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A review by howlinglibraries
Doom Patrol Vol. 1: Brick by Brick by Gerard Way
5.0
"You don't know what's going on inside of someone, really. There's a hidden universe in there... full of secret stars."
In this issue of Doom Patrol, Gerard Way puts his own unique spin on a classic set of characters. While you may recognize the cast, everyone can find something brand new to love in the beautiful, bold artwork and zany dialogue of Brick by Brick.
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The afterword of this graphic novel summed up so many of my thoughts regarding the book. Gerard wrote, “We want you to feel like it’s 3am and you have no idea what’s going on, but somehow you do,” and that is such a fantastic fucking way to phrase how I felt throughout the entirety of this comic book. I wasn’t raised on comics much (because I didn’t have a lot of access to them or exposure), so this was my very first taste of Doom Patrol. I’ll be upfront with you guys: I requested this ARC on NetGalley primarily because I have never outgrown my absolute adoration for My Chemical Romance or Gerard Way as an individual, and when I saw his name on it, I had to have it. That said… I thoroughly enjoyed this comic book.
The characters are absolutely brilliant. I wanted most of them to be real just so I could befriend them all, because they’re so clever and enjoyable. The dialogue is fun, and I’m certain it will bring a smile to your face, though more than once, it made me pause and think for a moment, too (as with the quote I used at the top of this review). The artwork is glorious, and colorful, and vibrant, and everything that I want in a graphic novel.
Overall, though, I’m going to have to agree with the thoughts I’ve seen from a lot of reviewers, as well as the reviewer that Gerard himself quoted in his afterword: I can’t review this story. It isn’t that I didn’t love it – because I did – and it isn’t that I was confused by it – because I wasn’t (not by the end, at least). It’s just that this comic is such an experience. Like any other roller coaster ride, someone could tell you about it all day long, but you’d never fully understand the delight of it until you strap yourself in.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Doom Patrol, DC comics, or just a damn good story. I can’t wait to see what else Gerard has in store for the world.
In this issue of Doom Patrol, Gerard Way puts his own unique spin on a classic set of characters. While you may recognize the cast, everyone can find something brand new to love in the beautiful, bold artwork and zany dialogue of Brick by Brick.
---
The afterword of this graphic novel summed up so many of my thoughts regarding the book. Gerard wrote, “We want you to feel like it’s 3am and you have no idea what’s going on, but somehow you do,” and that is such a fantastic fucking way to phrase how I felt throughout the entirety of this comic book. I wasn’t raised on comics much (because I didn’t have a lot of access to them or exposure), so this was my very first taste of Doom Patrol. I’ll be upfront with you guys: I requested this ARC on NetGalley primarily because I have never outgrown my absolute adoration for My Chemical Romance or Gerard Way as an individual, and when I saw his name on it, I had to have it. That said… I thoroughly enjoyed this comic book.
The characters are absolutely brilliant. I wanted most of them to be real just so I could befriend them all, because they’re so clever and enjoyable. The dialogue is fun, and I’m certain it will bring a smile to your face, though more than once, it made me pause and think for a moment, too (as with the quote I used at the top of this review). The artwork is glorious, and colorful, and vibrant, and everything that I want in a graphic novel.
Overall, though, I’m going to have to agree with the thoughts I’ve seen from a lot of reviewers, as well as the reviewer that Gerard himself quoted in his afterword: I can’t review this story. It isn’t that I didn’t love it – because I did – and it isn’t that I was confused by it – because I wasn’t (not by the end, at least). It’s just that this comic is such an experience. Like any other roller coaster ride, someone could tell you about it all day long, but you’d never fully understand the delight of it until you strap yourself in.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Doom Patrol, DC comics, or just a damn good story. I can’t wait to see what else Gerard has in store for the world.