Green Lanterns Get It Wrong: ‘Unstoppable Doom Patrol’ #3 Review
by Olly MacNamee
Summary
Robotman and Negative Man go up against the Green Lantern Corps as they take in another new waive and stray looking to be understood. But, as the galaxy’s police squad, the Green Lanterns would rather shoot first and ask questions last. Which makes up for a conflict in the making in ‘Unstoppable Doom Patrol’ #3 by Dennis Culver and Chris Burnham.
Overall
10/10With DC Comics’ resident crazy gang harbouring Starro in Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3 it wasn’t going to be too long until others in the DCU were going to take notice. And those others just happen to be Guy Gardner and Kyle Rayner, aka Green Lanterns, in an issue that harkens back to Grant Morrison’s seminal run for inspiration. And, to correct perceived wrongs of the past while at it, as Negative Man calls out Robotman for his past behaviour towards him when he had previously identified as the more gender-fluid Rebis. It’s a timely reminder that Morrison was ahead of his time as a storyteller even then, by addressing such issues many social commentators on the right believe incorrectly to be more recent. But, at least Robotman has learnt from his past mistakes, unlike the many angry right-wing voices out there junking up the internet with their unnecessary and unwanted outrage.
But, I digress.
As the comic progresses – in more than one way – we learn more about Starro and its role in this issue and the overarching narrative that seems to encourage us all to find our own way, our own identity and be comfortable with who we are. And all done through the metaphorical prism of super heroes, courtesy of writer Dennis Culver. And, in having Starro – or rather, Starbro – as the walking, talking metaphor for this narrative concept, it places the unstoppable Doom Patrol in the path of the Green Lantern Corps; thereby casting the Lanterns as the bad guys on a journey that put the word “trip” into road trip as the Doom Patrol make out like bandits with a little bit of sci-fi innovation.
Chris Burnham continues to thrill on art chores and delivers another evocative issue that swings from darker scenes to balls-to-the-wall Silver Age silliness at one point too. And, he has a lot of heavy lifting to do in this issue with a number of standout moments too, all done with great attention to detail and dynamic layouts.
Unstoppable Doom Patrol has certainly managed to carve a very niche and different style of storytelling, even after a small handful of issues. And, by paying homage to the Doom Patrol’s rich past and thereby including rather contemporary conversations, it may be a part of the mainstream DCU, but it certainly feels like a Vertigo leaning comic book too.
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3 is out now from DC Comics
