Grant Morrison: Master of Team Comics

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Grant Morrison, a Scottish author, has earned a remarkable standing in today’s comic industry. He was instrumental in DC Comics’ British wave of talent and made an immediate impact with “Animal Man,” a unique exploration of superheroes and fiction. This work is nothing short of extraordinary; if you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend diving into Morrison’s 26 issues of the series. Following this impressive debut, Morrison demonstrated that he was more than a passing trend with “Doom Patrol.” In the DC universe, “Doom Patrol” stands out as one of their finest team books, showcasing Morrison’s exceptional ability to write ensembles. Morrison would later work on various other team books such as “JLA” and “New X-Men,” both of which gained renown for being among the best team books ever created. In my opinion, it’s fair to say that Morrison is unparalleled when it comes to writing teams in the comic book world.

As an author, Morrison consistently demonstrates the ability to examine historical artifacts with a contemporary perspective. Their collaborative comic books serve as a testament to this skill, offering a blueprint for progress while preserving tradition. Morrison’s contributions to team comics are particularly noteworthy and often regarded as some of the finest superhero narratives ever penned.

Doom Patrol, JLA, and New X-Men Are the Pinnacles of Team Comics

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The comic series Doom Patrol showcases Grant Morrison’s strengths in team comics, featuring an eccentric group of misfits known as the Doom Patrol who band together under the leadership of the Chief to combat the most unusual dangers the world has to offer. The Doom Patrol can be challenging to grasp due to their unique nature; it requires a specific kind of creator to bring them to life, and Morrison excelled at this by focusing on the team’s origins. Traditional superheroes, the Doom Patrol are not, and their stories cannot be told in a conventional manner. Previous attempts by DC to revive the team as a more ordinary group fell flat because they lost what made the Doom Patrol unique, replacing it with typical superhero narratives and character development.

In a shift from previous storylines, Morrison delves deep into the characters’ traumatic pasts in Doom Patrol, making it the central theme. The narrative starts with Robotman (Cliff Steele) confined in a mental health institution, grappling with his life’s trauma. There, he encounters Crazy Jane, another patient with Dissociative Identity Disorder, embarking on a similar journey. With the introduction of a new Negative Man, morphing into an intersex being named Rebis, Morrison forms a fresh core team and thrusts them into a perilous battle that could annihilate the universe. This tale is filled with raw emotion, humor, and the surreal, offering readers an unprecedented blend of the bizarre and high stakes. Morrison’s approach to Doom Patrol often revolves around using the characters’ traumas as a foundation for their extraordinary battles against the most peculiar threats imaginable. The series is unapologetically chaotic, tragic, uplifting, and always pushing the boundaries of what constitutes a superhero comic.

Morrison’s upcoming team comics are more conventional compared to the unique nature of ‘Doom Patrol’. Both ‘Justice League of America’ (JLA) and ‘New X-Men’ had been managed poorly for years, and Morrison revitalized them by returning to their fundamental roots. For JLA, Morrison reintroduced the Big Seven – Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter – and positioned them against challenges that only they could face. On the other hand, ‘New X-Men’ emphasized the team’s roles as teachers and mutant rescuers, prioritizing Charles Xavier’s dream while revisiting classic X-Men themes. Yet, Morrison added his distinctive touch to both series from the start, with the White Martians in JLA and Cassandra Nova in New X-Men. These adversaries presented familiar foes in innovative ways.

Grant Morrison’s works, particularly “JLA” and “New X-Men,” showcase extraordinary superhero adventures on a grand scale. In “JLA,” Morrison pitted the League against formidable adversaries such as corrupted angels, the Injustice Gang, Darkseid, and machines capable of destroying the universe, all while subtly altering the established formula. Despite each character having their own books, except Martian Manhunter, Morrison used them to weave some of the most thrilling superhero tales ever conceived. In “New X-Men,” Morrison was able to delve deeper into the characters, offering readers exceptional interpretations of Cyclops, Jean Grey, Emma Frost, and Xavier, as well as introducing Fantomex, one of the 21st century’s coolest mutants.

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Morrison skillfully breathed new life into old concepts like Darkseid, villain teams, the Phoenix Force, Weapon X, and more, pushing them beyond their traditional boundaries in “JLA” and creating a superhero soap opera in “New X-Men” that encouraged readers to view familiar characters from fresh perspectives. Morrison’s works, including “Doom Patrol,” “JLA,” and “New X-Men,” each stand as perfect team books, reinventing the potential of these teams by cleverly updating their histories.

Morrison’s Team Books Have Never Been Matched

Balancing a team comic book is a tricky task, as writers need to strike a chord between honoring past legacies and introducing fresh, original content. Since Grant Morrison’s departure from New X-Men, there have been numerous commendable team book runs, such as Jonathan Hickman’s work on Fantastic Four, Avengers, and New Avengers. However, few have come close to the brilliance of Morrison. Many attempts revert back to basics with their teams, but few can rival the innovative ideas that Morrison consistently delivers. In essence, Morrison’s team books stand out as unparalleled.

Comics often struggle with maintaining freshness, as they tend to recycle familiar storylines. Despite the timeless appeal of franchises like the Avengers, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Justice League, Teen Titans/Titans, Legion of Superheroes, and others, fans crave novelty. Morrison stood out by consistently reinventing these classic teams, taking them on exciting new journeys while staying true to their original concepts. This is why Morrison is considered the supreme team writer among comics creators, and his works serve as proof of his exceptional talent.

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2025-04-03 02:50