Issue - 24

Title - Enter...Dr. Doom

Writer - Stan Lee

Art - Don Heck

Notes:

• Silhouette, last page panel appearance only

Issue - 25

Title - Enter...Dr. Doom

Writer - Stan Lee

Art - Don Heck

Summary:

As Doom observes the return of the Avengers he plans their destruction in order to instill fear into the Fantastic Four. At the Avengers Mansion, Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch receive word that a relative of theirs, an aunt, lives in Latveria and wishes to see them. Believing that this long lost relative will be able to tell them about their parents, the two excitedly make the journey. Immediately upon arriving the team is placed under arrest. When they realize that Doom is the ruler of Latveria, they break out of their cells and attempt to escape. The countryside is suddenly covered in a dome which keeps them in, barring their escape. Believing them to be invaders, the Latverians form a mob against them. The Avengers then rush into a nearby castle where they face Doom himself. He reveals that he plans to hold them captive in order lure the Fantastic Four. A battle ensues and Doom manages to defeat each them of easily, until Hawkeye uses a corrosive arrow to melt a part of Doom's armor. Eventually the Avengers work together as a team and manages to defeat Doom long enough to find the lever to operate the dome. Once open, they escape.

Notes:

• Doom equipped Latveria with a plastithene dome to protect Latveria from atomic attack.
   

• Reprinted in Marvel Triple Action 19. Collected in Essential Avengers Volume 2 and Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Volume 3
  
  

Comments:

Although by today's standards the story might not be anything to write home about, it is still a milestone being Doom's first encounter with the Avengers. Doom's obsession with defeating the "accursed" Fantastic Four is on full display here. His only motive is that he thinks the Avengers aren't as powerful as the FF and therefore they make good bait for a trap. Seeing Doom defeat the team in the first round is cool. But of course we all know he has to lose the second. Overall, I think the fact that this is the first meeting between Doom and the Avengers is the only noteworthy thing about it. Bottom Line: *** out of 5