Luthor has DOOMed the Justice League

Justice League #30 hit the new comics racks this week and brought along with it another one-panel appearance from the New 52 Doom Patrol. Shrouded in shadow, this quintet - yes, QUINTET - seems philosophically opposed to the Justice League or, at least to Lex Luthor championing the Justice League.

The art for the issue is attributed to Ivan Reis, Doug Mahnke and Scott Hanna. The page with the DP on it looks to be a Reis page through and through.

It appears as though the membership includes Niles Caulder of Ravagers "fame" (upright and mobile, however) someone answering to "Trainor" and three other shady pseudo-silhouettes open to rampant speculation. One is almost certainly Robotman, although not immediately recognizable as the New 52 version as seen in My Greatest Adventure. He looks a little more like the "classic" version of Robotman, but is sporting a jacket with a patch that I can't quite make out. Anyone reading a digital version might have a better chance to decipher it and I'd love to read your speculations.



The other two are visibly female. Speculation I've come across is that the figure to the left of the image is Element Woman. Her addition to the team would help balance the genders a bit and also mix in a tie to Metamorpho's legacy (such as any legacy is in the New 52). Granted, Rex's membership is more tenuous than true, but he always seemed like a proper fit with the team of freaks.

The other female form between Caulder and Trainor could be anyone, from Negative Woman to Celsius to Elasti-Girl/Woman. I'm thinking it's going to be Rita, but I'd LIKE to see Celsius pop back up. We saw her in a few panels and Johns gave readers reason to believe she may have been a casualty of Forever Evil, but we never did see a body.

So there you have it, Patrollers. New 52 Doom Patrol in the wings. Are you excited? Scared? Inspired? Sound off.

Doomed in June: Doom Patrol-related solicits for June 2014

If you've been reading Justice League during Forever Evil, you've seen some peeks and received some teases about what the New 52 (it's been almost three years now, is it really still "new"?) has in store for the Doom Patrol. Well, my friends, keep reading Justice League! Why? Because it looks like the Doom Patrol just might be major players. Here's the solicitation text:

JUSTICE LEAGUE #32Written by GEOFF JOHNSArt and cover by IVAN REIS and JOE PRADODC Collectibles Bombshells variant cover by ANT LUCIA1:25 Variant cover by HOWARD PORTEROn sale JUNE 18 • 32 pg, FC, $3.99 US • RATED TCombo pack edition: $4.99 USRetailers: This issue will ship with four covers. Please see the order form for details.Lex Luthor continues his acclimation to his life as a one of the world's greatest heroes as they search for the mysterious power threatening to unravel our world. But are his sights really set on the Dark Knight? And are the Dark Knight's set on him?Plus, someone else is targeting Luthor and his new allies – a man who believes himself Luthor’s superior in every way...and maybe he is! Here comes The Chief and his treacherous Doom Patrol to The New 52!This issue is also offered as a combo pack edition with a redemption code for a digital download of this issue.

The Chief vs. Lex Luthor in a battle of the brains?! GAME ON!! I'm not so sure about the treacherous Doom Patrol, but I do supposed it would fit in with the darker and grittier DCU.

We've seen a few of the second/third generation Doom Patrol characters so far, including Karma and  Scorch. We've even seen glimpses of Celsius and Negative Woman. I'm looking forward to what Reis and Prado have in store for the rest of the DP this June.