Review: Doom Patrol Vol. 1- Brick by Brick

Quick Summary

Pros: The strange storyline makes for a read unlike most comics out there. The characters are all charming and endearing. The way the book embraces its quirky nature allows it to broach topics that most comics will not.

Cons: Lots of references to previous Doom Patrol storylines will go unappreciated by those who have not read them. The book’s final chapter is rather weak.

Overall: The Doom Patrol is back for a hearty dose of wacky and far out adventures. Within this book, readers will experience a story as unapologetically bizarre as possible. The characters, locations, and events here are all unique and make for a great time. Not everyone will appreciate how different this comic is, but those who do are in for a real treat.

Story

Doom Patrol Vol. 1: Brick by Brick, by Gerard Way, is weird, there is just no getting around that. The heroes, the villains, the environments, and even the storytelling is atypical, causing the entire piece to stand out among the rest of DC’s current offerings. This means that this book is incredibly unique and is something that fans of the weird and wild side of comic books will appreciate. The imaginative storyline and charming cast of characters add to the book’s uniqueness and, when mixed in with some quirky humor, make an even better comic. Those who enjoy books like this will find a lot to love within the pages of this brand new comic.

However, I’ll also preface this review by saying this is definitely not a book for everyone. The loose logic and off the rails storytelling can be bizarre at times and will not appeal to some readers. If you prefer your comics with a more strict adherence to the usual standards, you may find yourself out of your element in this comic. In addition, heavy references to previous Doom Patrol storylines make this something new fans will not appreciate nearly as much.

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The book’s main storyline follows a seemingly normal EMT driver named Casey Brinke. Over the course of the read, her normal life is tossed upside down as she becomes embroiled in a showdown between a misfit superhero team and an evil intergalactic corporation. Eventually she discovers that she is a sentient comic book character, created by Doom Patrol alum Danny the Street. She embraces her new identity and uses her powers to take down Danny’s enemies and free him from their grasp.

Quite obviously, one of this storyline’s biggest selling points is how strange and different it is. Character’s powers are creative, things randomly explode, there is a cat named “Lotion”, and everyone reacts to these bizarre occurrences as if they are completely normal. Even the entire concept is out there: the hero is a comic book character come to life who has to battle the intergalactic equivalent of McDonald’s. This is not like most comic book reading experiences and I had to read the whole thing twice before it even started to make sense to me. However, in the end, it is a beautiful story with characters that are surprisingly relatable, considering their unique circumstances.

The book’s other big positive is how it uses its status as an oddity to embrace concepts that few other stories would dare to touch. Social issues like the corporatization of ideas, the value of being unique, and the seriousness of mental health are all broached in a way that makes them accessible. Meanwhile, more abstract concepts like individual being’s place in the universe and the utility of a human soul give additional material for readers to think on. This is a book that celebrates what other book’s shy away from and becomes more enjoyable because of this.

However, even those who love the weird nature of this book will not find it without flaw. The biggest example of this is Crazy Jane’s rushed introduction. For the first five chapters of the book, the focus is on a handful of major plotlines, all of which wrap up within these five chapters. Then, with only two pages of setup, the book’s final chapter tells a Crazy Jane story almost completely separate from everything else. This should be a high stakes and emotional story, but the lack of set up removes this and makes the endeavor feel hollow instead.

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Art

Nick Derington is, quite possibly, the perfect person to depict this iteration of the Doom Patrol. His quirky and stylized drawings heavily compliment the unique nature of this particular comic. If the artwork here were any more or less serious, the tone would be completely missed and the comic would not have quite the same impact. His creative depictions of Danny, alien races, and the universe in general really leave an impression and make the story even more memorable. This is a book that looks as unique as it reads, and that is a really good thing.

Continuity

Doom Patrol Vol. 1: Brick by Brick is a brand new series that has little ties to any recent comic. Instead, it is draws heavily from and is inspired by previous incarnations of the Doom Patrol. This means that readers can come into this series with or without knowledge of this team.

The story here is continued in Doom Patrol Vol. 2.

This volume also references stories from other comic books, all of which are detailed below:

• The events on Oolong Island transpired during Keith Giffen’s currently uncollected run on the Doom Patrol. This includes issues #1-22 of Doom Patrol Vol. 5.
• Both Robotman and Larry Trainor’s original origins seem to have been preserved here. These are both detailed in My Greatest Adventure #80, which is currently collected in Doom Patrol: The Silver Age Omnibus or Doom Patrol: The Silver Age Vol. 1. 
• Flex Mentallo’s history with the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E. and Danny the Street is detailed in Doom Patrol Book Two by Grant Morrison.
• Niles Caulder’s role in staging accidents to create the Doom Patrol is revealed near the end of Grant Morrison’s run on the Doom Patrol. This is collected in Doom Patrol Book Three by Grant Morrison.
• Casey Brinke’s guided tour of the Doom Patrol’s history features moments almost exclusively from Grant Morrison’s run on the Doom Patrol. This entire run is collected in Doom Patrol Book One, Book Two, and Book Three.
• The page where Casey Brink is holding a clown is a clear reference to the cover of Crisis on Infinite Earths #7.
• Danny’s history as various objects is brought up a few times.
  • Danny become Danny the Brick in Doom Patrol Vol. 5 #7, which is currently uncollected.
  • He was Danny the Brick until becoming Danny the Bungalo in Doom Patrol Vol. 5 #9, which is currently uncollected.
• Cliff mentions being in Jane’s Underground before, this happened in Doom Patrol Book One by Grant Morrison.
• Additional information at the end of this book references Robotman’s time defending the Metal Men. This happened throughout one of the storylines in the Legends of Tomorrow series, collected in Metal Men: Full Metal Jacket.