Doom Patrol is a DC group that I have been fond of for some time. Now they have somehow developed a web TV series based on the group without anyone knowing about it. Furthermore, it has some big name actors affiliated with the project, including Brendan Fraser (I found Brendan Fraser!), Timothy Dalton, and Alan Tudyk. With the success of films like Guardians of the Galaxy for Marvel and Suicide Squad for DC, I was sure that the Doom Patrol was due for the big-screen treatment. But I guess even speculators are wrong sometimes.
Doom Patrol is a group of misfits and outsiders that came together for a greater good. The inception of the Doom Patrol occurred back in 1963 in My Greatest Adventure #80 and in one of the boldest moves in comic history, the original team was killed off at the conclusion of their self titled series. Writer and co-creator of the team, Arnold Drake, wanted to do something splashy and permanent with the cancellation of the run. As we know in soap operas and comics, no one really meets a full demise. So, since the original team met their demise, there have been multiple iterations of the Doom Patrol with different member affiliations..but all connected by with one common thread...Robotman. Robotman has been affiliated with all Doom Patrol lineups (he conveniently has the ability to upload himself into newer versions for longevity).
Doom Patrol made a Bronze Age revival with writer Paul Kupperberg in the pages of DC Showcase #94, which featured a new team with Robotman 2.0. Doom Patrol has had multiple revivals throughout the years, but no real "main attraction" action for the crew. Looking to make an investment in the Doom Patrol? Their first appearance, and their original run, might be at too high a price point and have been priced out of the market for most collectors. But the Bronze Age run in Showcase #94-#96 might be the comics that sees the most gains from the popularity of this group, while still remaining at reasonable price points. Fair Market Value (FMV) for a 9.8 graded copy of DC Showcase #94 sits at $375, but only one exists. The census holds the most copies at grades 9.4 and 9.6, so these grades will hold long-term gains as they hit the market with renewed character popularity.
But what about a Doom Patrol movie that had whispers of a rumor? What is going on here? Is DC's streaming service stealing some of the thunder from the movies? And will Disney see a similar effect on Marvel properties? How does all this tie into the recent Netflix decisions which seem counter to DC? The answer? No clue. It seems that there is not a perfect road-map for these companies to help schlep out their properties to wider audiences. All we know is that they are taking characters and properties and trying to figure out how to develop them on any platform they can. I believe we are now in the middle of a comic company cash grab which may end up detrimental to both the movie and comic investment industries.
Do you prefer comic movies, shows, or neither? Is it smart to invest in characters not destined for the big screen? Did we really find Brendan Fraser? Drop your comments and join the speculation!
