Doom Patrol promo piece by Steve Lightle

Just look at this incredible pin up by the late Steve Lightle.

Steve Lightle drew a much too short run on the 80s Doom Patrol revival before exciting the title over disappointment on where it was going creatively but foremost because of broken promises made to him by DC editorials.

And yet his art was really impressive as always on that title and if one has to command him for staying true to his artistic integrity, we can only lament on the shortness of his tenure.

Steve was also quite clear where he stood on the new additions to the team, which he truly disliked, believing that the team should only be composed of the original members.

And yet when you look at this pinup showcasing Tempest, Celsius and Cliff Steel (Robotman), you can’t really tell given how well he drew them, a testament to his utmost professionalism.

Here shine Steve’s strong use if shadow and light, superbly used for dramatic purpose. I always thought that Steve was one of the best artists at displaying energy powers. Case in point, Tempest radiating fist with his fingers and forearm delineating lines seemingly lost in the vapours of the energy display. Just brilliant. The anatomy of the character is also quite strong, with that nasty burn on his foreleg and the torn pants which looks realistic. I like that Celsius is not drawn as the usual comic bimbo. Her stance also looks realistic as per her wearing some high heels. And lastly, Cliff Steel/Robotman that Steve chose to portray as being consistent with Premiani’s version, more like a puppet per his own words rather than a bigass muscular robot, the tiring trope we usually get in superhero comics which is both an intelligent and refreshing approach I found. Lastly, the fact part of his torso is clawed out as well as missing a hand and an eye, really adds to the tension of the piece as to wat danger these battle-ready heroes may be facing off camera.

His various inking techniques here are also spectacular, ranging from had solid blacks to a more vaporous brushy approach where needed.

Amusingly, this is the second piece I own by Steve with bullets impacts in the background and the least that can be said is that he was quite apt as well with those.

Steve drew 5 covers for the series when he was drawing it and it’s clear to me that the quality of this piece is on par with them. One could be even tempted to think that this promo was intended to be one of them. Done circa 1987 per Lightle’s own information, I feel like I have seen it in publication as a DC house ad but I can’t find trace of it. In any case, it was published in Twomorrow’s Back Issue 65 and in the Doom Patrol bronze age omnibus.

This is part 10 of my 2024 CAF birthday party.