The Doom Patrol #3 Review – Stumbling Through Fear Itself

The Doom Patrol #3 (DC Comics, 11/11/26): Writer Darcy Van Poelgeest and artist Niko Henrichon find that the only thing the Doom Patrol have to fear is fear itself and Phobia. Van Poelgeest’s latest entry takes a sharp left for a standard yet muddled conclusion to their latest mission. Verdict: Not So-so but not great.

• Writer: Darcy Van Poelgeest
• Artist: Niko Henrichon
• Colorist: Niko Henrichon
• Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
• Cover Artist: Niko Henrichon (cover A)
• Publisher: DC Comics
• Release Date: November 11, 2026
• Comic Rating: Teen
• Cover Price: $3.99
• Page Count: 22
• Format: Single Issue

Covers:

Analysis of The Doom Patrol #3:

First Impressions:

“Clunky” is the word that comes to mind. The Doom Patrol #3 takes a big swerve to explain the last issue’s cliffhanger and (sort of) wrap up the latest mission, but the issue takes a wobbly path to get to where it’s going, in art and writing.

Recap:

In The Doom Patrol #2, Dr. Caulder reflected on Larry’s newfound ability to enter and retrieve pieces of memories before assembling the Doom Patrol for a lucrative mission to rescue a tech billionaire’s daughter from a cult called the Children of the Ever-Void. Although the assignment raised some concerns, the team accepted, needing the money to pay off their debts and secure a proper headquarters. Unfortunately, the cult was already expecting them, and the issue ended with Warp teleporting the team’s van directly into the compound, resulting in an explosive wreck.

Plot Analysis (SPOILERS):

The Doom Patrol #3 picks up in the middle of last issue’s cliffhanger. Cliff, Rita, and Larry experience visions of times in their past that created lasting memories they fear. Suddenly, the van is intact, and the team is inside, safe and sound. The fiery explosion was all an illusion created by the unexplained arrival of Phobia, who forces the team to relive traumatic memories. Only Larry can resist Phobia’s power through Negative Man. Larry’s alter ego invades Phobia’s mind and forces her to confront the painful memory of abuse she experienced as a child. Through his new upgrade, Negative Man brings the little girl into our reality, providing Phobia with much-needed closure.

The Doom Patrol springs into action to save the little girl – Evelyn – inside the Cult of the Ever-Void’s compound. Inside, the cult leader coerces Evelyn to use her powers to send the followers to the Ever-Void so that he can absorb their life force into himself. How any of that works is not explained and is poorly depicted. The team breaks into the meeting room to retrieve Evelyn, but Warp interferes. Evelyn gets upset and unleashes her power in random directions, accidentally sending several cult members, Warp, and Rita to the Ever-Void. The cult leader – now unmasked and revealed to be General Immortus – begs Evelyn to give him the life force of the people she banished. Larry and Cliff spirit Evelyn away to headquarters before the general can reap his prize.

How is the story in The Doom Patrol #3?

Yeah, clunky is right. Darcy Van Poelgeest’s energetic entry in the series moves the players from point A to point B, but the narrative flow is jarring; things happen(ed) or are happening without a clear explanation, and the whole book feels disjointed. Where did Phobia come from? When, where, and how did General Immortus figure out that Evelyn has the power to send people to the Ever-Void? And how did he conclude that doing so would allow Evelyn to transfer their life force to him? How and why was Evelyn interacting with Dr. Caulder’s mind in a repeat dream loop in issue #1?

In short, you shouldn’t come out of the conclusion of a team’s mission with more questions about what you just read than answers.

How is the art in The Doom Patrol #3?

Admittedly, part of the clunkiness could be coming from Niko Henrichon’s art. During the big fight scene, there are multiple spots where you genuinely cannot tell what just happened. Is Rita falling into one of Warp’s warps? If Rita fell into one of Warp’s warps, when did she and Warp get sucked into the Ever-Void?

Huh? What? Look, it’s fine to be weird, but clarity is king. When the big action set piece is unclear, that’s a problem. Plus, Henrichon’s scratchy, sketchy art style may not be everyone’s cup of tea because you genuinely can’t tell the difference between General Immortus and the dozens of cult followers, which makes following the action difficult.

Clarity is king.

Characters

Van Poelgeest delivers a plot-driven story, so no single character is the focus. That said, the personal weight of the issue rests within the interaction between Negative Man and the little girl version of Phobia. Her abuse (not explicitly named) makes you feel for her in a parental way, and Negative Man approaches the little girl with the care of a parental figure who wants to save her from further pain. It’s a touching moment that sticks with you.

Originality & Concept Execution

Is The Doom Patrol #3 original? Well, yes, you could say that if you consider the weird hodgepodge of ideas and actions stitched together as something you’ve never seen before. The ideas are there. It’s the execution that needs work.

Pros and Cons

What We Loved

• A touching moment for Negative Man
• The cliffhanger escape is… unpredictable
• The fight has consequences (maybe)

Room for Improvement

• Phobia arrives out of nowhere
• The big fight is poorly executed
• Too many plot points are left unexplained

Art Samples:

The Scorecard:

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): 2.5/4
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): 2.5/4
Value (Originality & Entertainment): 1/2

Final Thoughts:

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The Doom Patrol #3 wraps up the mission to save a tech billionaire’s daughter from a cult, with illusions, weird fights, and deadly consequences. Darcy Van Poelgeest’s script gets the team to the end, with several stumbles, and Niko Henrichon’s rough art works in some spots but not in others.

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