Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION Dr. Gym'll's Cultural Rarities Byrne's doom patrol

While I have to admit that the first two issues of the new Doom Patrol book were merely good, the last two have been exceptional!

I don't know why so many people hate this book with such a violent passion! Admitting you like this book on the DC boards makes people want to beat you repeatedly over the head with a giant plank with a rusty nail hammered through it.

Am I alone in my love for this title?

I like it alright enough, though I find some of the dialogue outdated and LOATHE Nudge's ridiculous and equally outdated costume. Stuff like that is UNINTENTIONALLY funny on Byrne's part.

I wish he'd go all-out INTENTIONALLY humourous (ala his SHE-HULK run) with DOOM PATROL. I think it would be better.

For my money, the reboot is worth it for one thing-- the return of RITA FARR. And she looks lovely.

I'm way behind on reading this, but I'll comment when I get the chance.

I do, however, still really like Byrne's artwork, and the covers are beautiful. Nudge is a little out there though

It's a good basic comic book with a silver-age feel. I'm enjoying it.

I hated the xover with JLA. His Lab Rats was criminally bad. I don't like the things I've read he said about Grant Morrison. The first issue of Doom Patrol kept me from picking up the series as I was not inclined to read more about his (in my opinion) goofy take on vampires. I strongly dislike that he jettisoned the previous history of the DP and I hope his version is eventually condemned to Hypertime. Oh, and his art is just too scratchy and he needs an aggressive inker.

I think bringing Rita Farr back is the only highlight to his version of the DP.

I see nothing wrong with people who like the series, though. Somebody likes everybody's work. IMHO, though, Byrne is wayyy past his prime.

I'm pretty bored with the whole thing. So far Byrne's done nothing to capture my attention. I'll give it a few more issues, but I'm fairly close to dropping the title.

Anybody know how it's doing sales-wise?

As reported by Marc-Oliver Frisch on the DC newsgroup:

(82) DOOM PATROL
06/ 2004: Doom Patrol #1 -- 39,309 -- [41,290]
07/ 2004: Doom Patrol #2 -- 33,595 (-14.5%)
08/ 2004: Doom Patrol #3 -- 28,098 (-16.4%)

The figure in parens to the right of issue #1 are the total sales after reorders.

We'll have to get those reorders figures in for issues 2 & 3, but at ths rate of sales-droppage, DP will be canceled by or before issue 12.

Those sales figures make me sick. How can that many people actually be buying the book? I guess there are a lot of people who are just drawn to train wrecks.

I buy it, LL. The first two issues weren't good, true.

But the second two have been pretty reminiscent of the original DP.

As for Byrne-ing his bridges man, i just ignore his personal ramblings and try to enjoy the book. I buy it more for a love of the DP than him, anyway.

oh, Absolutely for love of DP.

My problem is (I can hear the collective groan already) that this isn't my DP. But then Byrne has a habit of doing that with just about any group he writes.

Why can't he be the same man he was when he was writing/drawing the Fantastic Four? I actually liked the man back then. Now he is probably the only name that will keep me away from a book.

I don't want to keep anyone away from a book that they are enjoying, that's not like me. But I won't throw my money away on it. I won't even use any bandwidth to download a copy. He's just lucky that there really seems to have no major impact on Gar.

Severing Gar's ties to the DOOM PATROL HAS to have an effect sooner or later.

I wonder if Byrne has any plans whatsoever for characters like CELSIUS, KATE GODWIN or DOROTHY SPINNER?

Or just more of his own characters like that stupid gorilla and Nudge (aka Kitty Pryde).

According to interviews I've read (and I don't remember any to cite), Byrne loathed Morrison's DP and both Vertigo incarnations. So I would be really surprised to see him use Coagula or Dorothy. And I thought the handling of Dorothy's passing was one of the highlights to the previous series. I've at least peeked at each incarnation of the DP and they will never go unnoticed by me. But I agree with Scott that Byrne is a creator who usually kills a project for me. And I can't think of anyone else that I feel that way about. His FF WAS good. As was his Alpha Flight and the first Generations. I've even read his post-Crisis Superman and for the time it seems like it was good. But I can think of a lot more that I didn't like. And his comments in interviews do influence me because they illustrate just how out of touch with fandom he is. His style never changes and he is seemingly oblivious to just how unpopular his style has become. He's tres niche and if he won't accept the wake-up call, maybe Marvel and DC should take the message for him.

Positively negative about the current DP and John Byrne.

BUT I am glad that Rita's back. It's a good thing.

Dang, he atually SAID he loathed it? What an ass. Why try to hurt Morrison and Pollack?

And people can say what they like about Rachel Pollack's run, but I DEFY anyone to come up with a more original, unique character than Kate Godwin/Coagula.

Byrne certainly hasn't with his 4-armed gorillas and Kitty Pryde ripoffs.

Well, no, he didn't literally say "loathe." Some posters would take offense if they thought I was quoting the man. I do recall (not in his actual words), Byrne saying that Morrison doesn't like or appreciate comics the way he (Byrne) does and that his take on DP was basically a travesty to the concept. I also recall reading Arnold Drake (creator on the original series) saying how much he enjoyed Morrison's take on DP. I'm intrigued by people like Byrne who seem to hear their internal voices more strongly than external ones.

And I think Nudge and Grunt are Brain and Monsieur Mallah ripoffs.

With a book like DP that already has a gorilla character in it, Byrne comes up with... a gorilla character. And an inferior one at that.

Byrne's VERY lucky Rita's back and looking so great!

In the interest of looks to the bright side:





For soooooooooo long it seemed she would be DC's Uncle Ben or Bucky, I'm glad the bitch is back!

In my fannish fantasies she had had an illegitimate daughter early in her career. Her Liv Tyler-like daughter searched endlessly for those same creepy gasses from the earth's crust and became Elastique! It just sounded sexy and more mature than Elasti-Girl. Ah, fannish fantasies are so fun!

Here's somehing about me you don't know:


CLIFF STEELE is probably my favorite non-Legion comics character. I have ALWAYS-- always loved Robotman.

I have picked up the first four issues. I was bummed that the DP is a reboot. I enjoyed the Morrison series and dare I say I enjoyed the last series as well.
I agree that Rita is the best character in the series. She is a very strong character who should be team leader. I am not to fond of Larry's Negative Man form as a skeleton, adding Faith to the group and the ape with four arms.

Read # 4 last night.

I'm still not WOWed by the book. Nudge did get in a pretty funny line at the end which I enjoyed.

I think what I'm missing most is my attachment to Cliff Steele.

Cliff has been full of personality since my very first Doom Patrol story (in SHOWCASE 94-96 in case you're wondering). He doesn't trust or believe or even LIKE Arani Caulder, but goes berserk when Immortus tortures her.

The relationship between Cliff and both Crazy Jane and Kate Godwin was a thing of beauty.

I loved watching Cliff interact with the last Doom Patrol.

I want my sweet Cliffy-poo back.

The book isn't too bad so far, and like most of you, I love that Rita is back.

I wouldn't mind seeing more Superman/Batman: Generations stuff. The recent 12 parter was not as good as the first two minis, but still has a great "Silver Age" feel.

Byrne has done a lot of good stuff over the years (not all of it mind you...Lab Rats was abominable!!). Alpha Flight was his baby, FF was awesome under his watch, She Hulk was fun, and the gods of New Genesis were never in better hands (post Jack, natch!). I never really "got" that book/concept until John's take on it.

But the book I really miss from Byrne is Next Men.

I also enjoyed Next Men. I really thought that book would really take off..

X-men: Hidden years was some of the best stuff i had seen from him in a while. Why the cancelled it when it was selling well was a puzzle, but i guess theme's meant more at the time that books that sold well.

this is no offence to Lash and his DP, but this is loathsome.

was forced to read 4 by friend and it was like an out-take from early Alpha Flight stretched into an issue with all the good bits then removed.

Seriously, Cliff has a valve at the back of his skull for letting toxins out of? Are we talking design flaws here?

And this vital fact is revealed after the story?

Writing a good story that has the feel for the original Doom Patrol is one thing, but this book just reads 40 years out of date.

And they started the current retcon frenzy for this? Because Byrne was pissy that he is more 'comics' than Grant Morrison? Is it good that he couldn't work in a different media?

As said above, i'd rather have Coagula or the Bandage Twins, who were ORIGINAL if out there,than the rehashed deep-fried crap that Byrne called 'original' characters. Nudge? just rubbish.