Title- Enter Dr. Doom

Issue- 57

Writer- Stan Lee

Art- Jack Kirby

Summary:

While Reed, Sue, and Ben deal with the threat of the Sandman, Doom lures the Silver Surfer into a tour of his castle. Innocent to the ways of humanity, the Surfer does not realize that Doom invitation is a trap. The Surfer quickly realizes that Doom's only interest is in world domination. Doom asks the Surfer to create a weapon as a demonstration of power. The weapon subsequently destroys a portion of the castle. Later, Doom shows the Surfer his private laboratory where he keeps his devices of destruction. To distract the Surfer, Doom shows him the image of a star field taken in the vastness of space. Creeping up behind him Doom uses a device of his invention to absorb all his cosmic power. Doom then leaves the castle to test his new power.

Title- The Dismal Dregs of Defeat

Issue- 58

Writer- Stan Lee

Art- Jack Kirby

Summary:

Doom tests his newly gained powers by attacking the Thing. With Reed and Sue off on a short holiday, the Thing does his best to defeat Doom but finds himself outmatched. Doom accelerates his molecules causing Thing to become to heavy too move. Doom then proceeds to Reed and Sue's cottage in the Hamptons where he surprises Reed by causing one of his experiments to go awry. Doom engages the two in battle and defeats them when suddenly Johnny arrives on the scene. Reed and Sue flee for the moment while Doom and the Human Torch battle it out. Doom ultimately freezes Johnny for a short time. Eventually Wyatt Wingfoot with Ben, whom he freed, arrive as well. The group try to stop Doom with a anti-grav gun of Reed's design but it fails. Seeing that none of them are equipped to deal with Doom in his current state, the team confess defeat and Doom lets the  live with the knowledge that he may return at anytime to deal the final blow.

Comments:

I love issues where Doom wins. He's such a sore winner. It's not enough that he's beat the FF, he has to say that one day he may come back and kill them all. This is classic stuff here. Reading this issue I am struck by something I never noticed before. While I enjoy this story and think it is a classic, it does have a drawback, for me. The story is not told from Doom's POV. Granted, the comic is called Fantastic Four and not Doctor Doom, but if the story involves Doom getting cosmic power, I think the story should be told from his POV. I find it to be a similar problem in a much later issue of the FF written by Tom De Falco wherein Doom gets cosmic power from Aron the Watcher. Again, I know that the book is about the FF and not Doom, but I think this would have been a unique opportunity. Reading now the original, I can now better appreciate Michael Jan Friedman's Silver Surfer: Loftier than Mortals which retells the story with greater emphasis on Doom and the Surfer. Besides that, and its a bias because I'm a Doom fan anyway, I wouldn't take away the merit the arc deserves. It's classic Doom at his most fearsome.

Bottom Line: * * * * * out of 5

Title- Doomsday

Issue- 59

Writer- Stan Lee

Art- Jack Kirby

Summary:

As Doom continues his rampage through the Earth, Reed announces to the leaders of the world that they face imminent danger and even destruction at the hands of the most dangerous being alive. Reed however becomes disheartened until Thing gets him angry enough to continue working on a solution. Doom meanwhile begin to bring chaos to the planets climate by reversing conditions all over the world. Tropical islands become glaciers, country sides become shrouded in darkness and volcanoes are forced into eruption. Meanwhile, Black Bolt the leader of the Inhumans recovers from his ill state and breaks his people free from the barrier that surrounded their city. The young Crystal instantly leaves in search of Johnny Storm causing the royal family to follow in pursuit.

Comments:

Really not much happens here. The story takes a breather as the set up for the final confrontation begins. The Inhumans are put into the picture, Johnny goes off to fight Doom on his own and Reed comes up with yet another miracle device to beat Doom. Although from a story point of view the issue is very quiet compared to the previous two, artistically Kirby's art is just screaming for attention. The much imitated close up on Doom's eyes is rarely, if ever, bested by the Kirby original. Reviewing this issue I am reminded of how distinctive he did faces, Doom's in particular. The angles he would sometimes employ are also amazing. I'm not a Inhumans fan, but if Kirby were drawing it, I'd read it. Putting aside the excellent art, the story in context doesn't do much here, so Bottom Line: * out of 5

Title- The Peril and the Power

Issue- 60

Writer- Stan Lee

Art- Jack Kirby

Summary:

The FF challenge Doom to a last ditch battle that demands their utmost skill and effort. However Doom's power is too much for them. Both Johnny and Ben try to beat him one on one but to no avail. Just as Doom readies to deliver the final blow, a flying wing soar above Doom and causes him to weaken and stumble for a brief moment. Angered, Doom chases the plan as it flies upwards. Within moments a large explosion signals the end of the conflict as Reed reveals that he ordered that the plane be programmed to head into space. Reed remembered that Galactus had exiled the Surfer to Earth and suspected that he would have left the means to keep him here. Then it was merely a matter of logic that if Doom had assumed his powers, Doom would also be subject to Galactus' edict. The quartet the watch as the Surfer's board descends from the heavens to seek out its true owner.

Notes:

• The story arc was reprinted in Marvel Triple Action 1 - 4
  
  
   

• Retold in Silver Surfer: Loftier than Mortals
   

• Collected in Essential Fantastic Four Volume 3 and Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 6
  
  

Comments:

As finales go, this one is not one of may favorites. I suppose I'm just not into seeing Doom fight with super powers. I find it odd. Nonetheless the fighting is grand. For me the highlight is when Doom and Thing go at it. Those two are great to watch as they duke it out. I've always loved how Doom's humiliating defeat at the hands of Thing is always brought up. Doom can never seem to forget that. I think that is a great touch to the character and nice for the fans that it is mentioned here and there. I'd be happy to see it mentioned in a modern comic but that is highly unlikely given continuity the way it is these days. I feel that the ending is a little rushed. Again, I think the story suffers a little because it deals strictly with the FF's POV. Not seeing Doom lose the powers is a bit of a let down. Happily this is addressed in the retelling of this story in the aforementioned Silver Surfer: Loftier than Mortals. Ultimately I recommend that anyone reading this arc should then rush off and read that series. Despite changing a few details, I think that the Surfer miniseries acts as a good companion piece to this arc rather than a replacement. But as I said before, this is a classic arc as it is. A must read for Doom fans as it is one of those things that Doom, even to this day, brags about.

Bottom Line: * * * * * out of 5