Issue- 37-39
Title- The Promethium Exchange
Writer-Scott Lobdell & Mark Badger
Art-?
Summary:
Doctor Doom calls upon Shadow Cat of Excalibur to allow him access to the “Limbo” dimension so that he may retrieve an energy source known as Promethium. He claims he will use it to provide limitless energy to the whole world. Despite her own better judgment as well as that of her teammates, she agrees. Using the Soulsword, Kitty [Shadowcat] opens the portal. Once inside the portal, the pair is attacked. Not use to fighting in this realm, Doom takes the sword and uses it to defeat the onslaught of demons. After they are defeated Doom refuses to hand over the sword and at last his plan is revealed. He needed Kitty to bring the sword so that he could use it to take control of the Limbo dimension. Whoever holds the sword has control of all the resident demons. Elsewhere, the Lady of the Lake enlists the aid of the West Coast Avengers to assist the team Excalibur. One by one the British super team is defeated by hoards of demonic doppelgangers of well known superheroes. Just in time, the Avengers come to their aid. Eventually they all realize that Doom plans on reverting the universe into a state of pure Promethium thus destroying all life inside it. However in doing so, five portals have opened and have begun to suck England into the dimension to fill the vacuum being left by its absence. The teams split into pairs and go about closing the portals. Doom meanwhile finds his plans being obstructed by one demon that refuses to obey him. The demon taunts him by hiding his identity and his plan. Eventually it is revealed that the mysterious demon is Darkoth. After his last defeat he found himself in the Limbo dimension and plotted his revenge against Doom. It was he who lured Doom to the dimension with the Promethium. The two battle and Doom sacrifices his armor in order to break free of Darkoth’s grasp. Thinking Doom helpless, Darkoth forgets that the Soulsword in Doom’s possession provides him with a mystical suit of armor. Doom then uses the Soulsword to destroy the heart of the dimension and thus beginning the reversion process. Doom exits believing that nothing can stop his plan. Darkoth however grabs hold of the Soulsword and prepares to commit suicide. Meggan convinces Darkoth otherwise and he decides that he will remain alone in the Limbo dimension guarding the Soulsword.
Comments:
This is without a doubt one of the best Doom stories I’ve read in a while. Doom’s characterization is spot on. He’s villainous but with the best of intentions. By only gripe is that he punches Shadowcat. I seem to recall Doom saying he does not strike women. I’m not familiar with the Excalibur title or Scott Lobdell’s work, nonetheless, his injection of humor into Doom’s character is welcome and provides a lot of appeal to this story. The surprise inclusion of Darkoth, the Demon is another delight of the story. His character is given a fine finale here if his character is never again picked up by another writer. The only major gripe with the story is Doom’s exit. While it is great to see him walk away for a change, as opposed to being thrown out by some hero, it doesn’t make too much sense. He just leaves the Soulsword behind for no conceivable reason. This seems a little short sighted on Doom’s part, however it really doesn’t interfere with ones enjoyment of the story, rather it leaves the reader wondering as he thinks back upon it. After just one read, this story has quickly become one of my all time favorites. While at first I was put off by the art, I quickly found it reminiscent of Mike Mignola’s Hell Boy and most importantly Triumph and Torment; although you will find that the art is not as clean and stylized as Mignola’s. Bottom Line: Buy It