Doom Patrol Weight of the Worlds #3 // Review
With an unprecedented amount of writers on this issue, Gerard Way, Jeremy Lambert and Steve Orlando bring this jam piece together alongside fan-favorite artist Evan “Doc” Shaner. Continuing to push the boundaries after the unexpected hiatus, the series manages to already stand even higher than Way’s previous run in a matter of only three issues. Introducing fun, inventive, and new ways to play within these characters has always been a feat after the marker set by Grant Morrison and Richard Case’s infamous run. But the trio of writers work together to produce an issue the Scotsman could be proud of.
Without explanation, the issue opens up in a future 11 years from now as the Doom Patrol find themselves in very unique and radical circumstances. Playing out as if the series had gone on for those lost years with the use of editor notes referring to said lost years truly help to bring this future into fruition. Taking its time to show the reader where each member of the team has wound up makes for hilarious and at times somewhat head-scratching moments albeit charming nonetheless. Defying reader expectations at every corner and closing out on a very unexpected turn, this series is a true breath of fresh air.
Evan “Doc” Shaner brings his neo-retro style to the interiors this time around and lays his signature pencils to create this fully realized future of the team to life. Whether a pulp version of Robotman, a chimpanzee Beast Boy, an alien Rita Farr or a Casey Brinke/Crazy Jane hybrid, Doc is up for any task with his master class pencil work. The colorwork of Evan Shaner compliments Doc’s linework while ultimately setting the tone and aesthetic of this strange far-flung future.
The trio of Gerard Way, Jeremy Lambert and Steve Orlando prove to produce pure magic together. With all the off-the-wall ideas at hand, it’s hard to say exactly where each idea comes from but nonetheless, they all manage to work together in a way only the World’s Strangest Superheroes can. Each small detail and nuance adds to the overall setting and care of the issue while ending on a totally unexpected but welcomed note.
After two stand-alone issues, this chapter kicks off a new arc for the title in a perfectly strange fashion. Not necessarily new reader-friendly, this issue, in particular, takes a little bit more required reading to catch a lot of the nuances and subtleties. Even with all the changes to the large cast, its still truly rewarding for long-time fans. Doc and the trio of writers deliver a truly unique and original title to the market.
