The following contains spoilers for Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3, on sale now from DC Comics.
After the Lazarus Planet event caused a boom in metahuman activities around the world, the Doom Patrol updated its mission to protect and shelter every vulnerable extra-human unwanted and persecuted by society and government. This bold step also came with the onus of addressing serious issues that invalidates the existence of trans folks, whether unintentional or deliberate.
Cliff Steele, better known as his alter-ego Robotman, has been an integral part of the Doom Patrol since their inception. He has become the team's heart and soul with his outspoken attitude. Yet, for all his qualities, Robotman has made the mistake of deadnaming others without understanding the consequences of his action. The latest Doom Patrol series continues the title's past of taking on societal issues and presenting them as a conversation before the reader, this time teaching Cliff proper etiquette.
Doom Patrol Addressed the Issue of Dead Naming
In Unstoppable Doom Patrol #3 (by Dennis Culver, Chris Burnham, Brian Reber and Pat Brosseau), Robotman and Larry Trainor, aka Negative Man, are escorting a metahuman to safety to their base with the Green Lanterns in hot pursuit. When Starro's spores attacked Earth, one of its victims' metagene activated as a defense mechanism. Now the host and the spore are one, becoming a new person in his own right. He knows that the Lanterns will never accept the fact and treat him with hostility, stemming out of prejudice, given their longstanding history with the world-conquering starfish. Being an intergalactic police force, the Green Lantern Corps would probably shoot first and ask questions later, which is exactly how the Doom Patrol finds themselves in this predicament.
Starbro, as he calls himself now, is finally happy in his own skin, as he finally feels complete in this new avatar. He also feels good about the name he has chosen for himself. Yet, Robotman mocks and addresses him by his deadname rather than calling them Starbro. This irks Larry, who remembers Cliff being just as rude when the Negative Spirit merged with he and his therapist Dr. Eleanor Poole into a composite entity named Rebis in Doom Patrol #19 (by Grant Morison, Richard Case, Carlos Garzon, Michele Wolfman and John Workman). Now, Cliff can be an old soul with old-school thoughts, but that is no excuse for the way he disregards the other person's identity. Fortunately, Robotman's better senses kick in, and he apologizes for his behavior.
Doom Patrol Continues to be Ahead of Its Time
In the history of comics, Doom Patrol has been one of the mainstream books at the forefront of discussing societal issues with panache. From showing how outcasts and "freaks" can be the most broken yet warmest people to tackling dissociative identity disorder, the title has, time and again, broken stereotypes. They were also the ones to introduce DC's first transgender superhero, who was both beauty and brains. A former sex worker-turned-programmer, Coagula made her debut in the 1993 issue of Doom Patrol #70 (by Rachel Pollack, Scot Eaton, Tom Ziuko, and John Workman). She joined the Doom Patrol team after the Justice League rejected her application.
While the current issue does not directly place a trans character through such a situation, the subtle nuances are unmistakable. Deadnaming in a social setting can be considered disrespectful, and repeated mistakes are a form of transphobia with an agenda to belittle or hurt a person because of their gender identity. Robotman has always placed his emotions above his punches, making him a great surrogate father for others who have never been so lucky in life. While it takes him time to realize his mistakes, Cliff apologizes to both Starbro and Larry for deadnaming them which also gives Negative Man a sort of closure. As DC has announced to add another issue to the six-issue miniseries due to early fan support, Unstoppable Doom Patrol seems to be doing something right with their approach.