Another review of #21

Hey guys - it's been a while. Not much Doom Patrol news floating around, with the final issue looming. Here's hoping they go out with a bang! Or not...........

Here's a great review from regular DP-reviewer, DangerMart:

Too Dangerous For A Girl!

Reviews of Doom Patrol #21

In the last week, I've read three excellent reviews of Doom Patrol #21, the Robotman spotlight. The reviewers clearly 'get' the issue, and understand how Robotman's drive is connected to the Doom Patrol in all it's incarnations. So please have a look at:

- Comic Book Resources (Doug Zawisza) - 4 out of 5 stars

- Comics Bulletin (Shawn Hill) - 4 out of 5 bullets

-  Weekly Comic Book Review (Minhquan Nguyen) - B+

And if you haven't signed the petition to bring back the Doom Patrol, you'll find it at:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savethedp/

(If it asks for a donation, that is purely optional, and to do with iPetitions - not this particular petition).

Third and final Doom Patrol TPB.......

From the July 2011 solicitations:

DOOM PATROL: FIRE AWAY TP
Written by KEITH GIFFEN and BRIAN KEENE
Art by MATTHEW CLARK, RON RANDALL, KEITH GIFFEN and AL MILGROM
Cover by MATTHEW CLARK
In this latest DOOM PATROL volume collecting issues #14-21, the team’s leader, Niles Caulder, experiments on a captured Kryptonian in hopes of gaining superpowers of his own. And the first battle he faces – is against his own team!
On sale AUGUST 24
232 pg, FC, $19.99 US

** With that page count (232 pages), I'm assuming this will also collect #22, the final issue, and possibly the Secret Six crossover issue, as well**

DC COMICS PRESENTS: METAL MEN #1
Written by KEITH GIFFEN, J.M. DEMATTEIS and BOB HANEY
Art by KEVIN MAGUIRE, TIM LEVINS and others
Cover by KEVIN MAGUIRE
Collected from DOOM PATROL #1-7, don’t miss the Metal Men’s adventures against The Clique, living mannequins, an ancient god, at the Department of Motor Vehicles and more. Plus, from SILVER AGE: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #1, the team meets Batman, Green Arrow
and Black Canary!
On sale JULY 20
96 pg, FC, $7.99 US

Doom Patrol #21 review

And then there was one.

One issue of Doom Patrol to go, that is. In what has turned out to be one of my favourite comic runs ever (alongside Morrison's X-Men, Preacher, Sandman, Y:The Last Man), I can't help but feel a bit deflated reading this issue, knowing that it's nearly the end. I love the spotlight issues, and the first two were definitely five-star issues, in my opinion.

This issue didn't feel quite as encompassing as Larry's, or as defining as Rita's spotlight. But it did give a sense of sympathy for Cliff, and demonstrated his sense of belonging. Each main era of the Doom Patrol is once again outlined, thanks to the stylish pencils of Matthew Clark (and Ron Randall), and Giffen adds touches to Cliff's origin that show us what *really* happened behind the scenes. 

Cliff's visits to Super-Hip over the years also provide a broader scope to Cliff's life. He clearly was out there, tormenting over whether 'one more run' with the Doom Patrol would be worth it. And it's great to see that, in the absence of Larry and Rita, he had someone he could trust. The antithesis of that, is represented by General Immortus' current involvement. Clearly, he is not to be trusted, but it's hard to argue with an ancient guy who is willing to help out, if only to serve his admitted needs. 

I know I'll be re-reading this issue many times, as with all of the spotlights, in particular. I can only hope that the final issue will deliver a satisfying ending to a wonderful comic series.

4.5/5 

Doom Patrol #21 preview

Check out the first few pages of the Robotman spotlight, courtesy of Newsarama!