The final installment of this seven-issue miniseries brings heroes and villains together to try and defeat General Immortus in his new form as the Eternal Flame. Masterfully crafted by writer Dennis Culver and brought to life by the talented artist Chris Burnham, we get a thrilling exploration of the Doom Patrol’s core values and a visual spectacle that leaves a lasting impression. This comic explores themes of cooperation, self-discovery, and metahuman challenges all with impressive artwork and a color palette that breathe life into the story. Unstoppable Doom Patrol #7 demonstrates why it continues to be a standout in the world of superhero comics and deserves more issues.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Unstoppable Doom Patrol #7!
Credit: DC Comics
The highlight of this issue was how teamwork was a driving force behind everything. All of the main players strengths are emphasized, but they are also in concert with each other. The Chief comes up with a brilliant plan, but it requires lots of moving pieces and cooperation to work. Jane has to convince Quiz to help, and the only way she’s able to talk to her one on one is with the help of Negative Man transporting Quiz’s mind to the Underground. Larry also plays a crucial role convincing Mento to use his full telepathic abilities to stop the Brotherhood of Evil. Even the typically physical characters need help from their teammates. There’s a great panel with a giant Elasti-Woman throwing Robotman right at The Eternal Flame, reminiscent of the old fastball special. And finally, it’s Quiz with the help of Mento that sends the big bad to the Bleed. Just when things are looking bright for the Doom Patrol, Peacemaker crashes the party with some huge US military robots. Degenerate shows his true colors though, and volunteers to stay behind to create a distraction so the rest of the team can get away. Once again, however, it’s not entirely on his own and teamwork is utilized. He uses the fight or flight power of Beast Girl to supercharge his own abilities and take on Peacemaker’s forces.
Credit: DC Comics
Dennis Culver does an excellent job balancing good exposition and explanation for new readers while not going overboard and getting too in the weeds for veteran fans. I appreciated the explanation of who The Candlemaker was, and what made them so dangerous. There was also a quick run-down of the Underground as it was the first time it was shown in this series. Culver also touches on some important themes of seeking help from others and not trying to go it alone. The whole point of the Doom Patrol in this incarnation is to find metahumans that are insecure, troubled or just struggling with their new powers. In other words, saving the monsters to save the world. Jane’s conversation with Sachiko and Larry’s conversation with Mento are both great examples of what the Doom patrol stands for.
Chris Burnham’s artwork, as always, captivates the reader with its eccentric characters and mind-bending action sequences. The amount of crazy characters and bonkers action sequences are on par with last month’s issue and are a visual feast for the eyes. The group shot of the Doom Patrol and extended friends entering the graveyard to battle the Eternal Flame was as epic as it was beautifully drawn. Brian Reber’s colors are also the unsung hero of the series. The contrast between the bright uniforms and often bleak backgrounds really makes the issue pop. The red and pink lightning shooting out of Quiz’s fingertips was executed particularly well.
Unstoppable Doom Patrol #7 is a shining example of the power of teamwork in the world of superheroes. The comic beautifully illustrates how each member of the Doom Patrol brings their unique strengths to the table, emphasizing that their individual abilities are most effective when they work in concert. It not only showcases the power of teamwork but also delivers a satisfying blend of action, storytelling, and artwork. Fans old and new will find themselves immersed in a rich narrative that encapsulates the essence of what the Doom Patrol represents. What most fans are probably itching to know is when we’ll be getting more Doom Patrol. According to the epilogue, the Doom Patrol will be returning, and there’s a surprise villain teaming up with the Eternal Flame that I don’t think anyone will see coming.
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