Doom Patrol: Season 1

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

20% of those. I only praise a scant few. Doom Patrol is about as perfect as adaptations get. It’s heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measures as we get the backstories and the current lives of our protagonists and antagonists in pieces. It doesn’t lay off the childishness of comics and immaturity even as it revels in the personal growth of the characters as they grow into better humans after suffering personal tragedies of Shakespearean levels that cripple them emotionally for decades. It’s hands down one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen and it’s easily better than any show and most films Marvel and DC (and Indy companies!) have ever had a hand in. I can’t say it enough, but please try Doom Patrol.- Ryan

I freaking love Doom Patrol and as a movie buff this is worth your time. Between the characters the humor and the story this show will surprise you with all of that and more I promise. Also if you haven’t watched the show and you don’t want to pay the 30 bucks for Doom Patrol then head over to the DC Universe subscription service where all you have to pay is 7 dollors monthly fee or you could just do the 7 day free trial.-Camron Slabinski

In the late 1980’s the comic book The Doom Patrol was rebooted as a surreal superhero saga with talking, living streets, a character named Mr. Nobody who isn’t quite in our world or any other and a guy that eats hair to help track them down. The heroes themselves are odd–an race car driver who’s brain is put into a robotic body (Cliff); a woman with multiple personalities all with their own powers (Jane); a movie-star who can morph into different shapes but has trouble controlling her own (with her face drooping at inopportune moments) and a test pilot who is “killed” in a horrible crash, burned beyond recognition and kept alive by an alien entity that entered his body prior to the crash (and also can leave like a spirit to cause havoc). They are all lead by the “Chief” a guy in a wheelchair (think Professor X but without psychic powers). When the Chief (Timothy Dalton) is kidnapped by Mr. Nobody (Alan Tudyk) the team, temporarily rallied and led by Cyborg (Jovian Wade) try to locate him.

Weird enough for you yet? “The Doom Patrol” appeared at roughly the same time as “The X-Men” and many saw it as a poor man’s version of that group of mutants when DC first put it out but the series (which was written and illustrated without anyone at DC knowing about “The X-Men” at the time–they appeared independent of each other although the creator of The Doom Patrol accused Stan Lee of stealing his idea), it didn’t have the surreal element that the late 80’s revival did which made the comic REALLY memorable.

The DC TV series (produced by the team that did “The Flash”, “Arrow”, “Legends of Tomorrow” and “Supergirl”) stays true to the bizarre plot elements of that version. Featuring a marvelous cast including Dalton, Tudyk, Brendan Fraiser (as the voice of Robotman aka Cliff), Matt Bomer (as the voice of Negativeman), April Bowlby (as Elasti-Girl) and Diane Guerreo (Crazy Jane), the series features top notch direction and uses a very meta attitude at the heart of its writing and direction.

The Blu-ray looks marvelous with a sharp looking transfer and with great sound as well. I do wish there were more special features (no commentary tracks, featurettes on the translation from comic book to screen or the history of how the comic changed with time) but we do get some outtakes, a censored gag reel. Actually, perhaps were even lucky we get a physical copy in today’s environment and kudos to Warner for releasing this for fans of physical media.

“The Doom Patrol” remains a fun, surreal, funny and occasionally touching TV adaptation of the classic revision of the comic book. The only other thing that would have been nice is they had included more special features including the shorts that were produced for the DC Channel featuring the characters as well as a commentary track or featurette on the comic’s history.

Highly recommended.

– Wayne Klein

DVD Wholesale Main Features :   

Format: Color, Widescreen, Dolby, Limited Collector’s Edition, Multi Pack, Multiple Formats
Language: English
Region: Region 1
Number of discs: 3
Rated: NR Not Rated
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures