Doom Patrol Vol. 5: Magic Bus by Grant Morrison, Richard Case, Ken Steacy, Stan Wock, Philip Bond, Mark McKenna and Scott Hanna (graphic novel review)
This fifth volume of ‘Doom Patrol’, features # 51-57. Did I say they originally came out in 1992? I can’t recall these stories, so must happened when I dropped out. The Brotherhood of Dada is back and Cliff Steele is unable to get other members of the team to help stop them. Instead, without going too spoiler, he becomes a bystander as the Brotherhood came up against the Establishment and loses. Objectively, I suspect Morrison looked at all the options and chose this one to make a statement. No one beats the Establishment in any country.
The story that follows, ‘And Men Shall Call Him…Hero!’ is an obvious Marvel spoof, drawn by Ken Steacy, using a mix of Kirby and Ditko homages. As I commented in other volumes, there had to be a stage where Morrison needed to change the pace and intensity. Nice spoof.
The last continuing story doesn’t end, so make sure you get the sixth volume. The Doom Patrol is falling apart. Rebis has left for parts unknown. Crazy Jane has left a message that she is off to kill her father, except he died at her hand a dozen years ago. Dorothy is having nightmares. Josh goes to find Caulder and is shot dead. Things only get worse. So much of this story is spoiler, more so when we learn Caulder’s secret origin. Beware the Candlestick Man.
This end story is illustrated by Richard Case and goes back to mostly traditional art which this story clearly needed. However, you need to know what happens next.
GF Willmetts
August 2026
(pub: Vertigo/DC Comics, 2007. Page graphic novel softcover. Price: varies. ISBN: 978- 1-40121-202-5)
check out website: www.dc.com
