Doom Patrol Vol. 6: Planet Love by Grant Morrison, Richard Case, Sean Philips and Stan Wock (graphic novel review)
This sixth and last volume of Grant Morrison’s ‘Doom Patrol’ runs from # 58-63, before a Doom Squad Special. Morrison’s six issues continues the demise of the team. Crazy Jane has become integrated. Cliff Steele’s personality is now on a CD but this is before DVDs. Rebus is back. Danny the Street jumps all over the world. The Candle-Maker is the biggest menace and Dorothy Spinner has the means to stop him providing she works out why. These issues are a real roller-coaster and, as I recently wrote, you need this volume to read straight through. I’m still wondering what Morrison was taking at the time. Artist Richard Case is doing layouts rather than full art but maybe he just wanted to ensure the pace was right.
The ‘Doom Squad Special’ shows lightning didn’t strike twice. Set in the future, an adult Dorothy Spinner leads a brash new team against the Zero siblings. If anything, it’s like Morrison forgot there has to be someone in the team you would want to support. With his Doom Patrol, it was pretty much Cliffe Steele, here…well, none really, just a bunch of misfits.
Well, it certainly was a roller-coaster. Although I haven’t seen it, the omnibus of all six volumes must surely have pages rolling into the centre of the book, so if you have the option, getting them this way must surely be easier on your reading.
GF Willmetts
August 2026
(pub: Vertigo/DC Comics, 2008. Page graphic novel softcover. Price: varies. ISBN: 978- 1-40121-624-5)
check out website: www.dc.com
