Doom Patrol #6 - DC

This issue would be a great jumping on point for anyone. This entire issue is told from Larry's perspective.Well . . at least we think he's Larry. But you'll have to read the book to sort all of that out. Anyways, this introspective kind of serves 2 purposes. First of all, it helps to sort out all the various changes that Larry has gone through over the years. What we thought was a Negative Woman, was actually just Larry in another body that the Chief had prepared for him. And, through all of this, the real question is . . is the Negative Man actually Larry? Or vice-versa? As we know, various members of this team have died over the years. But . . they keep coming back . . like cockroaches. In Larry's case, since energy can't be destroyed . . it just had to be rehoused in a new container. Which the Chief seems more than happy to provide. So anyways, it sorts out everything that he's been through over the years. Secondly, this book actually puts together the pieces of all of the Doom Patrol's various incarnations. Every time, it seems like a new team with different players. When in actuality the whole time it's been the same basic core group. Sometimes they look different . . sometimes they act different . . hell, sometimes they even have different faces, but when it comes down to it, this group, in all forms has revolved around Larry, Cliff, Rita and the Chief. And now it looks like, with everything that Larry's been through, as well as Rita's mistreatment by Steve Dayton, Larry and Rita may be finally exploring the friendship, and maybe more, that they've always shared. I think they deserve a little happiness. You know it's not going to last. Anyways, I thought Keith Giffen and Matthew Clark did a terrific job with this issue. The good news is, it looks like Keith and Matthew will be staying on board for the foreseeable future. The bad news? Next issue is the last back-up of the Metal Men. I know the story has been kind of absurd, but . . I love these guys. And with Keith, JM DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire doing the stories . . there's a certain kind of nostalgia to them. Maybe, hopefully (?) there will be a another mini-series in the near future? Next issue we're supposed to find out the fate of the Metal Men, but . . I'm guessing it's going to be pretty open-ended. Anyways, all in all I thought this was a pretty great issue. No matter what you've thought of this group in the past, now is the time to get on board and see what they're up to.