“Doom Patrol” Feature Written by Keith Giffen. Art by Matthew Clark; Livesay; Pat Brosseau; & Guy Major.
“Metal Men” Feature Written by Keith Giffen. Art by J.M. DeMatteis; Kevin Maguire; Guy Major; & Nick J. Napolitano.
Cover Art by Matthew Clark & Guy Major
SUMMARY:
Published by DC Comics for October 2009, Keith Giffen has a mature take on the Doom Patrol followed by his sitcom-like Metal Men. The Doom Patrol’s 20-page adventure is entitled “We Who Are About to Die.” Facing mad geneticist-cyborg Amanda Beckett’s mutant monsters in tropical Buena Suerte, the Doom Patrol loses two members.
Returning home to their Oolong Island base, the jaded survivors (Rita Farr: Elasti-Woman; Larry Trainor: Negative Man; and Cliff Steele: Robot Man) are analyzed by priest Rocky Davis (from the Challengers of the Unknown). Davis is dismayed at the trio’s attitude that they are just waiting to die in action, let alone a lack of compassion for their casualties. His morality clashes with the chilly Dr. Niles Caulder. Rita’s miniature roommate, Bumblebee, is also perturbed at the team’s indifference. Caulder consults on a bizarre matter involving a black hole.
In the ten-page “A Day in the Life,” Dr. Will Magnus patiently humors his suburban neighbors’ complaints re: the Metal Men. In Brazil, the seven-member squad (Gold; Iron; Lead; Platinum – aka Tina; Mercury; Tin; & Copper) bickers, as they combat the rampaging the gigantic monolith, Zummazumma the Living Idol. Returning home, the team’s various sibling squabbles continue. Tina’s playful scheme to cozy up to Dr. Magnus goes hilariously awry.
REVIEW:
Impressively, writer Keith Giffen’s artistic versatility is on full display. Supported by top-caliber visuals, his depressing Doom Patrol opener is an intriguing read, as its thematic content treads closer to Suicide Squad than standard super-heroics. Sporting a tongue-in-cheek cartoony style, the Metal Men’s back-up tale is terrific comic relief (with their “dad” Will Magnus as the straight man). Including its spot-on cover image, this double-feature is a treat updating fans on these two vintage Silver Age super-teams.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
There’s a single-page “DC Nation” column promoting the latest wave of Blackest Night and its tie-in issues. Included is a five-preview of Magog # 1 entitled “Lethal Force,” which is a JSA spin-off series written by Giffen.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
