Episode 83: Just Don’t Let It Happen Again OR We Don't Talk About My Karate!

FINALLY! Episode 83 of Waiting for Doom brings us all the goodness of Doom Patrol (volume 6) #4 from Gerard Way, Nick Derington, Tamra Bonvillain, and Todd Klein. Great, great stuff. 

Before we get onto the coverage of the episode though, here's a bit from Gerard Way about Doom Patrol #4. 

It was a bit tardy, sure, but well worth the wait. I subscribe to the theory that I'd rather have a completed vision by the intended creative team delayed if necessary than a patchwork beast stitched together simply to maintain a deadline. 

Besides, Derington's artwork is timeless, so when you re-read this issue, there's just no way you'll ever remember anything even remotely resembling a delay. 

So here's the rundown about Waiting for Doom Episode 83 from Podbean. 

Episode 83: Just Don’t Let It Happen AgainSurly teens! Revelations in outer space! Prison ships! Cassette tapes (ask your parents)! Nematodes! This weirdness can only mean one thing - time for more Doom Patrol! Let's get Patrolling!
Doom Clock - 4:38
Doomsplaining - 7:52 - It's a non-Waiting week! HOORAY! This week we dive into issue 4 of volume 6 by Gerard Way and Nick Derington!
Mailbag O Doom - 48:30 - We read your responses to the question, "Which powers (and disadvantages) of a Doom Patrol member would you most want to have?"

Here's the stuff from the issue. Some good stuff, some great stuff. I tried to minimize using full pages because you really should be reading this comic. Really. 

Derington's cover featuring the bustling scene at Danny Burger. Star Wars' blue milk has nothing on the blue buns on that burger! 

We've seen the scene before, but this panel is so engrossing.
So much DC Comics love going on here. 

The issue opens with Sam (Casey Brinke's EMT pal from the first issue of this volume) trying to get his fifteen-year-old son, Lucius, to stop his sorcerous ways (evidently he really liked Doctor Strange as well) before it rouses Lucius' grandmother. Sam and Lucius have a heart-to-heart in the form of shouting at each other, and the scene cuts with Sam heading off to put his mother to bed. 

From there, Cliff Steele (Robotman), Larry Trainor, and the Negative Being (who we learn is named Keeg - that's geek backwards) arrive in the Negative Space, facing N'Hall, the Negative Entity. Paul pronounced it "na-HALL" on the podcast, but in my brain, I was reading it "en-HALE", kind of like "inhale".  Think of the entity what you will. Call it what you will.  

The Negative Space, which, surprisingly has no negative space. 

As a graduate of a fine arts program, I have to say this Negative Space looks nothing at all like the negative space my teachers would always talk about being around our life drawing models or between still life components. Maybe those profs weren't so educated. . .

Anyway, as each of the three prior issues have done, this one checks in on Niles Caulder, who, to no one's surprise is being quite voyeuristic with a giant monitor. And a dog. 

The other side of the monitor is the robotic being Caulder was assembling in a previous issue, but he's deactivated now, setting up a nice transition to Casey Brinke and Fugg. 

Between this and Guardians of the Galaxy, cassettes are in line to be the next vinyl.  

Casey learns a bit more about herself. We see Ricardo (from issue #1) again, and an escape attempt is made. 

Returning to the Negative Space, Larry Trainor and Keeg Bovo stand trial for violating the Ninth Law of the Negative Space.  It is also revealed that Trainor has violated the First Law. So an issue that was going to provide some answers (and it does) also begins constructing the legend and the law of Negative Space. Nice bit of worl - universe-building there. 

Back in the Negative Space, Cliff challenges the law. 

 In the course of the trial, Larry is given a chance to speak and to declare his preference. 

And we finally learn what Larry wants. 

Back in the prison setting where Casey, Fugg, and Ricardo find Danny the Ambulance, their escape plan becomes more cohesive. Not without a bit of bickering, some new revelations, and Casey Brinke (rather Gerard Way through Brinke) vocalizing the underlying desire of Doom Patrol collectors everywhere: we'd like action figures, please. 

Danny regales Casey and the reader with how he came to be where he was in the first issue of the series, a story that brings back Crazy Jane. Just me, or do we all now also want Crazy Jane t-shirts and trading cards with Nick Derington art? 

Brilliant collaboration between Derington and Bonvillain. Galaxies never looked better. 

A flashback to just before Doom Patrol (v6) #1. 

The escape comes together. The Vectra are appalled. Their leader revealed, and a cliffhanger is set. Hopefully we won't have as long a wait between issues, but we'll at least be able to re-read a nifty quartet from Way, Derington, Bonvillain, and Klein while we're waiting for Doom Patrol #5.  

The Derington Tug from a couple posts back, now resplendent with Bonvillain color and Klein commentary. 

Getting the heck out of Dodge. With a gorgeous rainbow contrail.
Also, this is Doug's Dig for #4. 

 So, while we wait for the next issue, remember: 

Coming up: DOOM FORCE! And, yes, it IS available on Comixology! 

So there you have it, Patrollers, another issue of the awesomely enjoyable Doom Patrol. Before you go, be sure to sound off: 

Question of the Week: 

What is your favorite parody?

Episode 77: It’s A Doomed World, After All OR To the Negative Space!

TO THE NEGATIVE SPACE!

New issue of the Way/Derington/Bonvillain/Klein series, new episode of Waiting for Doom. That's the way it works, right? Here's the link, this time from Comicosity. 

Well. Isn’t 2016 proving to be an…interesting….strange….year..? Anyway, hopefully this latest episode of WFD will brighten your day somewhat. Please note SPOILERS GALORE for those who’ve not yet read Issue 3 of Volume 6. WilFreD has warned you. 

• Down on Derington Way – 8:50

• Doom Clock – 12:45

• Doomsplaining – 15:37 – It’s a ‘non-waiting’ week! This week we return to the latest volume of the Patrol, with issue 3 from Way and Derington!

• Mailbag O Doom – 42:31 – We read your responses to the question, “What is the most fascinating fictional illness or ailment?”

Here's some of the visual goodies from Doom Patrol #3. 

NOT the cover for Doom Patrol (v6) #3. 

THIS is the primary cover for Doom Patrol (v6) #3. 

Flex and Casey having a chit-chat. 

The best single-panel Grant Morrison-Richard Case retrospective ever. 

IT'S A DOOMED WORLD AFTER ALL. . .IT'S A DOOMED WORLD AFTER ALL. . .

Fugg that!  

Hand turkey! 

 

-CLICK CLICK CLICK CLICK- Disorienting agony it is! 

Do not mess with the Whoozawhatzitz.

Derington at his flexible best. And Bonvillain making the new look rustic,
while Todd Klein makes it all complete over Way's script.  

Have I mentioned that I freaking love this comic? No?
Hmmmm. Well then, you'd better go read my review of it over at Comicosity. 

By joining the Doom Patrol (such as they are at this point) on their adventure, we see a glimpse of the splendor that awaits, giving readers so very much to look forward to.

Before you do, or maybe now that you're back, here's Doug's Dig for Doom Patrol #3. (If you know me, you know how dear Crisis is to me, and, by extension, how much I love this.)

A magnificent example of the creative collaboration present in every issue of Doom Patrol (v6).

And, last bit of Doom for this post. I know Nick Derington does some creative things when he's working through reference, like using a toy ambulance for Danny or building a Robotman face, so when I saw the classic DP panel on page 10, I reached out to him via Twitter:

So much amazing detail in just one panel.

Question of the week!!! 

Who/what is the worst fictional artificial intelligence?

Episode 76: Birth on the Moon, Death in a Cathedral OR It's Getting Strange. No. Not Doctor Strange.

Here's the Podbean link for you to click and jam in your earholes. As for the episode itself, here's what Flanger and Garve have to say:

Episode 76: Birth on the Moon, Death in a CathedralNovember 3, 2016
The weirdness is ramped up, and things take a turn towards the dark as things begin to fall apart (yes, yet again) for our favourite team, the DOOM PATROL. When things get dim and chaotic, some people reach for the light, emanating from something like, say, a candle…but WilFreD warns you humans that candles are something best avoided in this book. No. No. No. No. No. (Creepy Voice) *yesssss*….. Let's. Get. Patrolling.
Down on Derington Way - 12:28Doom Clock - 17:31Doomsplaining - 20:10 - This week we reach a dramatic turning point in volume 2 of dP history, as we take a look at issues 54 and 55 from Grant Morrison and Richard Case.Mailbag O Doom - 47:20 - We read your responses to the question, "Who is your favourite character who hides their face?"

Before rolling onto the issue at hand, I thought it might be nice to share a bit from Derington Way with y'all. The guys mention Fugg, who we meet in just a couple of days. Or sooner, if, well, y'know: time travel. 

If Doom Patrollers don't get a plush Fugg in the next twelve months, then we'll know Trump really won. And we all lost.  

What the lads didn't mention (but WilFreD retweeted) was this other sketch that Nick Derington popped up on his Twitter. 

Man. The more I see from Derington, the more I want to see him draw. As in EVERYTHING. I want Nick Derington to draw everything. Or at least all the art for a set of trading cards. Or a bunch of sets of trading cards. His style is so clean, but so energetic. The characters all seem alive, ready to push off from the paper and have a sit. 

At least I think so. 

But we'll talk more Derington later in the week. Let's focus on the G-Mo (nice abbreviation Paul and Mike!) issues at hand: Doom Patrol Volume 2 #54 and #55. 

Here's some bits and pieces from #54. 

Doom Patrol v2 #54 cover. 

To make a Rebis, you have to break a few eggs. 

Doug's Dig. Not only is this landing confirmation, Rebis is indifferent to it all. 

And some from #55. 

Bisley's cover for #55. 

WilFreD hinted some fans were turned on. Cliff sees what's hitting 'em. 

At least it wasn't Candlejack. Amiright? 

Dorothy is not having a good day. Not by any means, and certainly not by Doom Patrol standards. 

Putting the "Crazy" in Crazy Jane. 

Larry (not Larry) needs some alone time. 

Finally, before I let y'all get to the Question of the Week, I wanted to make good on my promises. You can find my review of Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #1 right here. I'll post Shade the Changing Girl #2 right on this very blog, most likely alongside (or underneath or above) Mother Panic #1.

So, let;s do it, my friends, before Mike and Paul can backlog me with episodes. Here's your Question of the Week:
What is the most fascinating fictional virus or ailment?

With that, my friends, I call this a wrap. I'm off to sleep. More DP Goodness REAL soon!