- "Everything's tearing inside... I was eleven... blood running down my legs... turning my white shoes red... I was eleven! No one told me about the blood!"
- ―Dorothy Spinner
"Imaginary Friends" | |
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Doom Patrol | |
Title: | "Imaginary Friends" |
Volume: | 2 |
Number: | 25 |
Cover price: | $1.50 |
Cover date: | August, 1989 |
Publisher: | DC Comics |
Credits | |
Chief: | Jenette Kahn |
Ex. Ed: | Dick Giordano |
Writers: | Grant Morrison |
Pencilers: | Doug Braithwaite |
Inkers: | Scott Hanna |
Cover artists: | Richard Case |
Cover inker: | Richard Case |
Colorists: | Daniel Vozzo |
Letterers: | John Workman |
Editors: | Robert Greenberger |
Navigation | |
Previous: | Doom Patrol #24 |
Next: | Doom Patrol #26 |
"Imaginary Friends" is the title to the twenty-fifth issue of the second Doom Patrol ongoing comic book series published by DC Comics. The story was written by Grant Morrison with artwork by Doug Braithwaite and inks by Scott Hanna. It was colored by Daniel Vozzo and lettered by John Workman. The story was edited by Robert Greenberger. This issue shipped with an August, 1989 cover date and carries a cover price of $1.50 per copy (US).
"Imaginary Friends"[]
Niles Caulder, Joshua Clay, and Dorothy Spinner are settling into their new headquarters at the Justice League's old Secret Sanctuary. Caulder asks Josh to try and locate a Materioptikon, which is believed to have been a left over souvenir from one of the League's battles against Doctor Destiny. Josh encounters Dorothy, who complains that the television in her room isn't working properly. While they speak, Dorothy mentions that she has imaginary friends. She recounts a tale of how she had to "kill" some of her imaginary friends when they became too mean.
Joshua Clay goes into the souvenir room and finds the Materioptikon, which appears to be unmolested. He takes note of several strange inks spots on the floor. As he walks way, the ink spots grow into writhing creatures. Dubbing themselves the "Inky Boys", they attack Josh, but as he backs away, he finds himself in some strange, swampy alternate dimension. He is then pursued by the Tall Tailor, who is one of the Scissormen.
Dorothy Spinner uses her powers to manifest physical representations of three of her imaginary friends, Damn All, Darling-Come-Home, and Flying Robert. However, these beings are not in service of Dorothy's best interests, and they want to "sew up" her mind to keep the dirty thoughts from getting in.
Josh bursts into the room as the phantasms lunge at Dorothy. Grabbing her by the hand, he pulls her out, runs down the hall (where they pass an intangible black whale phasing through the walls) and takes her back to the meeting room. A teary-eyed Dorothy tells Josh that the three weird beings want to punish her for killing her old imaginary friends. She also reveals that this most recent psychological trauma came about due to the unexpected experience of her first menstrual cycle. Josh tries to encourage Dorothy to dispel Damn All, Darling-Come-Home, and Flying Robert.
He realizes that it is actually the Materioptikon that is bolstering Dorothy's power. He blasts his way to the basement, charges up his fist, and destroys the device. Once this is done, Dorothy finds the strength to dispel the imaginary beings. All that is left behind is a flattened balloon, a broken light bulb, and several sheets of newspaper.
Meanwhile in Paris, France, a man named Byron Shelley goes to the Eiffel Tower, where he finds three beings in shadow sitting behind a desk. They welcome him into the Brotherhood of Evil.
Featured characters
Supporting characters
Villains
- Damn All (1st appearance)
- Darling-Come-Home (1st appearance)
- Flying Robert (1st appearance)
Minor characters
- Mister Nobody, Eric Morden (Behind the scenes only)
- Byron Shelley
- Holly McKenzie (Behind the scenes only)
- Lloyd Jefferson (Behind the scenes only)
Organizations
- Doom Patrol
- Brotherhood of Evil
- Inky Boys
- Scissormen
Races
Locations
Items
- Doll
- Light weapon
- Materioptikon
- Red shoes
- Wheelchair
Vehicles
Powers
Miscellaneous
Notes & Trivia[]

Meet Darling-Come-Home. She's not the strangest chick the Doom Patrol is ever going to meet.
- The Doom Patrol was created by writers Arnold Drake & Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani. They first appeared in My Greatest Adventure #80 in June, 1963, which was a comic book adventure anthology series published by DC Comics. This issue introduced the characters of Niles Caulder, Cliff Steele, Rita Farr, and Larry Trainor.
- This is the final issue of Doom Patrol with Robert Greenberger as editor. He is credited as outgoing editor in this issue.
- Mark Waid takes over the editing details with this issue, working alongside Robert Greenberger. He is credited as incoming editor.
- As cover artist, Richard Case is identified only as "R".
- The red shoes in blood are symbolic of the ruby slippers featured in The Wizard of Oz. The character of Dorothy Spinner is partially named and somewhat inspired by this character.
- The Secret Sanctuary is the original headquarters of the Justice League of America.
- Reference is made to Maxwell Lord in this issue. Maxwell Lord is the benefactor and financier of Justice League International.
- The Materioptikon is a device formerly used by an old Justice League foe known as Doctor Destiny.
- Reference is made to Arani Caulder in this issue. Niles Caulder denies ever being married to her.
Reprints[]
- The storyline from this collection is reprinted in the following volumes: