What? There’s a new issue of Doom Patrol? The issue is drawn and colored by Michael and Laura Allred? After several months of absence the series is back investigating where Niles Caulder has been after all this time. How will the series adapt to a different set of pencils? What does Caulder have to do with this incarnation of the “Doom Patrol”? Also, is it possible for this title to gain back some of the momentum that was lost by the huge production break? All eyes are on Young Animal!
Written by Gerard WayCover by Michael Allred
Illustrated by Michael Allred
Colored by Laura Allred
Lettered by Todd KleinHow have you been, Niles Caulder? The Chief is back, and he’s ready to reshape the new Doom Patrol to be just like the old Doom Patrol—a prospect not everyone is happy with. But the team’s former leader hasn’t grown less manipulative in his old age, so nobody make any rash decisions. Pretty sure he’s up to something. Michael Allred (iZOMBIE, Silver Surfer) joins the team for this special issue.
Even with a different penciller, colorist and some production delays “Doom Patrol” #7 can almost give you the impression that the title was on the racks consistently for the past couple of months. This issue takes a break to look at the psychopathic Niles Caulder as the series directly references the beloved Grant Morrison run on the book again. Gerard Way’s look at the desperate Caulder and his bizarre science is a great exploration into his character, giving readers a deeper look into why he betrayed the team originally in the first place.
Way does an excellent job introducing each character in this comic, newcomers can actually start here and get just about everything they need to soak up the wild world of “Doom Patrol”. With an extended break from the series, this issue’s less daunting one-off issue is a great breath of fresh air. I would have loved for this installment to pick up on a couple more story threads from previous arcs and issues but this story connections to past issue is threaded throughout the narrative almost exclusively in the subtext. We check in with previous characters or conversations that aren’t directly discernable until you dig past the surface.
If Nick Derington was somehow unable to come back and draw the rest of this series, Michael Allred is able to tap into the infectious joy and wonder that Derington brings to each issue. The full team is filled to the brim with energy, firing off intensely weird facial expressions. Allred’s figures are rich with emotion even when it comes to the aliens and naughty bits filling the comic. The panel layouts and overall construction of each page is filled with as much information that the creators can pack into each and every page. Instead of feeling cramped or covered in a word soup, Allred injects the story with as much information as he can. On top of all of the above, the artist brings a vintage feel that gives “Doom Patrol” an entirely different flavor. Laura Allred’s colors are rich and vibrant. “Doom Patrol” has always been ridiculously bright and each Allred lives up to the tone while giving readers something different in this comic. Young Animal chose to deliver something slightly different instead of giving readers a direct replacement for Derington and I would love to see the Allred’s on future installments of the book.
This is comic is much more direct than typical issues of the series but Way still has an interesting message here. Way structures the title like an issue of the current “Archie” series as the team is wondering what their current relationship with Niles Caulder is like and if he can be redeemed. The characters do tell the reader outright what their conclusion is but watching them make their decision is a silly diversion nicely housing of the comic. While this story was fun, I’m excited for the prospect of “Doom Patrol” shooting off into another great big story-arc in the near future.
Having “Doom Patrol” back on store shelves is definitely a good thing especially when issue #7 is an excuse to bask in the glory of Michael and Laura Allred. By the time I cracked the last few pages I was just eager to get to the next big story from the title and began to wonder what was next for the overall series-being left wanting more is hardly a criticism especially as Way dealt with a pertinent character relationship to the team in such an elegant manner but I still want more! Getting “Doom Patrol” on a more consistent schedule would have made this issue seem even more novel and unique as I wouldn’t be quite so worried about when I was going to the series next but the most important thing about this issue is that Way and the Allred’s are still giving readers the same flavor and splendor that “Doom Patrol” effortlessly carries from month-to-month.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – “Doom Patrol” #7 is a strong change of pace giving readers a chance to breath in a done-in-one issue featuring the indelible Michael and Laura Allred!
