Are The Doom Patrol Heroes?
by Frank Martin
As far as superheroes shows go, Doom Patrol is perhaps one of the most bizarre. This is mainly because of the show’s premise. The characters are deeply flawed. They are nihilistic, egotistical, selfish, and all around broken. In fact, what brings them together is their status as outcasts. The world won’t accept them, so they have to hide away and seek to get better (which pretty much never happens). At the same time, the show can still be described as a superhero team show — mainly because of the existence of villains within its universe. And because the Doom Patrol has a foe they are pitted against, there is a fight in store. But the question still remains: regardless of the show’s categorical genre, are the Doom Patrol heroes? The answer is surprisingly simple.
The characters themselves would never describe themselves as such. In fact, the question is brought up time and time again as the Doom Patrol is forced into a situation where they have to decide whether to fight or walk away. But in order to answer that question, one must first come up with the definition of what a superhero actually is. When images of a superhero come to mind, people think of a vigilante or a do-gooder in a costume with some sort of powers or abilities. They have to have a will to go out and be heroic.
The Doom Patrol certainly has the first part of that down. Each of them have a series of unique abilities and looks that could be classified as superhero affectations. They don’t wear costumes per se, but when gathered as a team, they certainly can look the part. But what about the second half? Does the Doom Patrol actually have the will to be heroes? I don’t think it matters when it comes to them. That theory of being a hero is outdated and just plain wrong. The only qualification for being a hero is the moral fortitude to do the right thing as opposed to the wrong thing. The characters can certainly make mistakes from time to time, but the fact still remains that when push comes to shove, when they are faced with a decision to do right or wrong, they consistently chooses the right path. They want to do good not because they seek it out, but because it is forced on them. The parameters for which they are put into a fight is irrelevant. The point is that they have to make the choice and ultimately choose the right thing. That’s what makes them heroes, regardless of what they think of themselves.
Doom Patrol is streaming now on HBO Max.