Doom Patrol #95 (1965)
by Arnold Drake & Bruno Premiani
Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man looks relatively cool, but why is Elasti-Girl bothered by the giant flower?
We begin with the Doom Patrol being called to deal with a prison riot.
Without giving ANY explanation, Elasti-Girl finally develops the last use of her powers that she hasn’t used yet: the ability to expand a single part of her body instead of all of it as once, typically done by stretching her arms.
Still doesn’t excuse her being called Elasti-Girl, but that’s KIND OF having elastic powers.
But the prison riot has nothing to do with the rest of the issue. The main plot is about Chief having found a way to return Negative Man and Elasti-Girl to normal.
And we FINALLY address the elephant in the room: why exactly is Elasti-Girl in this team?
The answer is… not really satisfying, I believe. The idea behind the Doom Patrol is that they’re considered freaks by regular people, not that their powers are killing them!
It’s also way too vague. Her powers will eventually kill her… someday, for some reason.
“If this doesn’t work she may not like me, which is worse than if she dies!”.
Geez, Negative Man, way to think about yourself first!!!
Elasti-Girl is on the complete other side of the spectrum, and once again this showcases how the newly introduced idea doesn’t completely work. Because if this is what she worries her, she’s definitely assuming her powers will take a long time to kill her.
As I’ve mentioned several times, I’m keeping track of how the post-Crisis retcon by Morrison… that Chief is a psycho that ruined the lives of the Doom Patrol for science… works with the source material.
This is shockingly the FIRST time where the retcon doesn’t really work, because that version of Chief would definitely not think about regretting using a cure.
The one to screw this up is Robotman, because while he’s being recharged he thinks that he can’t allow Chief to cure his friends.
I continue to be amazed by the Bruno Premiani artwork. Look at her facial expression and the details on how the fabric moves!
Robotman’s body is heavily damaged, but he didn’t electrocute his brain.
But there’s no time to deal with that, because Plot Convenient News informs the team that a plant is growing very fast.
Sound like a good excuse to use the super-powered chair we literally introduced last issue, right?
Or you could turn into Bearded Iron Man, sure.
Still not all that sure why this is a job for the Doom Patrol. Sure the plant is said to be impervious to weapons, but IT’S A PLANT!
Turns out Chief’s plan did work after all: she can’t use her Elasti-Girl powers.
Which isn’t the same thing of her having no powers.
Please, a Negative Woman? Like THAT could ever become a thing.
But also Negative Man has Elasti-Girl’s powers now. Thankfully we don’t get a demonstration if, like her, he can also has the ability to make specific parts of his anatomy grow.
She might use some flying lessons.
While HE could use some walking lessons.
Turns out that using another hero’s powers is not as easy as they expected.
Chief is a bit better at it.
That’s not just a plant, though, it’s the return of the Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man.
Which might have been a cool surprise IF THEY HADN’T SPOILED IT ON THE COVER.
Well at least they had the decency to have someone other than Elasti-Girl to fall prey to the tentacle monster.
I would normally criticize Chief for leaving Robotman alone in a non-functional body like this, but… Robotman sabotaging the cure was such a dumb decision that he deserves a little punishment.
Everyone BUT Elasti-Girl is getting molested by tentacles!
AVM Man continues to be one of the most impressive shapeshifters in all of fiction.
I’m assuming he’s not used more often because he has a dumb name and because it’s really hard to make him lose.
Yeah sure, that’s what a Neanderthal looks like. Assuming you have the brain of one.
Leave it to Elasti-Girl to still be the powerhouse even when she’s NOT Elasti-Girl.
Seriously, the AVM Man is AWESOMELY terrifying!!!
You’re really pushing these 60 seconds, guys.
This is already more chemistry than the entire Metal Men run.
So how is the Doom Patrol going to defeat this guy? Exactly the same way they did the first time.
Since the heroes have proven to be just as capable using their new powers, we need SOME excuse to change them back.
And so we close the issue with the original powers being restored, and nobody calling out Robotman for either ruin their chance of a cure or murder them.
Historical significance: 2/10
This is the last Silver Age appearance of Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man. But it has SOME significance because of the evolution of Elasti-Girl’s powers.
Silver Age-ness: 6/10
Easily transferrable powers! But a couple of real science facts used to saved the day lowers the score a bit.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
Good premise and solid villain, but there are some problems. Robotman snapping and ruining the cure SHOULD get at least SOME reaction from the others, but it doesn’t! It sure highlight how unhealthy the relationship between the teammates can become. Which is an interesting aspect that the comic is not interested in covering.
AVM Man is awesome, but he’s basically a brainless monster here: he doesn’t even get dialogue!
Times Robotman has been damaged: 11
Issues when Robotman is never damaged: 7