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Wallace Sellars Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 01 May 2004 Location: United States Posts: 17669
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 9:29am | IP Logged | 1
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I just finished rereading JB's 18-issue DOOM PATROL run, and wanted to share a few brief thoughts.
This is an incredibly underrated series. I can see how some may consider continuing the JLA 10th Circle storyline in the first two issues of DOOM PATROL was a misstep, but by the third issue things began to hum for me.
I have previously mentioned my affection for Nudge and Grunt, so it should come as no surprise that the pages I most enjoyed usually featured either one or both of those characters. Learning their shared origin was a treat. I remember being (accidentally on purpose) sold that issue a week earlier than it was supposed to be available for purchase.
That's definitely not a knock on how JB handled the other characters though. The way the team investigated certain phenomena felt like what little I know of THE CHALLENGERS OF THE UNKNOWN or even a bit like Stan and Jack and JB's FANTASTIC FOUR. And in case you didn't know it, that's high praise!
And remember the moments shared between Cliff and Rita on the last page of issue #14? That scene has to be one of the most touching to ever appear in a comic book!
I would have liked to see the team away from Key Mordaz even more than they were since having superheroes out and about in real world settings is more impressive than seeing them duke it out with bad guys inside their high tech headquarters. I'm sure that would have happened been had the series been allowed to continue beyond #18.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 132271
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 10:13am | IP Logged | 2
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I can see how some may consider continuing the JLA 10th Circle storyline in the first two issues of DOOM PATROL was a misstep...••• Including me! All I can offer in my defense is that it was not my idea!
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Wilson Mui Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 June 2004 Location: United States Posts: 4524
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 10:36am | IP Logged | 3
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How much of Grunt's intelligence did you plan on giving back to him?
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 132271
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 10:39am | IP Logged | 4
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None. That was the point.
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Joe Smith Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 29 August 2004 Location: United States Posts: 6599
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 10:39am | IP Logged | 5
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Glad we had the chance to see a JB DP series. A fun read, especially when you consider the dark and scary stuff going on over in the JB DEMON title during that period.Both are in my headboard bookshelf along with the other JB series, so that they may seep into my brain while I sleep.
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Wallace Sellars Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 01 May 2004 Location: United States Posts: 17669
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 11:24am | IP Logged | 6
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How much of Grunt's intelligence did you plan on giving back to him?
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None. That was the point.
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I believe some people mistake other members of the team learning Grunt is smarter than they initially surmised for him becoming more intelligent as the series progressed.
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Joe Hollon Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 08 May 2004 Location: United States Posts: 13675
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 11:28am | IP Logged | 7
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JB's DOOM PATROL is fantastic. I love Nudge and Grunt. I also have an extreme fondness for JB's skeletal Negative Man. I had never read anything DOOM PATROL prior to this series. It inspired me to read the originals via the Showcase Presents collection....wonderful stuff! Among my favorite DC Silver Age series!
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 132271
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 11:28am | IP Logged | 8
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Kind of important to remember that Grunt's diminished intelligence was due to most of his brain being sliced away!
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Wallace Sellars Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 01 May 2004 Location: United States Posts: 17669
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 11:42am | IP Logged | 9
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I love Nudge and Grunt. — I recall being upset at how badly the five kids in Nudge's head treated her, and reminding myself that when it comes to his creations, JB hurts he ones he loves.
I also have an extreme fondness for JB's skeletal Negative Man. — I dig that look, too, Joe!
[Edited to correct the bold formatting.]
Edited by Wallace Sellars on 24 July 2016 at 1:10pm
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 132271
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 12:05pm | IP Logged | 10
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And remember the moments shared between Cliff and Rita on the last page of issue #14? That scene has to be one of the most touching to ever appear in a comic book!••• In many ways that scene was my response to the o-so-tiresome "How do the Thing and Alicia DO IT?" question that seems to so trouble some of the more anal fanboys. (And proboys, sadly.)
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Rick Whiting Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 22 April 2004 Posts: 2188
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 12:10pm | IP Logged | 11
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To date, JB's run on the Doom Patrol is my favorite take on those characters. I hated what DC did with the new characters that JB created during his run.
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John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 132271
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Posted: 24 July 2016 at 12:26pm | IP Logged | 12
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I hated what DC did with the new characters that JB created during his run.•• There's an old saying about not attributing to malice what can be explained in other ways, but given the number of times my characters have been stepped on.......... Really sad thing is, there seem to be fans and pros who think this kind of thing actually bothers me. Why would it? Once I let go of a character, I know there's nothing I can do any longer to "protect" them. Worrying about it is a short road to madness.
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