Doom Patrol #98 is an issue of the series Doom Patrol (Volume 1) with a cover date of September, 1965.
Synopsis for "The Death of the Doom Patrol"
During a training session, the Doom Patrol are called to the control room by the Chief, who explains to the Doom Patrol that he is disbanding the group. He tells them because he considers them nothing but failures and intends to replace them with a brand new team. As the Doom Patrol members leave, Robotman suggests that they continue on without the Chief. Borrowing all his plans, the group construct a new base based on the original's design. Meanwhile, back at their old headquarters, we learn that the Chief really disbanded the team because he has an illness which may end his life and he did not wish his Doom Patrol to learn the truth that he has only 90 days to live.
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Mr. 103 as he first appeared
Elsewhere, a new costumed villain named Mr. 103, who can change his body into any element on the periodic table, robs a bank with his fantastic powers. When the Doom Patrol learns of this menace, they find him at another bank. During their first fight with him, Larry tries to send Negative Man at Mr. 103, who changes into lead. Upon impact the Negative Man is knocked out and Mr. 103 manages to escape while Rita and Cliff desperately try to force Larry and Negative Man to merge together before the 60 second time limit that would spell out Larry's doom is up. Realizing they are over their head, Robotman suggests they go seek the Chief's help. In spite of Larry's reservations about doing so, they all go to their former leader and stumble upon his medical condition when they find him passed out in his lab.
Confining him to an iron lung, the Chief explains to them that he was experimenting with a new form of radiative copper that exploded in his face and contaminated his body with radioactive copper particles which threaten his very life. Telling the Chief about Mr. 103, he comes up with a solution that may as well save his life and sends Larry and Cliff out to capture him during his next robbery. Using a ray that the Chief devised that uses an element from another world, the two Doom Patrol members manage to trap Mr. 103 by freezing him with this element. Taking him back to Doom Patrol headquarters, they force him to recreate the device that he uses to change his body into different types of elements. Changing the Chief into copper and then reverting him back to flesh ends up expunging the radioactive copper elements from his body, curing him. After turning over Mr. 103 over to the authorities, the Doom Patrol reunites with their leader who takes them back with open arms and they celebrate their victory.
Appearing in "The Death of the Doom Patrol"
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- Mr. 103 (First appearance)
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Synopsis for "60 Sinister Seconds"
A cabal is paid $4,000,000 to detonate 4 bombs secreted throughout the world simultaneously and precipitate World War III. With four months to prepare, they set up the bombs in different locations around the globe, hoping to detonate them in a fashion that would make the United States and the Soviet Union believe that they are attacking each other and start a nuclear holocaust.
When the Chief is informed of this nefarious plot, it's 60 seconds before the bombs are set to go off, he then asks Larry to send out Negative Man to destroy these bombs even at the risk of his own life. Larry sends out his Negative Man form to stop the bombs. He manages to destroy two out of the three before they go off, however the third one is detonated early.
With the United States and the Soviet Union about to go to war, the Chief contacts the President to explain the plot so that he may call the Russian Prime Minister to call off any attacks. However, they find that the transatlantic cable is disconnected. Larry sends his Negative Man to reconnect the cable so that the call can be made.
Larry single handedly prevents nuclear war within his 60 second limitations, bringing back his Negative Man form in just the right at the nick of time.
Appearing in "60 Sinister Seconds"
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Notes
- This issue contains a schematic of the Doom Patrol Headquarters.
Larry views the HQ plans
- This issue is reprinted in Doom Patrol Archives Vol. 3.
Trivia
- The first feature is told in two parts:
- Pt. I, The Death of the Doom Patrol
- Pt. II, it takes a chief to kill a chief