Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #5: Holy Shitake! I’m in Doom Patrol!

If you thought Doom Patrol got meta in the past, just wait until you dive into Doom Patrol: Weight of the Worlds #5! It’s a fourth-wall breaking meta story with “layers on layers on layers I tell ya!”

But does it remember to tell a good story in amidst all the overt references?

The answer to that is a resounding yes. This special guest creative team featuring Becky Cloonan writing with Michael Conrad as well as Tamra Bonvillain doing the colors and Simon Bowland lettering once again. I’ll go ahead and say it, give this team their own Young Animal book! Coming from the cult hit Gotham Academy, Becky Cloonan delivers a powerful one-shot story that feels like a love letter to all things Doom Patrol.

While we follow Clark the ultimate Doom Patrol fan into the pages of an actual comic book, we find a story filled with references from the glory days of Grant Morrison’s famed run to much more obscure moments in the team’s history. The return of Dorothy (first appeared in Doom Patrol vol. 2 #14), and the fated reunion with Robotman quickly ensues. It’s a great time that fits nearly perfectly with the Young Animal aesthetic that has been established so far.

The artwork is fun, albeit not the most stunning on the shelves today. I certainly appreciate how it lightens the mood of a story that could have easily taken a dark turn visually. It creates an atmosphere that works well with the characters and the Young Animal imprint in general. With solid colors and beautiful letters, its hard to find much to complain about regarding the artwork.

When I discovered this would be a one-shot, I was immediately concerned with it being an easily forgotten issue with no consequences. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this issue circumvented those concerns by telling a story that gives back to the Doom Patrol as a staple in DC Comics. For that reason, this will certainly be a fun issue to revisit time and time again.

Ultimately, anyone who is a fan of Doom Patrol, regardless of whether you enjoy the Young Animal iteration, needs to check this book out. It’s worth purchasing and adding to your collection, whether you own a handful of Doom Patrol comics or an entire longbox full!

As a side note, it’s a real shame that DC felt it unnecessary to list the appropriate creative team on this book. You’ll notice the ongoing team of Way, Lambert, and Pitarra are given credit. I know it seems like a minor issue, but it’s something that should be easily fixed!