Issue- 1
Title- Unto you is born the Doomsman!
Writer- Roy Thomas
Art- Wally Wood
Summary:
While Doom prepares to complete his experiments with cosmic energy, Prince Rudolfo the successor to King Vladimir of Latveria begins his plan to retake the Latverian throne. As part of his ploy he uses the young woman Ramona, who bears a striking resemblance to Valeria, the childhood love of Doom. Faking an accident, Ramona is brought before Doom. He is immediately struck by the supposed sight of Valeria but quickly discovers the truth of her charade by subjecting her to a Hypno-Probe. Still troubled by her resemblance to Valeria, Doom scorns her and returns to work on his creation, the Doomsman. Left alone, Ramona proceeds to look for the castle's power center. She instead stumbles upon Doom's experiment and manages to overload the castle's power source in the struggle. Rudolfo presses the advantage and attacks the castle. To Doom's dismay, the Doomsman escapes in the chaos by crashing the castle wall. Just as Rodulfo thinks he holds the castle, Doom confounds him and his fellow revolters with illusions and a Doombot. Ultimately Doom manages to stop them all by using the Hypno-Probe to place them under his will.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up
Comments:
Lot's of milestones here. The first appearance of Prince Rudolfo and the idea that successors to the Latverian throne may still exist thus setting the precedent for Zorba and later Dimitri Fortunov. Roy Thomas picks up a thread untouched since MSH#20 which is Doom's feelings for Valeria. Not surprising seeing as he co-wrote the former. His characterization of Doom continues to be that of the moody monarch. One moment he is hulking embodiment of evil, the next he is sulking and broken man who hides his failings behind a mask. This is the Doom character being cast truly in the mighty Marvel manner. This is not a card board cut out villain but a character with real human flaws that one can identify. Also very cool is the Dr. Frankenstein-esque way that he carries out experiments. Frequently side-lined in favor of his customary "kill the Fantastic Four" mode is Doom's scientist side. He is supposed to be a scientist who rivals Reed Richards. Placing him in a title in which he is not required to be killing the titular character means that we are allowed to explore the scientific endeavors of Doom. Lots of potential stories there. Bottom Line: Buy It!
VC 3/20/06
Issue- 2
Title- Revolution
Writer- Roy Thomas
Art- Wally Wood
Summary:
After failing in his revolt, the former Prince Rudolfo breaks out of his prison with Ramona. The two however do not get far before they are confronted by Doom. There it is revealed that Rudolfo is in fact a robot, the same robot which Doom built years ago to impersonate the real Prince in order to abdicate and turn the throne over to Doom. The real Rudolfo escaped the imprisonment to which Doom had sentenced him to and recovered the robot for use in his plan to retake Latveria. The robot, under the control of the real Rudolfo, makes an escape attempt but is destroyed in the process. Meanwhile, In his secret hide out, Rudolfo meets with his ally, the Faceless One. The Faceless One manages to capture the Doomsman and convince it to work on their side. Armed with advanced weaponry Rudolfo leads an attack on Doom's Doombots. Seeing that his forces are losing, Doom enters the battle himself. However Doom is called away from battle when he receives news that the Faceless One has entered the castle. There he confronts his foe who unleashes the Doomsman.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
Pretty much an all out action story. However there is one real treat, a flashback showing Doom's coronation. This story is unique in that it is the only comic to ever show this moment in Doom history. It remains to be seen if the Books of Doom mini will maintain the events as described here. The explanation has a certain Prisoner of Zenda quality to it which I like. However it might seem dated to others. What I find interesting is the implication of a bloodless revolution. Also, its incredible that in over 30 years of comics there has never been a mention another mention of how Doom took power. I think that says something about the character and how a lot of his potential has just been overlooked in favor run of the mill "Destroy the Fantastic Four!" stories. Another notable is the first appearance of the Faceless One, a very mysterious character whose true purpose is very much unclear at this point. He proves to be unique in that he is exclusively a member of Doom's rather small rogue's gallery. Last but not least, my personal favorite highlight is seeing Doom taking on the rebels, personally, and dressed in a cape-less outfit very much reminiscent of his premiere outfit from FF#5. Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 3
Title- Doom Must Die!
Writer- Larry Lieber
Art- Wally Wood
Summary:
Although ordered by the Faceless One to kill Doom, the being hesitates, it is trapped between the force of Doom and the Faceless Ones conflicting wills. The conflicting commands then cancel each other out and the Doomsman achieves autonomy. However because the Doomsman's mind is nearly identical to Doom's, he is able to take limited control of him. Doom uses a mind fusion technique to control the being and attack the Faceless One. Just when Doom has captured his foe in the Doomsman's grip, the Faceless One's head detaches itself and escapes. The Faceless One seemingly takes control of the castle's security devices to turning them against Doom, however Doom vanishes and then reappears as a gigantic apparition to ward off Rudolfo's forces which have all the while been overrunning the castle. The castle then begins to shake violently from the force of an induced earthquake. The quake eventually destroys the castle. Doom meanwhile observes all from a nearby cave where he summons the Doomsman. Doom realizes that he cannot maintain control over his creation forever and banishes him to another dimension.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
By nature these stories are short, so the action is always packed in real tight. Its really shows in this one however. Here you will find some development regarding Doom's mental prowess. He is able to take control of the Doomsman by shear force of will. Larry Lieber [incidentally Stan Lee's brother] gives us one of Doom's most ruthless moments. In order to quell Rudolfo's rebellion he induces an earthquake to bring down the entire castle! Yeah, that's what I call Classic Doom. I also find it funny how Doom is able to banish people to other dimensions. He does something similar to the Terrible Trio way back in FF#23. Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 4
Title- The Invaders!
Writer- Larry Lieber
Art- Wally Wood
Summary:
With Rudolfo's rebellion squashed, Doom orders that his castle be rebuilt. Leaving the plans with his subjects, he departs leaving his workers to the reconstruction. Doom travels on "holiday" to the world famous Riviera. There observes the habits of the rich and famous. Back in Latveria, the Red Skull leads his WWII era team, the Exiles, in an all out invasion. the Skull successfully manages to storm the peasant population and take the castle. Meanwhile, Doom disposes of a thief attempting to steal his armor as he slept. Later Doom storms from the casino after being told not to enter because devices in his armor would give him an unfair advantage. However before he leaves, Doom levels the casino to rubble. Unknown to Doom, the Red Skull has effectively taken over Latveria and proclaims it the beginning of the Fourth Reich.
Notes:
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Reprinted in Super-Villain Team-Up #15 and collected in Essential Super Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
While the idea of another villain attempting to take over Latveria is an original one at this point in Marvel history, its execution is dreadful. Doom leaves the work of building his castle to the peasants? You're trying to tell me he doesn't have Doombots that can complete it quicker? On top of that, Doom goes to the French Riviera? What on Earth for? The only sensible thing in the entire sequence is Doom's reaction to a common thief trying to rob his armor while he sleeps. Yes, that is madness. And Doom is probably as surprised as we are! On top of that, there is a serious continuity flub. The premise of the story is that Doom is out of the country while his castle is rebuilt, and yet when the Red Skull arrives...he storms the castle. That's a major plot hole. Bottom Line: Skip It!
Issue- 5
Title- A Land Enslaved
Writer- Larry Lieber
Art- George Tuska
Summary:
Doom returns from his jolt at the Riviera to discover that he has been deposed. Doom battles his former subjects and is eventually defeated by one of his own devices. The Red Skull then places Doom on display as an example to all Latverians. However Doom's armor maintains the ability to charge from solar power. He uses the excess power to break free from his bonds and resume his battle with the Skull and his forces. Doom then proceeds to defeats each member of the Exiles before finally trapping the Skull. Knocking them out with gas, the Skull and the Exiles reawaken miniaturized and being loaded into a rocket by Doom. After launching them back home to their island, Doom reveals that their shrunken condition was merely a illusion caused by the gas.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
Not much in the way of improvement from last issue. The Red Skull here is in dreadful form. While I don't think he has any 'fans,' if he did they would surely hate this story. Although he manages to take over Latveria, he comes off pretty weak here. He seems nothing like the fearful villain we are used to seeing in the pages of Captain America. On the upside, George Tuska fills in the art chores for this issue giving us a somewhat more traditional interpretation of Doom. Mostly you can see the difference from Wally Wood's art in the way Tuska draws the faceplate. Going back to the story, the final insult to the reader is the ending. Having the Skull in the palm of his hand, Doom releases him. Once more the comic's character seem to be asking the same questions as the reader, "He set us free? Why? But why? Why did he not destroy us?" Bottom Line: Skip It!
Issue- 6
Title- The Tentacles of the Tyrant
Writer- Larry Lieber
Art- George Tuska
Summary:
Through a grueling interrogation, Doom learns from a Wakandan that the mysterious country is the sole source of Vibranium. This mineral is the only one that can absorb vibrations. In order to learn more about Wakanda, Doom assembles a scanner in the shape of a hawk. From the scanner Doom learns all he needs and proceeds to use his nuclear powered Excavator to drill his way to Wakanda. The vibrations caused by the Excavator's arrival draw T'Challa, the Blank Panther, to investigate. Hidden within a now raging volcano, Doom and Black Panther meet.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
A surprisingly normal paced story. By normal I mean it is paced as though it were a normal comic and not the back up story. This results in what reads like a prelude to a bigger story. So story wise not much happens. But then looking at it another way, the cliff hanger comes just in the worst possible moment leaving you wanting more. It's hard to judge a story that has barely begun so let's just say, Bottom Line: Read It!
Issue- 7
Title- ...And if I be called Traitor!
Writer- Gerry Conway
Art- Gene Colon
Summary:
Doom breaks the standoff between Black Panther and himself by challenging him to hand to hand combat. This is of course a ruse in order to make the Panther disarm. Doom quickly captures him and returns to the drilling. The Black Panther is not imprisoned long, he manages to escape his bonds and sneaks outside the excavator with a gun. As the excavator approaches the vibranium core, the Panther leaps in its way and threatens to cause the shockwave which will bury them all. Reluctantly Doom withdraws back to Latveria.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
Its amazing what a change in writers can bring about. Although still a somewhat mediocre story, writer Gerry Conway manages to inject it with some interesting character moments. Doom especially is portrayed with a little more thought and introspective. A personal favorite scene of mine is when Doom uses the pretense of honor to get Black Panther to put down his gun and then zaps him with a laser himself. The interesting bit however is that Doom later questions his tactic. He begins to questions his own "honorable" behavior. He also begins to recognize the Panther as a fellow monarch. Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 8
Title- ...Though some call it Magic
Writer- Gerry Conway
Art- Gene Colon
Summary:
Doom battles the forces of hell for the soul of his mother. As part of his annual ritual, Doom conjures a demon who challenges him with a creature from hell. This year, Doom battles Kagrok the killer. The two engage in a brutal battle however it becomes apparent that neither one can best the other. Ultimately the demon withdraws and the soul of Doom's mother remains imprisoned in hell.
Notes:
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Collected in Essential Super-Villain Team-Up (see top of page)
Comments:
Though some call it...CLASSIC! If there were ever a Essential Dr. Doom, this would have to be in it. Gerry Conway expands upon something that is only hinted in Doom origin from Fantastic Four Annual #2. This is the first time it is revealed that Doom battles the forces of hell annually for the soul of his mother. The implications are not hard to grasp. This story provides the ground work the later graphic novel, Triumph and Torment and restores to Doom his place as one of Marvel's magic users. Too often his mystical side is overlooked. Just about everyone from Roger Stern to Mark Waid owes a nod to Gerry Conway for giving us this short yet 'astonishing' tale. Bottom Line: Buy It!