Customer Reviews

Showcase Presents: Doom Patrol Vol. 2

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I absolutely loved the first Showcase Doom Patrol collection. The series featured many themes that became popular throughout comics- alienated heroes, freakish powers, and personalities that did not mesh well. This book continues and expands on those themes. The group seems closer to each other in these stories, and this book is different from the first volume as it deals with the marriage between Elasti-Girl and Mento. Their marriage affects others on the team throughout the book. Additionally, the somewhat awkward addition of Beast Boy adds to the series, for better or worse. He fulfilled his potential later in the Teen Titans series, but here is not yet fully realized. He serves as a reminder of beatnik culture, which is the major dated reference in the book.

The insults that the characters hurl at one another are pretty harsh. I believe these stories were pretty ground-breaking for the late 60s. It's pretty easy to see that this book was cutting edge, was largely unpopular compared to more mainstream heroes, and in my opinion, was a precursor to the darker themes and personalities seen in comics to this day. Anytime Robotman's body is mangled to near death, it's clear this was so different from mainstream heroes like Superman. As a team book, it's much more interesting than the interchangeability of the JLA characters in their issues from the same period.

Bruno Premiani's art continues to be stellar, drawing an odd group of heroes and villains with great skill. I am somewhat surprised how Elasti-Girl looks feminine, yet is realistic compared to today's artists' overemphasis on unrealistic proportions. Arnold Drake's scripts are filled with funny one-liners, and touches of fourth-wall breaking moments.

Overall, Drake and Premiani were really pushing the envelope on Doom Patrol, including a surprise ending to the series. Many of these collections, particularly the ones from the 1960s, seem fairly awkward and repetitive. Not this one. The sense of fun they were having with the book comes through in each page, and I only wish other Showcase collections could be this good.

Simply put, the release of DOOM PATROL in this black and white format bastardization of the very old COLOR series SHOWCASE PRESENTS has driven me to write this complaint "review". I have been waiting for DC to produce a cheap complilation series for the DOOM PATROL for about four decades. And when they finally do release this book it is in the form of a colorless collection that destroys the integrity of the fantatic costumes of the group. Plus, draining these fantastic comics from the full color 1960's and 1970's is an absolute sin before the comic book gods. Nasty business just to make a buck! Many times, back then, the color in the costumes was the star of the book. Look at the LEGION OF SUPERHEROES, for example. I can not imagine the black and white abomination a SHOWCASE PRESENTS LEGION of SUPERHEROES would be!

Also, DC produced a SHOWCASE PRESENTS DIAL H FOR HERO... IN BLACK AND WHITE. Oh my God! When the main character would dial H for hero, the fun of the book was what kind of costume the new hero would wear! ...and the color in the costume. DC drained the color from the book and expects me to buy that half-assed product? Heck no!

I want my hijacked SHOWCASE PRESENTS back, Showcase Presents: Doom Patrol Vol. 2, DC. And shame on you for stealing the color from my memories, you selfish posers. True DC executive bosses who are comic book fans with half an ounce of respect for the medium would have never allowed this bastard proxy to exist! Shame on you!!!!!!