Robotman, Elasti -Girl, and Negative Man have fallen on tough times. Doing good for hire has nearly gotten them killed multiple times.
Now, Dr. Niles Caulder has sent them after a girl in danger in a mysterious compound. On the way, their van is attacked and blown to smithereens.
Just another day in the office for DC’s strangest squad.
THE DOOM PATROL #3 by Darcy Van Poelgeest, Niko Henrichon, & Lucas Gattoni (DC COMICS) heads into the Evervoid Compound!
Let’s take a look at what transpires now!
THE DOOM PATROL #3 by Darcy Van Poelgeest, Niko Henrichon, & Lucas Gattoni (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Van Poelgeest opens with the dire look at last issue’s fallout. Seeing Robotman trying to come to grips with the team blowing up makes for a strong move. This flips to Elasti-Woman attempting to control her powers. Once Negative Man is brought into the fray, it is quickly revealed how this has all be a ruse by Phobia. The writing sees Negative Man embrace the pain as he takes on the foe with surprising success.
Readers quickly find out more about the mystery of this cult and what they are trying to achieve. The writing dives into the uneasiness of their madness. Seeing Evelyn process her thoughts adds more curiosity to the conflict at hand. Van Poelgeest presents a unique way for Negative Man to combat the threat at hand. It is clever in delivery but fits his persona as it concludes the round. Once the main event takes place, readers watch as all Hell breaks loose. It is not without consequences as one member doesn’t return home. The conclusion raises more eyebrows as the mission’s true meaning comes to light. Like most Doom Patrol adventures, nothing is as it seems.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW!
Henrichon and Gattoni showcase the devastating aftermath of the van attack. Drawing some emotion out of Robotman, the panels convey the sense of loss. This moves into Rita’s struggles to maintain form. Gattoni’s lettering haunts Negative Man’s recap as the truth of the van is revealed via half page. As the showdown with Phobia takes place, Negative Man’s words strike hard with the eye-catching lettering. This compliments the dare of diving into his broken past. A solid visual run before panels get (somewhat) normal.
The cult leader’s addressing of Evelyn is frank and right to the point. It leads into a more notable reveal of the audience in waiting. When images go back to Phobia vs. Negative Man, the formula remains steady as the battle dips into new territory. The bold font cements Trainor’s play and ends the first conflict. This transitions easily to the attack on the large gathering. A frantic two page spread shows events spinning off its axis. This leads into a devastating loss while moving the fight to a steady finish. Panels in the aftermath remain calm in presentation as the ending asks more questions than give answers. A weird trip per usual but anything else just wouldn't be Doom Patrol.
FINAL GRADE: 8.6
The Patrol’s assault on the Evervoid Compound comes with a grave cost as events spin out of control. Van Poelgeest taps into the broken team’s strengths for great success. Henrichon & Gattoni deliver on spectacular visuals throughout the chapter. A display of storytelling that captures its’ weird charm with heavy drama.
Let me know your thoughts on THE DOOM PATROL #3 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
