Release Date: April 9th, 2014
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Written By: Peter Milligan
Art By: David Lafuente
Price: 3.99
Review:
All-New Doop #1 is weird. I like the idea of him floating around the background of the X-Men’s biggest and most hated story where he, I guess, records them all. I thought he would be trolling Battle of the Atom and Milligan was going to be making fun of it. If he did, it went over my head. I don’t really see where this book is headed though.
We follow Doop thru one the mutants’ biggest storylines recently focusing mostly on Battle for the Atom as he skulks around in the background as a “marginal character”. It feels like that issue of X-Men Legacy where we were introduced to that mutant who everyone completely and totally forgot existed as soon as he was out of sight. Just not as good. That issue was full of detailed emotional exposition and plenty of introspective contemplation while this issue about Doop is just there. Much of Doop’s purpose is implied and I don’t feel like it’s given enough history or details for the reader to determine what exactly he’s supposed to be doing. In one instance he’s recording a battle. In another he’s motivating a healer to fix an injured Cyclops which I’m sure any other X-Man could’ve done. In another part of the story he’s travelling between stories witnessing another argument between the mutants. Then he reaches into himself and…well…that’s it. He doesn’t pull anything out. It just moves to a new part of the story. Maybe he was pulling his “sleeve” up to look at his watch. I don’t know if that was something that went over my head or something that will impact the story later or what. That’s my complaint about this 1st Doop issue. I don’t know what in the hell is going on. I’m confused but not in a cool, mysterious, mad genius with a master plot, kind of way. I’m just really confused. At the end we find out that he’s in love with Kitty Pryde and wants to marry her. At her complaints that they can’t even have a conversation much less get married, the little green booger turns himself inside out, literally. And then he speaks English?! At first I thought he was gonna rock the Yoda speech for a second there but no. Anyway, at least he can talk now so maybe his story will make more sense to me. I actually am looking forward to figuring out just what the hell Doop is.
The art fits in this his whacky world. The facial expressions on the X-Men are pricless as they interact with each other and Doop especially. Kitty Prydes surprised looks and astonished facial expressions are hilarious when he makes himself known on the battlefield and when he proposes. If Doop continues to bounce around battles and X-Men skirmishes with little to no purpose, at least the art will look awesome.
Overall this was a strange read and I hope it will be one that fleshes out into more of a storyline instead of Doop randomly doing stuff. And things. I’m interested in the character just because he’s weird but I need to see some kind of reason or motivation for his weirdness to stay interested.