Set firmly in the DCU, the Doom Patrol are a metahuman rescue team that are saving the world by saving the monsters which often puts them at odds with traditional superheroes.
Doom Patrol readers were immediately curious about the three new characters except one was new at all.
Jane aka Crazy Jane is a metahuman with Dissociative Identity Disorder that 64 distinct alternate identities who each have their own superpower. We introduce a new alter called THE CHIEF who now leads the team.
But what about the other two characters?
Meet BEAST GIRL, a young metahuman whose powers have not only caused changes in her appearance but let her influence the primal instincts of those around her sending them into fight or flight responses among other things.
Beast Girl is very enthusiastic about becoming a superhero. You’re going to love her.
When DEGENERATE’S powers are triggered he begins to devolve becoming more and more powerful as he loses more and more of his humanity. He doesn’t immediately fit in with the rest of the team. You’re going to love to hate him.
I was asked by an eagle eyed Doom Patrol reader if this was a sneaky Gotham book because he noticed WAYNE TOWER in the background of my cover which is the setting of the first issue.
From my POV, there is one giant pillar in the DCU and that is all the characters associated with the JUSTICE LEAGUE including the core members and their books along with the heroes of the JUSTICE SOCIETY who inspired them and then their proteges in TITANS. The DOOM PATROL has never been a part of that and they no longer think their methods of doing things work.
After the events of LAZARUS PLANET there are more metahumans than ever but very few will become superheroes. Most will end up in places like Arkham Asylum where they will slowly fall through the cracks of society and become outcasts. At best some of them will end up guinea pigs for places like S.T.A.R. LABS and at worse weapons for the government in programs like TASK FORCE X aka the SUICIDE SQUAD.
The Doom Patrol offers an alternative to a very broken system and this will put them in conflict with the rest of the superhero community.
Make sure you pick up LAZARUS PLANET: DARK FATE in February which features a 10 page Doom Patrol story that tees up our run and tell you comic shop you want to order UNSTOPPABLE DOOM PATROL in March. We’ll talk more about when the solicits drop for it soon.