The Doom Patrol is the weirdest super team in comics. Originally, in the 1960s, they were considered the misfit outcasts of the DC Universe and they bore a remarkable resemblance to Marvel’s ‘X-Men’, but both teams debuted around the same time, so while there are similarities, it was clear that neither ripped the other off. It was just an odd coincidence. But in the 1980s, British author Grant Morrison began writing the new ‘Doom Patrol’ comic series and basically went ape sh**, bringing in meta, surrealist tones that distinguished the book as one of the most challenging and artistic books on stands, but to the uninitiated, a psycho mess.
While the ‘Doom Patrol’ on ‘Titans’ is based heavily on the original version, when it spins off into its own show, one of Morrison’s creations, Crazy Jane will be among them.
“Being teased as being somewhere in her 20s, this version of Crazy Jane is aimed to have several personalities and being a bit of a Harley Quinn-esque character.”
Compared to the comic book version, that description is INCREDIBLY simplistic. In many ways, the one character that Crazy Jane– real name Kay Challis– is most like in comics, is Marvel’s ‘Legion’ the star of his own FX TV series. Due to repeated rape and incest by her father starting when she was five-years-old and later by other assailants, Kay’s mind is shattered into 64 personalities and each one has a different superpower. So… I mean… yeah, I guess if the worst possible thing imaginable ever happened, that might make someone “Harley Quinn-esque” and yes that was the most FACETIOUS I have ever been in my life.
On the TV series, her past may be toned down. I mean… it HAS to be, right?
On ‘Titans’, the older Doom Patrol characters will be introduced: April Bowlby as Elasti-Girl/Rita Farr, Jake Michaels as Robotman/Cliff Steele, and Dwain Murphy as Negative Man/Larry Trainor. Bruno Bichir was cast as the group’s leader, Niles Calder/The Chief but it appears that a new actor is being sought to play that role on the ongoing ‘Doom Patrol’ series. (Kelsey Grammer is reported to be the actor in mind, but if he’s not free, how about David Hyde Pierce? He’s already played a character named Niles for like ten years on ‘Frasier’!) A TV version of Cyborg will also be introduced as a member of this team.
‘Titans’ will be the first original series offered via the DC Universe streaming service. ‘Doom Patrol’ will premier some time in 2019.
Source: That Hashtag Show
