Issue- 318
Writer- Steve Englehart
Art- Keith Pollard & Joe Sinnott
Summary:
Doctor Doom brutally attacks a unsuspecting Molecule Man and leaves him for dead. Doom then proceeds to visit Alicia Storm-Masters. Back at the FF Plaza The Thing and Human Torch are having a disagreement. Their dispute is postponed however when Doom enters the plaza lobby with Alicia. After a brief battle Doom reveals that he intends them no harm but rather he wishes to help them. He knows they plan an excursion into the Negative Zone and he is convinced that without either Reed's or his intellect they will perish. Dubious over Doom's intentions they reject his help. Not able to take no for an answer, Doom rushes into the N-Zone portal and enters without them. The team decides to follow immediately. Alicia remains behind to wait for their return. In the zone, the team is attacked by Blastarr but are then promptly saved by Doom himself. Realizing that they have no choice, the team agrees to a temporary alliance.
Comments:
I've never been a fan of Steve Englehart's work on the FF. I like his Batman stuff but not his FF. I especially don't like his take on Doctor Doom. Englehart encountered some creative difficulties during his time at MARVEL. The result were many forced changes to his storylines. According to his open letter published in Amazing Heroes [found reprinted here at the FFPlaza] the changes began to take place beginning in FF#322. This being issue 318 I assume this is a unhampered story. If so, then it is safe to say that my dislike for his Doom is justified and not the result of his true version not coming through. In fact my dislike of his writing Doom goes further back to issue #312 which is one of the few issues I have rated worth burning. His Doom is just plain evil and totally ruthless. The way he just kills Molecule Man while walking on the street I consider quite devilish. It nothing like the honorable medieval Doom I prefer. Nevertheless, this story leads up to an important milestone in this period of Doom's history. It also features a really cool cover and toys with one of my favorite concepts. What if Doom led the Fantastic Four? Bottom Line: Buy It!
Issue- 319
Title- Secret Wars 3
Writer- Steve Englehart
Art- Keith Pollard & Joe Sinnott
Summary:
Doom and the FF enter the crossroads of infinity and begin to pass the multitude of universes. When they reach the end, it appears as if they have returned home, but Doom calls upon the Beyonder who takes the form of the Sun. The Beyonder, who was supposedly destroyed at the end of Secret Wars II, exploded into a new universe, the one the team is currently in. Enraged that the FF have entered his realm, the Beyonder lashes out at them. The exiled Doom reveals that he has come in search of the Beyonder so that he can make him whole. Confused, Doom explains that at the time of the first Secret War, he was trapped in someone else's body and dead to the world. He therefore had to have been pulled from the future. Later, Doom called the him unknowingly and the Beyonder restored him to his proper body and sent him to Battleworld in order to cooperate with his past self. In the present, Doom claims that whole ordeal has left him with gaps in his memory and ask that the Beyonder now restore his mind. Not believing Doom, the Beyonder scans his mind only to find that he is in fact telling the truth. Just as the Beyonder agrees, Kubick and the Shaper of Worlds arrive. The three engage in battle. Suddenly the Molecule Man and Volcana appear and join the fray against all of them. Eventually the battle subsides and the Molecule Man reveals that his presence is only to stop Doom from regaining his memory. He reveals that with his memory complete, Doom will be able to better contain the powers of the Beyonder. The reason why he was unable the first was due to his mind not being at full strength. Doom finally admits that what the Molecule Man says is the truth. The group of cosmic beings then explain at length who the Beyonders are that the team is searching for. Ultimately it is revealed that Kubick, The Shaper of Worlds are both evolved cosmic cubes. The Beyonder and Molecule are also two parts of the same cube. The two men merge and become a proper cosmic cube. For a brief moment Doom touches the cube and manages regain his memory, but when he tries to gain more power, the other cubes return him and the FF home. With no more business between them, Doom and the team go their separate ways.
Comments:
Evolved cosmic cubes. I'm not exactly up to date with the ins and outs of cosmic beings so pretty much the whole issue goes over my head. The bulk of the issue is a lengthy exposition and explanation in which Englehart pulls together various threads in order to explain who the Beyonder is and where he is going. Pretty much the issue is a hit or miss. If you don't like cosmic exposition then you're not likely to enjoy or understand what's going on. I found it a little hard to follow my first read through. What started, as I thought, an interesting role for Doom falls apart. I was excited by the idea that Doom was leading the FF on a journey just to regain his lost memory, a sub plot which is interesting in itself, however Englehart tosses it for a hidden ploy to get the Beyonder's power....again. The reveal is almost comic. Doom says, I kid you not, "Ah well, it was worth the try." Artist Keith Pollard draws an expression I've never seen before or since, Doom sulking like a disappointed child. A good start but a weak end in my opinion.
Bottom Line: Read It!