One of the biggest heartbreaks of my time with comic books was the collapse of the Vertigo universe in 2010. There was something really special about that corner of DC where all the weirdos hung out. Anything could happen there in those books, but there was still that sense of history that DC prides itself on.  These stories were essential to my growing love of the medium. Needless to say, I was overjoyed when I learned DC was creating the Young Animal imprint to give a new home to my favorite miscreants.  Today marks the beginning of that line with Gerard Way, Nick Derington, and Tamra  Bonvillain’s Doom Patrol #1.  And oh boy, they do not let me down a bit.

Doom Patrol holds a special place in heart because it was my first real exposure to Grant Morrison and his style of storytelling.  His imagination, storytelling, and ability to make you love forgotten properties are second to none.  In his hands, Doom Patrol became legendary because of his run and while there have been many attempts to recapture this feeling, none have stuck as well as Morrison.

Gerard Way may have finally cracked the code and figured out the perfect blend of Morrison, Doom Patrol, and his own original ideas. You definitely get the sense of respect for the past but Way blazes ahead with his own ideas.

The main crux of the story is Casey, an EMT driver, begins to see her world unfold after answering an emergency call  from mysterious dispatcher named Em.  While the story of a character being thrown into a new and crazy world isn’t novel, what makes it feel refreshing is that Casey seems totally down with her new world. She just rolls with the punches and seems to be having a great time doing it.

During the dispatch she witnesses Doom Patrol constant Robotman (who just destroyed a world living on a gyro) get hit by a truck and come apart. She decides the best course of action is to help rebuild Cliff at home and of course invites even more weirdness into her life.

So much happens in this book, I couldn’t do it justice writing about it. I’ll just tease some things including aliens having a marketing meeting about evil food, Niles Caulder’s solo band, exploding roommates, and so much more.

All of this is beautifully rendered by Nick Derington. His art the perfect fit for the book, evoking a more cartoony Brian Bolland. He gives each insane idea a gorgeous look and a sense of reality. Half the jokes work because of his facial expressions.

While I can’t say I fully understand what is happening, I’m onboard for the book and the whole Young Animal imprint. This feels like the kind of universe I want to read about and will get excited for every month.

All New All Different Marvel: Week 50
Writing and coordinating this summer’s major Marvel event may be taking up most of Brian Bendis’s time, but when you pick up this week’s Spider-Man #8, you get a clear reminder as to where his heart lies. This continues to be not just the best thing Bendis is doing right now, but one of the best series he’s ever written. This issue in particular, which includes other Bendisian favorites Jessica Jones and Luke Cage, delves deeper into the Civil War II ramifications of the Hulk standoff, features heartfelt interactions among the junior (soon to be Champions) Avengers, and marks an important turning point in Miles’s personal life. Great stuff. – MMDG

DC Rebirth: Week 17
The trifecta of the Birds of Prey is working for me. Batgirl is good cop, Huntress is bad cop, and Canary sits in the middle keeping things together. I really appreciate the dialogue in this book, particularly the repartee during the fight scene in the garden. I remember being a little concerned with the art in the prologue issue, but Claire Roe’s work looks great this issue. Again compliments to the action sequences. While this story is fun, and easy enough to read, I can’t say I’m enthralled by the menace of the Asp. Depending on how big of a reveal this impostor Oracle is, this book could be a decent mystery, or some afterschool Scooby Doo shit. – tyrannoflores

September 7 | New Release Highlights | September 21