Title: Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds (2019-) #1
Publisher: DC/ Young Animal
Words: Gerard Way & Jeremy Lambert
Art: James Harvey
Colors: Sajan Rai
Published: July 3, 2019
Publisher’s Summary: “All hail the Supreme Shape! Gerard Way and the World’s Strangest Superheroes return in an all-new series that takes them beyond the borders of time and space! Featuring artwork by acclaimed cartoonist James Harvey, this issue finds the Doom Patrol facing off against the fanatical fitness fiends of planet Orbius and the Marathon Eternal! Meanwhile, Cliff Steele, formerly known as Robotman, must come to terms with his new body of flesh and bone…yet the real test turns out to be something far more frightening: his mom.”
Review
As an introduction to the oddball collection called “The World’s Strangest Heroes,” Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds does an excellent job. All of the pertinent details about personality and superpowers are present, there is a little bit of backstory included (but not enough to be intrusive), a problem is solved, and the first issue of the new series ends with some emotional impact and a substantial cliff hanger.
The writing has to be functional because it is a debut issue, and it succeeds while also managing to be engaging. The dialogue is authentic despite coming out of the mouths of characters with somewhat more than the usual amount of absurdity than superheroes typically carry.
James Harvey’s artwork is a brilliant tapestry of the weird and unreal existences of the Doom Patrol, lovely and haunting at the same time. The visuals of time and space combing with the intricacies inside the mind and family baggage are actually quite moving.
The Bottom Line
This unusual group of superheroes is supposed to be weird, and there is enough of that here, but with Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds, we get accessibility with all the good parts left in. This new version is wholly worthwhile for fans new and old.
