JLA / Doom Patrol Special #1 Review

Writer: Steve Orlando, Gerard Way / Artist: ACO / DC Comics It is impressive that even with a weird title like Justice League America / Doom Patrol: Milk Wars, Part 1, it somehow still belies how utterly (or rather, udder-ly) bizarre the contents of the comic actually are. It does give a clear idea of the eccentric cast of characters and leave you wondering, “what exactly is going to happen next?” DC Comics has always masterfully managed the myriad of threads in their multiverse, and Milk Wars continues this proud tradition. The hallmark of any great crossover event that muddles with the metatextual nature of comics is that it rewards longtime readers with a series of Easter eggs and gotcha moments. It also manages to give enough signposts for newer readers to still follow the story without having an encyclopedic knowledge of every single title that led up to whatever they’re currently reading. Milk Wars is a continuation of Doom Patrol #10, and despite the various elements it pulls from, a veritable laundry list of current and historic titles, it’s a fun standalone that taps into the core of the superhero mythos and the spirits of comics in general. Although, it can be disoriented.

Way and Orlando have steered Danny the Ambulance and the motley Doom Patrol into a weird kinda alternative Earth somewhere in Providence, Rhode Island. Somewhere else, in a place called Final Heaven, a company called RetConn is offering its services to its… otherworldly clientele. And with th…