Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 (of 7)
Writer: Dennis Culver
Artist: Chris Burnham
Color Artist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Reviewed by Davydh Tidey
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 marks the beginning of the end, and the team’s going out with a bang! We get the debut of the Flex Force, shocking discoveries, and the surprise return of a major power, this issue has it all!
Just watch out for the crow… it’s more than it seems.
Positives
The team seems to have finally found some peace in this issue; everyone’s working together well, the leadership struggle’s been resolved, and with the new inclusion of Flex Force the Doom Patrol seems to be stronger than ever.
We also start to see a return of the characters that the DP has helped previously in the series, like Psylo-Simon from the Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate story, or Starbro from the epic Fast and Furious-esque Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3.
The Flex Force team’s entirely built from these rescued metahumans, or the ones that wanted in anyway. It’s a clear show of just how far the Doom Patrol team has progressed in these issues. They want to help, and, for once, it’s actually working. They’re making a difference for their people.
Of course, in true Doom Patrol fashion, when the $#!+ hits the fan, it hits HARD.
Hopefully, you’ll remember your DP history for this one, because oh BOY there are some really deep cuts here. The deadlier villains of the Doom Patrol’s rogues gallery are out in full force here, with a team-up that seems to put the “stoppable” back in Unstoppable Doom Patrol.
Dennis Culver deserves so much praise for his work with this team. Taking the Doom Patrol to a place they’ve never been before, one of actual relevance and effectiveness, was never going to be easy, but Culver has risen to the challenge wonderfully.
The character work and character focus in this series is second to none in modern comics, in my opinion, and really drives home that these reluctant superheroes are characters that need to be used, not left on the shelf for years. The DP may not be well-liked among other superheroes, but their motivations are pure, and they’re not ones to be messed with.
Also… THAT ENDING. AH!
Chris Burnham and Brian Reber deliver some of the best art of the series in this issue. The whole training scene with Flex Force, the eventual descent into a brawl, and again THAT ENDING are all wonderful pieces of work on their own, but as a whole they make some of the most interesting-looking comics on sale today. I need more comics from these two, please!
Negatives
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 is the second to last issue, and I’m upset by this at a base level. It’s almost over. Boo-Hoo, I say.
There is still a light at the end of the tunnel for that, though. Check out our interview with Dennis for more info on that…
Conclusion
Unstoppable Doom Patrol has been, without a doubt, my favorite current DC comic release since issue #1 came out. I know that I’m inherently biased when it comes to these characters I’ve known and loved for many years, but to me, this book is so much more than the sum of its parts. With the care and attention that has been put into these stories, it’s hard to deny that the creative team is doing their best work here.
I will miss you sorely when you’re gone, DP. At least I have one more issue to keep me sane. Relatively.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
