|
Gar Logan Friends & Family |
|
| The Doom Patrol |
| Jillian Jackson |
| Matt Logan |
|
| Doom Patrol Quick Bio: Victims of cruel fate, three individuals were given strange powers that made them outcasts from society. United by their wheelchair-bound leader known as "The Chief," the oddball adventurers - Robotman, Elasti-Girl and Negative Man - became underground heroes as the Doom Patrol! Although the membership has changed through the years, the Doom Patrol has always offered freakish pariahs the chance to become heroes. |
|
DOOM PATROL
joined by
MENTO and BEAST BOY |
|
|
|
DOOM PATROL after Infinite Crisis |
|
The Doom Patrol
|
The Chief briefs the Doom Patrol! |
|
|
The Origin Of The Doom Patrol
An incredibly brilliant but unorthodox young scientific researcher, Niles Caulder accepted the aid of a mystery benefactor in financing his biological experiments. His curiosity led him to investigate this unknown philanthropist, only to discover himself to be a pawn of General Immortus, a criminal mastermind striving to recreate an immortality elixir that had kept him alive for centuries. To guarantee Caulder's loyalty, Immortus had a bomb inserted in the scientist's chest which only Immortus could safely remove while Caulder lived. Caulder, however, tricked the General into shooting him, then, having preprogrammed his robot assistant, he had the mechanical surgeon operate to remove the bomb after he was clinically "dead." The operation was only a partial success. Niles Caulder lived, but lost the use of his legs, becoming confined to a wheelchair. Destroying his lab and all his notes to prevent Immortus from discovering the secret he sought, Caulder seemingly vanished, and even the ancient overlord of crime could not find him.
Only after Niles Caulder's death would Immortus learn that, during his researches, the scientist had served as a Red Cross volunteer in India, where he met and later married a young woman named Arani, who became the first and only beneficiary of the Immortality serum. After going into hiding to escape Immortus, Caulder never returned to his new bride, fearing reprisals from his enemy. He surfaced only twice more before settling permanently in the brownstone combination laboratory/living quarters in Midway City that was to become the headquarters of the Doom Patrol.
First, he created a special radiation-proof fabric which was used to allow Larry Trainor, Negative Man, to walk the streets after he became permanently radioactive. Then, he became the first surgeon to transplant a human brain into a mechanical body when he saved Cliff Steele's life by transforming him into Robotman. Finally, using the code-name "The Chief" to protect his real identity, he brought together Rita Farr, Larry Trainor, and Cliff Steele, and formed the team of adventurers whom the media dubbed "the Doom Patrol."
Enter: Beast Boy! The Doom Patrol meets
Gar Logan in DOOM PATROL #99 [1965]. |
 |
|
 |
Beast Boy made his debut in
DOOM PATROL #99 [1965].
|
|
|
General Immortus quickly deduced the Chief's true identity and became one of the Doom Patrol's most persistent foes, but the general public remained unaware of the background of the red-bearded genius in the wheelchair until much later in the team's career.
Although Rita Farr was initially attracted to fellow teammate Negative Man, she eventually lost her heart to a self-aggrandizing billionaire named Steve Dayton who went so far as to adopt the super-hero identity Mento in order to impress her. After their marriage, Rita continued her association with the Doom Patrol despite Dayton's open antagonism towards them. Together, Steve and Rita adopted orphan Garfield Logan, the teen-age hero called Beast Boy (who would eventually become the New Titan known as Changeling).
|
Rita Farr finally accepts Steve's propoal in DOOM PATROL #104 [1966] |
|
|
Steve Dayton marries Rita Farr in DOOM PATROL #104 [1966] |
|
After a series of adventures, the four original members were trapped on their island base by Madame Rouge and her ally, Captain Zahl, and given an ultimatum: either they would allow ZahI to blow up the island and destroy them, or he would detonate another bomb which would wipe out a fishing village of fourteen inhabitants. Heroes to the end, the Doom Patrol voted to sacrifice themselves, and Zahl triggered his explosive, seemingly killing the entire quartet.
|
|
Everything old is new again! The Doom Patrol from
TEEN TITANS (third series) #37 [2006]. |
|
Avenging The Doom Patrol
Two other regular characters in Doom Patrol, one who became a part-time member of the team and the other a non-member ally, lived on after the destruction of the original group. Beast Boy, later known as the Changeling, became a member of both "Titans West" and the New Teen Titans. Meanwhile, Steve Dayton continued to perfect his Mento helmet; Dayton vowed vengeance and spent much time and money in search of his wife's killers only to be captured by them. Several months after Dayton's disappearance, Gar Logan, now Changeling, asked Robotman to help him find Mento. The two old friends, plus Gar's new friends, the Teen Titans, rescued Mento from General Zahl and Madame Rouge; both villains died in the ensuing battle.
Steele [Robotman] decided to forego super-heroics and to mourn his friends, but was brought out of retirement by a new Doom Patrol organized by a woman claiming to be Caulder's widow. Steele joined their short-lived team until it disbanded, then went into service a third time when evidence was unearthed that led to the discovery of the still-living Negative Man. Eventually, Niles Caulder resurfaced as well and talked Steele into staying on as the core of the fourth incarnation of the Doom Patrol.
Together Again For The First Time
Years later, a cosmic event known as the Infinite Crisis would irrevocably change the Doom Patrol. When the Superboy from Earth Prime pounded on the vibrational barrier that once separated the multiverse, reality fractured and splintered. From its wake, a new Doom Patrol emerged in present day, seemingly wiping out the history of the first team. In this new reality, the wheelchair-bound Chief gathered Elasti-Girl, Robotman and Negative Man - who were soon joined by new members Grunt (a four-armed gorilla), Nudge (a teenage telepath) and Vortex (an dimensional-opening entity).
When the Infinite Crisis struck, the members of the Doom Patrol - as well as Beast Boy - began to remember their original histories. When Beast Boy reunited with his foster mother, Rita Farr, time began to realign itself. The myriad histories of the Doom Patrol began to merge into a whole, combined history. As a result, The Doom Patrol's history was restored.
The revived team were soon joined by former Titans Bumblebee and Herald. The Doom Patrol is now based in the mysterious Dayton Estate in Prague.
|
|
The Chief
Alias: Niles Caulder |
HISTORY: Confined to a wheelchair after a dangerous encounter with the evil General Immortus, the brilliant yet unorthodox Niles Caulder became determined to dedicate his life to protecting the world from villiany. Caulder - known to many as "the Chief" - gathered together victims of cruel and fantastic fate and formed a super-powered team of outcasts known as The Doom Patrol.
As the original leader of the team, The Chief sometimes employs manipulative methods in his fanatical mission. The Doom Patrol later discovered that the Chief had engineered the very accidents that gave them their strange abilities. Although they have since forgiven him, the group keeps a wary eye on their mysterious leader.
|
|
Robotman
Alias: Cliff Steele |
HISTORY: When a fierce race car crash destroyed Cliff Steele's human body, his still-living brain was transplanted into a robotic body by Niles Caulder. Dubbed Robotman, he used his new mechanical strength and toughness to fight evil as a member of the Doom Patrol. While other members of the team were presumed dead in an explosion that threatened to claim a small fishing village, Robotman's damaged body washed ashore and was rebuilt by genius scientist Will Magnus. Since then, the tough-as-nails Robotman has been a lynchpin through various new incarnations of the Doom Patrol.
Through years of shared tragedy, Robotman remained close with Beast Boy and has assisted the Titans on several missions, including the rescue of Mento from Madame Rouge and the final defeat of Brother Blood.
|
|
Negative Man
Alias: Larry Trainor |
HISTORY: Overexposure to stratospheric radiation left rocket-plane test pilot Larry Trainor swaddled in specially-treated bandages. But the same mishap that kept his face forever hidden from the world also allowed him to briefly release from within him a strange, powerful "negative energy" being that would do his bidding. In some ways the most powerful member of the Doom Patrol, Negative Man could only exercize his power for no more than sixty seconds at a time.
Negative Man's energy form survived certain death when the entire Doom Patrol was seemingly killed in an explosion while saving a small fishing village. Although sometimes as negative as his namesake, Negative Man's ultimate heroism outshines his dire outlook on life.
|
|
Elasti Girl
Alias: Rita Farr Dayton |
|
| Rita Farr consoles Gar as he recounts his tragic origin in DOOM PATROL #100 [1965] |
|
HISTORY: Starlet Rita Farr's Hollywood career ended when she inhaled strange underground vapors while filming at an exotic South American locale, but the remarkable size-changing powers Farr gained cast her in a brand-new role as Elasti-Girl. The warm-hearted heroine eventually lost her heart to a self-aggrandizing billionaire named Steve Dayton who adopted the super-hero identity of Mento in order to impress her. After their marriage, Rita continued her association with the Doom Patrol despite Dayton's open antagonism towards them. Together, Steve and Rita adopted orphan Garfield Logan, the teenage hero called Beast Boy.
The original Doom Patrol was seemingly destroyed in an explosion, choosing to sacrifice themselves to their enemies rather than allow the men and women of a small fishing village to be killed. Since that time, the Chief retrieved Rita's skull and bathed it in synthetic proteins, enabling the size-changing heroine to regrow her entire body over the years. Once back among the living, Rita rejoined the Doom Patrol and was reunited with her true love, Steve Dayton.
|
|
Mento
Alias: Steve Dayton |
|
It all started in DOOM PATROL #102 [1966]:
Beast Boy meets Mento |
|
HISTORY: Smitten with Elasti-Girl of the Doom Patrol, millionaire inventor Steve Dayton fashioned a psionic helmet and became the self-styled super-hero, Mento. Dayton eventually won the heart of Rita Farr and the couple wed, despite the initial animosity between Dayton and the rest of the Doom Patrol. The happy couple later adopted Beast Boy as their son after learning of the boy's abuse at the hands of his step-father. Although the Mento helmet has pushed him to the brink of insanity, Dayton has learned to tame his inner demons.
For Mento's complete history, click here
|
|
Beast Boy
Alias: Garfield Logan |
HISTORY: Forced to undergo an experimental procedure to save his life, Garfield Logan gained the ability to transform into any sort of animal he could imagine. Green-skinned Garfield found a new family as Beast Boy, a junior member of the Doom Patrol. His ties to the Doom Patrol became stronger when Steve (Mento) Dayton and Rita (Elasti-Girl) Farr elected to adopt him. Beast Boy changed his name to Changeling and later joined the Teen Titans. Known once again as Beast Boy, Gar uses his trademark humor to diffuse the most dire of situations.
For Beast Boy's complete history, click here
The Doom Patrol #99 [1965]: First appearance of Beast Boy. Doom Patrol headquarters is invaded by Gar Logan, a teenager with green skin and the ability to transform himself into any known animal. Dubbing him "Beast Boy," the Doom Patrol grants his desire to join them on a mission, and he manages to save the day.
The Doom Patrol #100 [1965]: Gar tells his origin story to the Doom Patrol.
The Doom Patrol #102 [1966]: The Chief recruits Mento and Beast Boy to help the Doom Patrol and the Challengers of the Unknown. Beast Boy meets Mento for the first time.
The Doom Patrol #104 [1966]: After much soul-searching, Elasti-Girl finally agrees to marry Mento.
The Doom Patrol #110 [1967]: Steve Dayton finds his legal case against Galtry for Beast Boy's guardianship crumbling, especially after Mandred breaks free of his imprisonment in Doom Patrol headquarters and learns Beast Boy's true identity as Gar Logan. The case is finally decided in Dayton's favor, however, when Elasti-Girl disguises herself as Beast Boy to make it seem that Gar and Beast Boy are two different individuals. Gar Logan is taken from the custody of Nicholas Galtry and adopted by Steve and Rita Dayton as of this story.
The Doom Patrol #120 [1968]: Mento, Elasti- Girl, Gar Logan, and Gar's girlfriend Jillian Jackson become involved in a brawl at a discotheque, with humorous results.
The Doom Patrol #121 [1968]: Immobilizing the three heroes, Zahl issues an ultimatum: either they allow him to blow up the island and destroy them, or he will cause a similar blast to destroy a tiny fishing village of fourteen inhabitants. The Doom Patrol members heroically vote to sacrifice themselves, and Zahl detonates the island over Madame Rouge's protests. The world mourns the loss of the Doom Patrol, and Steve Dayton vows to find and destroy the murderers of his wife. The Doom Patrol is destroyed, as Elasti-Girl, Negative Man, and the Chief seemingly die in this story. Robotman, the Brain, and M. Mallah appear to be destroyed in this story, but survive, as revealed in their respective next appearances in Showcase #94.
New Teen Titans #13-15 [1981-1982]: Robin, Cyborg and Kid Flash meet up with Robotman, and the group rescues a drugged Steve Dayton from Madame Rouge's underground city in Africa. The Titans reunite and are attacked by Steve Dayton in his Mento identity, who is under Madame Rouge's control; Raven brings Dayton back to normal, and the heroes follow Madame Rouge and General Zahl to Zandia; Zahl's forces defeat and capture the Titans while Changeling is taken prisoner by the New Brotherhood of Evil. Changeling agrees to work with the New Brotherhood of Evil, and the group rescues the Titans; General Zahl is killed by a bullet which ricochets off Robotman's body, Madame Rouge is killed by Changeling, and the Brotherhood is allowed to go free. First appearance of New Brotherhood of Evil in issue #14; First appearance of Warp, Houngan, Phobia and Plasmus. Death of Madame Rogue and General Zahl in issue #15.
New Teen Titans (second series) #28-31 [1987] Robotman aids the Titans in their final battle with Brother Blood.
Teen Titans (third series) #32 [2005] The Titans battle Superboy Prime as Beast Boy is reunited with the Doom Patrol. The myriad histories of the Doom Patrol are combined into a new streamlined history - with Rita Farr alive and well.
Teen Titans (third series) #35-37 [2006]: One Year Later, it's "The New Teen Titans!" A new year of exciting adventures begins with the "new" Teen Titans and the bizarre Doom Patrol. The team is forced to make a trip across the world and into the bizarre Dayton Manor, headquarters of the Doom Patrol! But the Brotherhood of Evil isn't far behind. The rebooted Doom Patrol makes its first appearance after the events of Infinite Crisis. Original members Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, the Chief, Mento and Beast Boy are joined by former Titans Bumblebee (Karen Beecher, who was transformed to insect-size by strange energies) and Vox (Mal Duncan, who was maimed when an accident merged him with his dimension-hopping Gabriel Horn). Steve Dayton appears alive and well with a Mento helmet that enhances Steve's mind, but the increased mental activity also makes it difficult for Dayton to concentrate - which results in one of the most powerful scatter-brains in the world. The Chief reveals that he retrieved Rita's skull and bathed it in special proteins, enabling the size-changing heroine to regrow her entire body over time.
DC Universe Role-Playing Games: Sourcebooks and Manuals [ West End Games], DC Secret Files, supplemented by titanstower.com
Top of Page
| Gar discovers girls! And Jillian. In TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS mini series #3 [1982] |
|
|
|
| Gar & Jillian from TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS mini series #3 [1982] |
|
Meeting Gar
Although many of Garfield Logan's fellow classmates shunned him because of his green-hued appearance, fellow classmate Jillian Jackson reached out to him. Jillian and Gar began dating. Their relationship was cut short upon the death of the Doom Patrol.
After the demise of the Doom Patrol, Gar Logan returned to his acting job with the Space Trek: 2022 TV series, during which an old Doom Patrol, foe, the Arsenal, made an unsuccessful attempt on his life. Out of work after the series cancellation, Gar was reunited with his high-school girlfriend, Jillian Jackson, who showed up at his door in L.A. Although her father objected to their relationship because of Gar's appearance and unconventional lifestyle, Jillian and Gar continued to date.
Soon after, the Arsenal returned and kidnapped Jillian. Trailing the armored villain to his castle hideout, Beast Boy discovered that the Arsenal was actually his former guardian, Galtry, who had hired the original Arsenal to eliminate the Doom Patrol and who had now usurped that costumed criminal's identity himself. His goal: to hold Jillian for ransom and regain the money he had lost when Gar Logan's guardianship had been taken from him.
| Jillian returns from London finishing school in TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #47 [1984] |
|
|
|
| Jillian was Gar's wedding date in TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #50 [1984] |
|
Beast Boy contacted Vernon Questor, who was in charge of Steve Dayton's finances while Mento searched for the killers of the Doom Patrol, but was unable to attain the needed ransom money. Galtry then left him trapped in an airtight room while he attempted to get the ransom paid by Jillian's father instead. Escaping, Beast Boy battled Galtry/Arsenal, shattered the villain's armored costume, and defeated him.
Jillian Returns
Shortly after that, Jillian was sent to a British finishing school to complete her high school education. The transfer was engineered by her father in an attempt to keep Jillian and Gar apart. She entered a rebellious teenage phase where she adopted a punk look, with pink hair.
Soon after the betrayal and apparent death of Terra, Jillian Jackson returned from boarding school in Europe and re-entered Gar's life. She was able to ease some of his loneliness and bitterness following the death of Terra; they quickly resumed their romantic relationship.
|
| Jillian and Tara argue over Gar in NEW TITANS #96 [1993] |
|
Sometime later, a conflict with the Wildebeest Society turned the Titans upside down. As the team entered a constant state of flux, a new girl named Terra appeared, who looked exactly like the original. Although at first unnerved by her appearance, Gar faced an undeniable attraction to her. This put a strain on Jillian and Gar's relationship. After repeated attempts to mend their relationship, Jillian and Gar's romance eventually dissolved.
The Doom Patrol #99 [1965]: First appearance of Beast Boy. Doom Patrol headquarters is invaded by Gar Logan, a teenager with green skin and the ability to transform himself into any known animal. Dubbing him "Beast Boy," the Doom Patrol grants his desire to join them on a mission, and he manages to save the day. First appearance of Jillian Jackson.
The Doom Patrol #118 [1968]: Jillian Jackson becomes Gar Logan's girlfriend in this story. Jillian also appears in #119.
The Doom Patrol #120 [1968]: Mento, Elasti- Girl, Gar Logan, and Gar's girlfriend Jillian Jackson become involved in a brawl at a discotheque, with humorous results. Jillian's last appearance until New Teen Titans
Tales of the New Teen Titans #3 [1982]: 4-issue mini series. As the Titans take a break on a camping trip, the new members reveal their origins. Gar details his relationship with Jillian.
Tales of the Teen Titans #47 [1984]: Jillian Jackson reenters Gar's life when she returns from a London finishing school. She remains his girlfriend throughout the series as well as New Teen Titans (second series) #1-49 and New Titans #50-96.
New Titans #96 [1993]: Gar spends more time with Terra. In issue #96, Jillian Jackson confronts Gar about not returning her phone calls, sensing Terra is the reason. Last appearance of Jillian to date.
supplemented by titanstower.com
Top of Page
Matthew Kevin Logan was born in Detroit, Michigan under curious circumstances. As soon as he had his high school diploma (or GED equivalent) he headed out West to Los Angeles to seek his fortune in Hollywood. Neither a writer, model nor actor, Matt has since found gainful employment at Pink's Hot Dog Stand, a temporary career move which he swears will lead to his big break if he doesn't get fired first.
Matt was recently introduced to his paternal first cousin, Garfield, a.k.a. Beast Boy. When Gar was wrongly accused of murder, Matt was instrumental (sort of) in helping clear the family name. Later, Matt enrolled in UCLA's Cinema School with the hope of becoming a director.
After cousin Gar relocated to the West Coast, Matt took it upon himself to hold a membership drive for an all new Titans West . The membership drive quickly devolved into a keg party. As the party was crashed by a group of villains, only a few potential members remained. Gar finally agreed to have the team re-form, and Titans West was re-dubbed Titans L.A. But Titans LA was short-lived; Eventually, the new West Coast group of Titans dissolved before it even truly began.
Beast Boy #1-4 [2000]: Gar meets his cousin Matt.
Titans Secret Files #2 [2000]: Matt took it upon himself to hold a membership drive for an all new Titans West (the membership drive quickly devolved into a keg party).
DC Secret Files, supplemented by titanstower.com
Top of Page
Doom Patrol: Publishing History
The Original Doom Patrol [1963-1973]
|
COVER TO MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #80 |
Notable Appearances, in chronological order:
My Greatest Adventure #80-85 [1963]
Doom Patrol (first series) #86-124 [1964-1973]
Brave and Bold #65 [1966]
Roll Call: The Chief, Robotman, Negative Man and Elasti-Girl
Later joined by: Mento and Beast Boy
Calling them "victims of a cruel and fantastic fate," a red-bearded man in neat business suit offered three individuals "the chance to experience adventures more incredible than any humans have ever known" in the now-classic MY GREATEST ADVENTURE #80. A team of freaks and misfits, the strange group was composed of: Robot Man (Cliff Steele, a man’s brain saved from death and placed in a robot body); Negative Man (Larry Trainor, a bandaged man composed of pure energy); Elasti-Girl (Rita Farr, a beautiful woman who can grow as well as shrink in size); and the Chief (Niles Caulder, their mysterious wheelchair-bound leader). The team proved to be popular enough that after six issues, they took over MY GREATEST ADVENTURE, which changed its name to THE DOOM PATROL with #86 (Mar., 1964). In all, the fabulous freaks starred in 42 issues of one of the most offbeat and bizarre series DC had ever published. Unlike DC's other superhero series of the period, the Doom Patrol was ostracized by society. It was this theme - outcasts as heroes - that gave the Doom Patrol its unique appeal.
Veteran editor Murray Boltinoff asked writer Arnold Drake to develop a feature suited to the book, MY GREATEST ADVENTURE. Drake remembers developing the initial Doom Patrol concept with fellow writer, Bob Haney. Joining Drake was artist Bruno Premiani, who had done some work for DC and was ready for more when the Doom Patrol assignment came up. Premiani's art was atypical for DC, giving the series a unique flair and oddball charm.
As the series progressed, more characters were added to the mix. Mento (Steve Dayton, a man whose mental prowess is enhanced by a powerful helmet) later joined in DOOM PATROL #91 [1964]. Mento was immediately smitten with Elasti-Girl and joined their adventures in an effort to woo her. Beast Boy (Garfield Logan, a green-skinned teenaged shape-shifter) met the team (and made his first appearance) in DOOM PATROL #99 [1965]. He became their junior member in DOOM PATROL #100 [1965]. Elasti-Girl and Mento later married [DOOM PATROL #104] and adopted Beast Boy in DOOM PATROL #110 [1967].
And what would the heroes be without a formidable group of villains? The Brotherhood of Evil provided just that, first appearing in DOOM PATROL #86 [1963]. The Brotherhood was a powerful international crime syndicate whose inner circle comprised the Brain, a disembodied human brain preserved in a special fluid; Monsieur Mallah, a gorilla given superhuman intelligence through the Brain's surgical techniques; and Madame Rouge, an elastic villainess gifted with extraordinary disguise skills. The Brotherhood of Evil battled the original Doom Patrol numerous times before Rouge was finally driven insane after one of the Brain's experimental surgical operations.
The series was always weird, off-kilter and just this side of bizarre. As such, the series ended with one of the most offbeat endings in comic-dom. In DOOM PATROL #121 [1968], the team sacrificed their lives for a small village of 14 people. Arnold Drake remembered why the series was allowed to end with the death of its heroes. "The primary reason was that the Doom Patrol was caught in a downtrend," he explained. "Super-heroes were out and horror and mystery books were becoming popular. There was also a general drop in sales at National Periodical Publications, and the Doom Patrol got caught in it. When the book was faced with near-certain cancellation, I talked with Murray and we decided to try something new with the book. We'd let the readers decide." At the end of the story, Boltinoff and Premiani challenged the book's readers to decide the fate of the Doom Patrol. Bizarre indeed.
Over the years, one by one, the members returned from the grave. But at its time, the story was as shocking as it was memorable.
Paul Kupperberg’s Doom Patrol [1977-1988]
Notable Appearances, in chronological order:
Showcase #94-96 [1977]
Superman Family #191-193 [1978-1979]
New Teen Titans #13-15 [1982] (Robotman & Mento)
DC Comics Presents #52 [1982]
Secret Origins Annual #1 [1987]
Doom Patrol (second series) #1-18 [1987-1988]
Doom Patrol Annual (second series) #1 [1988]
Doom Patrol/Suicide Squad Special #1 [1988]
Roll Call: Robotman, Celsius, Negative Woman and Tempest
Later joined by: The Chief, Negative Man, Lodestone, Karma and Scott Fisher
In 1977, DC decided to once again publish SHOWCASE, a title that in the 1960s had launched features like Green Lantern, the Atom, and the Metal Men. The first series to be featured in the revived book was the New Doom Patrol. The new series' creators were scripter Paul Kupperberg and artist Joe Staton. This new Doom Patrol had a decidedly international flavor. An American black man named Tempest (Joshua Clay) was joined by Celsius ( Arani Desai-Caulder, an Indian woman who could control heat and cold - and who claimed to be the Chief's wife), and Negative Woman ((Valentina Vostok, a Russian woman who could transform herself into radioactive energy). Rounding out the cast was the only survivor of the original Doom Patrol: Robotman. Cliff Steele, though his mechanical body had been shattered, had survived the explosion that killed his friends. Will Magnus, creator of the Metal Men, had provided him with a new robot body - one that looked as if it had been designed by John Byrne - and Cliff was ready to return to the society that called him "freak."
The New Doom Patrol also guest-starred in SUPERMAN FAMILY #191-193 [1978- 1979], teaming up with Supergirl. And later teamed up with Superman in DC COMICS PRESENTS #52 [1982]. In 1987, DC decided to give the series another try. After refreshing readers with their origins in SECRET ORIGINS ANNUAL #1 [1987], Paul Kupperberg and artist Steve Lightle relaunched THE DOOM PATROL with essentially the same team Kupperberg introduced in SHOWCASE #94. They did bring along a new surprises – such as the return of both the Chief and Negative Man from the grave. Also along for the ride were some new younger members: Lodestone (Rhea Jones, a magnetic-powered heroine), Karma (Wade Hawkins, a psychic delinquent) and Scott Fisher (a timid teen with heat-based powers). Both Fisher and Karma were killed – along with Celsius – before the 18th issue of the series.
As a whole, the super-heroic series failed to tap into the Doom Patrol’s offbeat charms. That would soon change....
Grant Morrison’s Doom Patrol [1989-2000]
Notable Appearances, in chronological order:
Doom Patrol (second series) #19-87 [1989-1995]
Doom Patrol Annual (second series) #2 [1994]
Roll Call: Robotman, The Chief, Rebis, Crazy Jane
Later joined by: Dorothy Spinner, Danny The Street, The Bandage People and Coagula
Things suddenly got strange. That’s one way of describing Grant Morrison’s post-modern take of DC’s most bizarre super-team. Morrison – joined by artist Richard Case – took over the reigns of THE DOOM PATROL with issue #19. Right away, the tone of the book took a jarring turn. New members joined that were more fitting of the freakish mold established in the first series: Crazy Jane (a woman with 64 different personalities, each with a different ability), Rebis (an asexual energy being comprised of Larry Trainor and Eleanor Poole), Dorothy Spinner (a girl with mental abilities and the face of a gorilla) and Danny the Street (a sentient land mass).
The team fought high-concept villains like Red Jack (who believed he was both Jack the Ripper and God), The Brotherhood of Dada (who favored absurdity over reason) and The Scissormen (who threatened to cut people out of reality). Even old favorites were given new personalities. In Morrison's final storyline, it was revealed that the Chief had caused the "accidents" which turned Cliff, Larry Trainor and Rita Farr into freaks with the intention of creating the Doom Patrol. After trying to release nanobots that would create a strange, new world, the Chief was decapitated by one of Dorothy Spinner’s imaginary creations.
Morrison left the book with issue #63, and Rachel Pollack took over writing the book the next issue. In keeping with the odd style set by Morrison, Niles Caulder, although decapitated, remained alive as a disembodied head. New members also joined the book: The ghostly Bandage People and Kate Goodwin (Coagula). Pollack continued writing the title until its cancellation with DOOM PATROL #87 [1995].
John Arcudi’s Doom Patrol [2001-2003]
Notable Appearances, in chronological order:
Doom Patrol (third series) #1-22 [2001-2003]
Roll Call: Robotman, Negative Man II, Fever, Kid Slick and Freak
In December 2001, writer John Arcudi and artist Tan Eng Huat launched a new DOOM PATROL series. The approach was less surreal than the previous version, but had its own quirky charms. The only holdover from the last incarnation was Robotman – who was joined by new members: Negative Man II (Ted Bruder, the time-seer who would rather be known as Fast Forward, but earned the name Negative Man, due to his surly attitude); Fever (nice girl Shyleen Lao, who had fire-based powers); Freak (mysterious and reclusive Ava, who could transform herself in strange ways); and Kid Slick (slacker dude Vic Darge, who could create a defensive shell around his body). The team was gathered by eccentric millionaire Thayer Jost, who wanted to sponsor the team and bought the rights to the name, “Doom Patrol.”
The series was not without its freaky mind-bending adventures. As revealed later, the Robotman seen in the first 8 issues was an imaginary construct created by Dorothy Spinner, who lay in a coma after accidentally destroying Kate Goodwin (Coagula) and the real Robotman. The team located Cliff’s brain and built him a new body with the help of Russian engineer Dr. Kolodenko. Jost eventually pulled his funding (as DC pulled the plug on the series, which wasn’t selling as well as they’d hoped) - and the latest version of the Doom Patrol was canceled with DOOM PATROL #22 in 2003.
|
JOHN BYRNE'S COVER
TO DOOM PATROL INDEX #1 |
John Byrne’s Doom Patrol [2004-2006]
Notable Appearances, in chronological order:
JLA #94-99 [2004]
Doom Patrol (fourth series) #1-18 [2004-2005]
Teen Titans (third series) #32 [2005]
Roll Call: The Chief, Robotman, Negative Man and Elasti-Girl
Later joined by: Nudge, Vortex and Grunt
A new DOOM PATROL series began in June 2004, written and drawn by long-time Doom Patrol fan, John Byrne. For the feel of the book, Byrne said that the series’ catchphrase is “Together Again for the First Time!” In a bold move to return to the “classic formula,” this new incarnation completely reset Doom Patrol continuity, having them appear 'for the first time' in the pages of JLA #94 [2004]. The Justice League (and the readers) were introduced to the Chief, Elasti-Girl, Robotman and Negative Man – all operating in secret until now.
DOOM PATROL #1, launched in 2004, continued the vampire story arc from the pages of JLA. The team was soon joined by new members Grunt (a four-armed gorilla), Nudge (a teenage telepath) and Vortex (an dimensional-opening entity). Celebrating high-adventure and old-school super-heroics, the series failed to recapture the original magic (or enough readers, for that matter). Byrne’s DOOM PATROL series was canceled with DOOM PATROL #18 [2005].
Doom Patrol After Infinite Crisis [2006-present]
Notable Appearances, in chronological order:
Teen Titans (third series) #32 [2005]
Teen Titans (third series) #35-37 [2006]
Roll Call: The Chief, Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, Mento and Beast Boy
Later joined by: Celsius, Negative Woman, Tempest, Lodestone, Karma, Scott Fisher, Rebis, Crazy Jane, Dorothy Spinner, Danny The Street, The Bandage People, Coagula, Negative Man II, Fever, Kid Slick, Freak, Nudge, Vortex, Grunt, Bumblebee and Vox
As cancellation of Byrne’s DOOM PATROL seemed imminent, DC Comics faced some other issues concerning the rebooted Doom Patrol: the dreaded continuity monster. A rebooted Doom Patrol caused some continuity glitches for some other well-known characters, like Beast Boy and Mento. In the NEW TEEN TITANS and subsequent TITANS series, many stories featuring Garfield Logan and Steve Dayton relied heavily on their history with the Doom Patrol – a history that no longer existed if the team was founded in “present day.” It also effected characters like The Brain, Mallah, Madame Rouge, the new Brotherhood of Evil, the Hybrid, Rouge’s daughter Gemini and all their various crossovers into other DC books. "Gar Logan will be the Donna Troy of this reboot!" according to John Byrne in a chat held March 9th in 2004.
As luck would have it, DC was in the middle of a reality-changing event called INFINITE CRISIS, which provided a much-needed “get out of continuity free” card for the Doom Patrol. The solution came in Teen Titans #32 [2005]. Basically, it all happened. The original Doom Patrol. Grant Morrison's Doom Patrol. John Byrne's revised Doom Patrol. As the story explained, when the Superboy from Earth Prime pounded on the vibrational barrier that once separated the multiverse, reality fractured and splintered. From its wake, a new Doom Patrol emerged in present day, seemingly wiping out the history of the first team. In this new reality, the wheelchair-bound Chief gathered Elasti-Girl, Robotman and Negative Man - who were soon joined by new members Grunt (a four-armed gorilla), Nudge (a teenage telepath) and Vortex (an dimensional-opening entity).
When the Infinite Crisis struck, the members of the Doom Patrol - as well as Beast Boy - began to remember their original histories. When Beast Boy reunited with his foster mother, Rita Farr, time began to realign itself. The myriad histories of the Doom Patrol began to merge into a whole, combined history. As a result, The Doom Patrol's history was restored. This allowed DC to restore Elasti-Girl to life. And another new Doom Patrol was born.
The rebooted Doom Patrol team made its debut in TEEN TITANS (third series) #35-37 [2006], when the Titans located Beast Boy – who had since returned to the Doom Patrol - at the bizarre Dayton Manor in Prague. Original members Robotman, Negative Man, Elasti-Girl, the Chief, Mento and Beast Boy were recently joined by former Titans Bumblebee (Karen Beecher, who was transformed to insect-size by strange energies) and Vox (Mal Duncan, who was maimed when an accident merged him with his dimension-hopping Gabriel Horn).
During the Titans tour of the surreal Dayton Manor, eagle-eyed readers could spot some old Doom Patrol references: portraits of Dorothy Spinner and Celsius, a portal to Danny the World with Crazy Jane, The Painting that Ate Paris, a statue of Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man and a talking lemon tree. In addition, Steve Dayton tells Beast Boy to apologize to the Titans for “that Crimelord business” and the Chief makes reference to the team’s “death” at the small fishing village in Maine. It seemed to be DC's way of acknowleding each version of the team did in fact exist in this new, merged reality.
Top of Page
|
