One of my all-time favorite comics is Grant Morrison’s run on the weird superhero comic Doom Patrol (which has been collected in a series of graphic novels, but they are unfortunately not in the Library’s collection). Morrison really played up the weirdness, throwing in all kinds of surreal and absurd characters and situations, while always keeping the emotions real and centered.

The Umbrella Academy, written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, is clearly influenced by Morrison’s Doom Patrol. It also has a similar feel to Mike Mignola’s Hellboy. Like both of those comics, The Umbrella Academy is full of wild action and even wilder weirdness, but always with a strong center of real emotion. The first volume, Apocalypse Suite, introduces a family of superpowered children, adopted by a famous scientist & philanthropist. After their adopted father’s death, the now adult children are forced to reunite to prevent the end of the world. The family is broken and dysfunctional, and their superpowers are all strange and wonderful. There are tons of deliciously odd little details crammed into the panels, but the story never feels overdone or overwhelming. Although the superpowered family is introduced as children, this isn’t a story for children (it’s quite violent, with a number of adult themes) but for adults who know what it’s like to grow up in a large family yet still feel alone and outcast. Bá’s crisp, kinetic art is perfect for Way’s bizarre characters and setting. Everything comes together nicely in a weird and satisfying soup.

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