In this review of The Doom Patrol #1, it’s a new beginning for the hard luck heroes as a small recovery job snowballs and impacts the team in unexpected ways. Meanwhile, the past comes calling again for Chief Niles Caulder.
THE DOOM PATROL #1
Written by DARCY VAN POELGEEST
Art and Main Cover: NIKO HENRICHON
Variant Covers: CLAYTON CRAIN, IAN BERTRAM, HAYDEN SHERMAN, ASHLEY WOOD
Page Count: | 32 pages
Release Date: 9/2/26
This review contains spoilers
The Doom Patrol #1 begins as Chief Niles Caulder taps out a Doom Patrol case file on an old typewriter and encounters a terrifying stranger in what appears to be a recurring nightmare. Elsewhere, Robot Man, Negative Man and Elasti-Girl locate a missing cat named Milo who has unfortunately passed on. Milo’s owner, Ms. Green, claimed that aliens abducted her cat, but considering she is elderly and visually impaired, the team chalk up her story to confusion.
Negative Man (Larry Trainor) suggests that they just tell Ms. Green the truth, but Robot Man (Cliff Steele) says it’s better to just replace the cat. After a quick recap page of the Doom Patrol’s origin, Larry brings “Milo” back to Ms. Greene who elatedly invites Larry in for tea. Ms. Green explains what she believed she saw which prompts Larry to ask for a favor.
Ms. Green’s limited vision sees the unbandaged Larry in its purest and beautiful form. Outside, Cliff goes to collect Larry while Elasti-Girl (Rita Farr) answers an urgent call from The Chief. Rita is quickly distracted as a giant alien spaceship appears over the neighborhood and begins hoovering up all of the cats in the area.
Cliff tears into the ship and finds a strange alien absorbing the poor cats as Rita grapples with the living ship from the outside. Larry releases his negative spirit which is quickly absorbed by the alien.
The Doom Patrol #1 ends as the negative spirit, having been mysteriously transformed, leaves on an unknown mission. Back in Niles Caulder’s study, the same mysterious girl from his nightmares enters and asks for his help. Caulder agrees, even if it means the end of the Doom Patrol.
Analysis
The Doom Patrol #1 gets readers up to speed quickly with a mini origin recap and scenes that encapsulate each character’s personality and abilities. Award-winning writer Darcy Van Polegeest doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel to offer up a new twist on the familiar Doom Patrol tropes. Previously, the team appeared in limited series form after the events of Lazarus Planet. Those new recruits are gone, but the original heroes (minus Jane) are back to basics.
Polegeest nails both the characterization and what makes the Doom Patrol series tick: odd and mundane events turned extraordinary, moments of humanity, drama and humor. Niles Caulder never seems to change with once again apparently betraying his team for some greater good. Caulder’s nightmare sequence that bookends Doom Patrol #1 is much darker than the middle section where a missing (and dead) cat leads to an unexpected calamity well suited for the Doom Patrol.
What is Caulder’s plan and who is the mysterious girl who haunts his dreams? Caulder still insists on tapping on an old typewriter, but given his long lifespan, old habits and all that. What exactly happened to Negative Man? The Doom Patrol #1 reads as comfort food for those already familiar with the series, but it is also surprisingly reader friendly for those curious about the series.
Who is the alien creature and is it really eating the cats as Cliff claims? Having watched the R-rated HBO series, it’s interesting to see the team out and about as publicly known superheroes with a “Doom Patrol” logo emblazoned on the side of their van, (also a lot less swearing). The team works well and Polegeest adds a nice touch with Larry seen as beautiful by the visually impaired Ms. Green.
Niko Henrichon (New X-Men) provides an indie comic feel to the comic artwork, with loads of details and personality in each page. The organic (living) spaceship design, each Doom Patrol team member’s familiar look, Ms. Green’s visions and that stunning large panel of the cats getting sucked up into the sky.
Final Thoughts
The Doom Patrol #1 is a delightful and offbeat back-to-basics relaunch of the classic series, which introduces intriguing new mysteries while demonstrating the enduring charm of the characters and their unique family dynamic. The issue is highly recommended for both longtime readers and those curious about checking out the series for the first time.
