Warning! Contains preview pages for Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6!A new member of the Doom Patrol is giving a much-needed overhaul to one of their oldest enemies. The World’s Strangest Heroes’ latest ally has found a way to improve upon the abilities of Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man.
In a preview for Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 by Dennis Culver and Chris Burnham, the Doom Patrol’s physical therapist Flex Mentallo assembles the team’s newest recruits and challenges them to put their training to use. The recruits must capture a flag without being tagged by a member of the Doom Patrol. The more seasoned members of the team don’t hold back and take out several of the newbies like Starbro and Squonk. However, other recruits fare better than their cohorts, like Psylo-Simon or Roxy Centauri, manage to work together and get the drop on Elasti-Woman and Robotman. The team’s youngest member Beast Girl squares off against another recruit called Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Girl (or as she prefers, A.V.M.). A.V.M. flicks a weed at Beast Girl and manages to trap her within a mass of vines. Degenerate catches up with A.V.M., who manages to trap her opponent under a mass of geodes. While A.V.M. gets the closest to the flag, Negative Man tags her out, ending the game.
The Doom Patrol’s Newest Member is a Better Version of Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man
The Doom Patrol has taken on a lot of new responsibilities since the DC Universe’s metahuman population spiraled out of control. The events of Lazarus Planet saw a huge increase in people with strange powers, as well as several evil forces looking to take advantage of them. A newly revitalized Doom Patrol, led by Crazy Jane’s new Chief persona, made it their mission to seek out the wayward metahumans of the world and give them the tools they’d need to survive in the world.
Though not confirmed, A.V.M. may have come from Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man’s recent attempts to take over the world (an event that was briefly seen in Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3). The villain attempted to turn everyone on Earth into a being like him, creating an Animal-Vegetable-Mineral world, but as always, the Doom Patrol stopped him. A.V.M., however, seems to be much more friendly than her predecessor. She also can utilize her powers in a much more useful way, using her minerals and vegetables to keep her opponents at bay. Her existence may finally make something good out of the abilities of the Doom Patrol’s hokiest villain.
A.V.M. Can Be the Hero the Doom Patrol’s Biggest Nuisance Never Was
The Doom Patrol has faced off with Animal-Vegetable-Mineral Man numerous times over the years, and he’s always been one of the team’s biggest pains in the ass. A.V.M., however, seems to want to use her powers for good and work with the Doom Patrol on their mission to fight for the world’s metahumans. While it’s unknown if A.V.M. can turn herself into an animal-vegetable-mineral hybrid like the team’s villain, A.V.M.’s ability to use her powers to create non-lethal weapons like weed-like restraints and heavy geodes could make her a real asset to the team. Unstoppable Doom Patrol #6 goes on sale September 26th.
