Title- The Jewels of Doom
Issue- 3
Writer- Tom De Falco
Art- John Romita Jr. & A. Kupperberg
Summary:
Dazzler is contracted to perform at a UN meeting where the Latverian crown jewels are to be put on display. Unknown to her, the Latverian ambassador is plotting to steal them and trade the for asylum in another country. Doom hears of the jewels display but remains uninterested until he is told that the Merlin Stone is among them. The night of the display Dazzler encounters the men who are trying to steal the jewels and manages to stop some of them. Chasing the one that got away she finds that they have already been dealt with by Doom. Doom escapes the UN building and takes Dazzler with him. He explains to her that the Merlin Stone is one of three such stones which, if put together, make the wielder invincible. Having recently discovered a second stone in a parallel universe, Doom chooses to send her to retrieve it for him.
Notes:
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Doom has a castle in the Bavarian Alps.
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According to the ambassador, Zorba's leadership has been less than stellar and Latveria is on the verge of economic collapse.
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Its revealed here that Doom eventually got his hands on the Merlin Stone which eluded him way back in Fantastic Four #5.
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Collected in Essential Dazzler volume 1
Title- Here Nightmares Abide!
Issue- 4
Writer- Tom De Falco
Art- Frank Springer
Summary:
In that shadowy universe, Dazzler battles countless demons, a dark mirror version of herself, and the being known as Nightmare. After defeating Nightmare, she is rewarded with the second stone. Doom promptly returns her to the universe proper. As Doom examines the stone, Dazzler manages to strike it with one of her light beams and destroys it. An angry Doom strikes at Dazzler nearly to death, however he decides against it when he observes the Human Torch searching in the nearby area. Doom uses a pre-prepared exit to escape and leaves as the Torch finds a near-death Dazzler.
Notes:
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Apparently Doom doesn't have access to his usual Doombots. Here Dazzler is guarded by "Robotrons."
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Collected in Essential Dazzler volume 1
Comments:
A light and enjoyable romp. Not much Doom since his purpose is really to send Dazzler on her own adventure. There is nothing too incongruous about Doom's character here. The major weakness of the plot is why on Earth would Doom choose Dazzler to send into that other universe? Also, the importance of the stone really suffers when 1) the villain of the piece hands it over saying it's just a bauble, 2) it can grant its wielder invincibility yet can be destroyed by one of Dazzler's light beams? Still, like I said, light and enjoyable if you are a Dazzler fan. For Doom fans, Bottom Line: * * out of 5