“The Doomed and the Damned”
Writers: John Arcudi, Saladin Ahmed, Kenny Porter, Amanda Deibert, Marv Wolfman, Amedeo Turturro, Alyssa Wong, Brandon Thomas, Travis Moore and Garth Ennis
Artists: Mike Perkins, Leonardo Manco, Riley Rossmo, Daniel Sampere, Tom Mandrake, Max Fiumara, Dominike “Domo” Stanton, Baldemar Rivas, Travis Moore and P J Holden
Color Artists: Andy Troy, Mike Spicer, Ivan Plascencia, Adriano Lucas, Sian Mandrake, Dave Stewart, Marissa Louise, Alejandro Sanchez and John Kalisz
Letterers: Tom Napolitano, Mashall Dillon, Saida Temofonte, Carlos M. Mangual, Aditya Bidikar, Steve Wands, Becca Carey and Rob Steen
Review by Kendra Hale
When Only Ghosts Are Awake
The Doomed and the Damned #1 is a DC love song to the macabre. This ten tale anthology has been written and illuminated by wickedly talented writers and artists, and is a collection of stories that delve into DC’s bag of characters, as they face down monsters, demons, and so much more.
Let us dare to tread where only the ghosts are awake!
Shadows and Urban Legends
The vast array of characters chosen in these ten stories is massive. We get team-ups like Madame Xanadu and Man-Bat, Superman and Swamp Thing, and even Green Lantern with Etrigan! With so many stories to go over, I will select just a few of my favorites to give you a taste, but to be fair, all of them are absolutely worth a read and your favorites are, of course, up to you!
“Inner Demons” is a story featuring Wonder Woman and Raven as they try to save a possessed young girl. Written by Amanda Deibert with art by Daniel Sampere, colors by Adriano Lucas, and letters by Saida Temofonte, this tale is spun beautifully by its creators and showcases the might of Wonder Woman and Raven alike.
“Beast Boys Into Men” is a tale of a date with Beast Boy and Raven that is interrupted by Klarion and his familiar Teelz. Written and drawn by Travis Moore, with colors by Alejandro Sanchez and letters by Becca Carey, this is one of my favorites visually in the book. The artwork that matches the story is stunning, and relays the facial expressions of all the characters perfectly.
“Follow the Water” is a tale featuring Aquaman, and his plus one, teaming with Frankenstein as they investigate an Atlantean’s death. This tale was written by Brandon Thomas with art by Baldemar Rivas, colors by Ivan Plascencia, and letters by Steve Wands. It’s one of the more humorous stories, and one of my favorite moments is Aquaman’s facial response when Frankenstein asks if he can keep a secret.
Conclusion
The Doomed and The Damned #1 is a collection of 10 tales, with luminaries like Garth Ennis, Mike Spicer, Alyssa Wong, Marv Wolfman…and so many, many more adding their talents. The tales are short and sweet, but are fully in time with the season. Every one of them is a little world, and the creators bid you welcome.
There are so many reasons to love this book; from outstanding artwork, to Candyman references, this anthology gives fans a great experience, and is one I recommend.
So readers, what was your favorite wicked tale? Let me know in the comments below and I will see you next time!
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment
