4 by Chris Burnham & Brian Reber

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3 - DC Comics

UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL No. 3, July 2023

Hurling “the World’s strangest superheroes” against two of the DC Universe’s “best” Green Lanterns with little to no exposition, Dennis Culver’s script for “The Fast And The Nebulous” must surely have had the vast majority of its audience still sat upon the edge of their seats. Sure, the American author doesn’t really ever provide the reader with a plausible explanation as to just how Starbro found their way to the metahuman Mento or earnt the protection of Steven Dayton’s former dysfunctional team-mates. But it’s arguably enough to know that the face-hugging spawn of Starro the Conqueror did somehow manage it, and resultantly is now a prime target of the Guardians’ intergalactic corps of police officers.

Furthermore, there’s some incredibly well-written interplay between Robotman and Negative Man throughout this twenty-two-page periodical, which manages to both depict some genuine tenderness between the ‘partners-in-crimefighting’ as Cliff Steele apologizes to Trainor for repeatedly calling him Larry when the Negative spirit once merged with Doctor Poole, as well as provide the protagonists with some highly memorable wins over their pursuers. Indeed, the pair’s ability to transform their motor car into a wall-penetrating phantom vehicle is easily one of the highlights of this comic.

Similarly as well penned though has to be the hubris imbued into Guy Gardner and Kyle Raynor, as the Green Lanterns relentlessly track down the ‘brand-new fugitive’ without giving a moment’s thought as to why one of Starro’s spores has some how gained self-awareness. The famous arrogance of the former Baltimore lawman is particularly well-captured, with the overconfident ring bearer threatening to beat-up “a whole Doom army” almost single-handedly rather than reach any sort of compromise; “It’s not our decision to make. Above our pay grade.”

Adding plenty of wheel spin and the smell of burning rubber to Starbro’s predicament is Chris Burnham, whose slightly tongue-in-cheek pencilling repeatedly instils this book’s cast with so much more emotion and humour than its dialogue suggests. As aforementioned, Gardner is debatably at the height of his haughtiness during this story, with his arms folded tight across his chest or right fist cocked back ready to throw the first punch. However, the Connecticut-born artist is equally as good at making Robotman’s metallic face come alive, with subtle mouth gestures, or fleeting looks at Negative Man whenever their road trip starts to go awry.

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

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #2 - DC Comics

UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL No. 2, June 2023

Whilst most readers of Dennis Culver’s stimulating storyline for Issue Two of “Unstoppable Doom Patrol” might have initially been fooled into thinking they were simply going hand-in-hand with Beast Girl on a tongue-in-cheek tour of the “World’s Strangest Superheroes’ new headquarters”, the author soon transforms his fairly fun tale of Kareli’s infatuation for the adolescent Worm into a deeply dark tale of treachery and cold-blooded murder which is equally as disconcerting as it is diabolically deadly. Indeed, having arguably lulled many a bibliophile in with the cosiness of their brand-new member’s welcome, courtesy of an engaging introduction to the Shelter’s gymnasium and physical therapist Flex Mentallo, the sudden appearance of Peacemaker threatening to blow the teenager’s head clean off comes completely out of the blue, and makes a genuine, ever-lasting impression upon the audience.

Similarly as surprising is the revelation that Doctor Niles Caulder isn’t as happy to play second fiddle to his replacement “Crazy Jane” as was first suggested. The tension between these two strong-willed characters when they confront one another in a corridor is so well-written that their open hostility is truly palpable, and this distrust of White Team’s wannabe onsite executive is made all the more real when it’s shown the wheelchair-bound consultant has secretly ‘rebuilt the Think Tank and is using it to amplify Mento’s powers.’

Impressively however, much of this animosity is actually delivered via a single page of this publication being dedicated to a simple memorandum stipulating that all operatives will fall under the jurisdiction of Caulder whilst on site. The pictureless proposal concerning the roster's hierarchy may well make some logical sense. But it is also a clear message to Kay Challis that the original “Chief” intends to take back control of the team despite his past criminally-inclined transgressions.

Helping to additionally ‘traumatize’ this comic’s ashen-faced audience with his excellent artwork is Chris Burnham, whose pencilling imbues the likes of Robotman and Beast Girl with plenty of earnest emotion. Furthermore, the former “Batman Incorporated” illustrator provides Christopher Smith’s deplorable persona with all the psychopathic zealousness a reader might expect from so loyal a government agent, and somehow manages to tug on many a heartstring when a tearful Worm is suicidally sent rocketing into the night sky just seconds before he fatally detonates; “Let me remind you that you still work for the United States of America. That explosive chip… still works. All it takes is a flip of a switch to set it off.”

The regular cover of "UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL" #2 by Chris Burnham & Brian Reber

Unstoppable Doom Patrol #1 - DC Comics

UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL No. 1, May 2023

Unashamedly tying into Jeremy Carver Productions’ Primetime Emmy Award-nominated television series, as well as Dennis Culver’s desire to make Doom Patrol “its own pillar in the DC Universe”, this opening instalment to a six-issue limited series surely must have successfully landed with any comic book collectors familiar or not with Arnold Drake and Bob Haney’s Silver Age creation. True, the brazenly bizarre super-team’s roster is somewhat different from that which made its first appearance way back within the pages of “My Greatest Adventure” in June 1963. But part of this enchanting publication’s success arguably lies in its intriguing introduction to new members such as Beast Girl, Crazy Jane’s incarnation of the Chief and Subject 99.

Furthermore, the sheer pace achieved via the American author’s penmanship is absolutely top-notch, with the inevitably grumpy Robotman driving his comrades-in-arms straight into the action via a poorly parked bus. This rather tongue-in-cheek attempt to enter Gotham City keeping “a low profile” immediately establishes a genuinely palpable sense of apprehensive with the storytelling, and coupled with the gun-toting insanity on show with Monsieur Mallah and the Brain battling decaying cadavers on Monc Blanc in Switzerland, sets the rest of the narrative up for a series of shocking surprises.

One such revelation undoubtedly arrives in the guise of the Caped Crusaders, who swoop down from the skyline to add even more mayhem to Metagen Incorporated’s messed up machinations. Doubtless some bibliophiles won’t be too startled to see Batman and Robin make an appearance in a tale set within the confines of their celebrated conurbation. However, their presence comes unfashionably late considering the wanton devastation already caused by a writhing mass of squishy, pink-hued insectoids, and at a time when the Doom Patrol are actually handling things pretty well considering that their new Chief originally underestimated the size of the threat they faced; “I don’t care who you are. This is my city. He’ll be taken care of. Arkham Tower is preparing a special holding cell until --”

Definitely demonstrating that this is exactly the “type of comic I love drawing” is Chris Burnham, whose layouts, competently coloured by Brian Reber, are unconditionally crammed full of dynamic action and mass-destruction. Of particular note is the Connecticut-born artist’s ability to pencil the Dark Knight and Kay Challis with all the barely repressed frostiness that might be expected from two protagonists fighting alongside one another against numerous foes. Yet coming at the problem of tackling a super-powerful, meta-human threat from polar opposite positions.

The regular cover of "UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL" #1 by Chris Burnham & Nick Filardi