Title - All in the Family

Issue -305

Writer - Steve Englehart

Art - John Buscema

Summary:

As Ben ponders his new role as leader of the Fantastic Four, Doom arrives with a proposition for Reed.

title-Double Double

issue- 20

writer-Steve Englehart

art-Paul Neary

Summary:

Reed and Sue have decided to resign from the team in order to take better care of Franklin. They have decided that Ben should lead the new team and he should elect two new members. Just as the Thing has suggested that a recently arrived Crystal should be one of the new teammates, Doom arrives with a dark proposition. He asks Reed to lend him Franklin so that he can use the child's great mutant power to defeat Mephisto and free his mother's soul. Reed of course denies the request but Doom refuses to give up. A fleet of swarmbots attack the FF building and the team battle to repel them. After destroying the lot, the team converse as to what will Doom next move be. Suddenly, the remains of destroyed bots come together and snatch Franklin from his family. The swarmbot quickly delivers the boy to Doom and he makes his escape. The Human Torch tries to give chase but only manages to catch the discarded swarmbot. Reed and the team then use the bot in order to lure a imprisoned Kristoff into leading them into Latveria. The ploy succeeds until Kristoff discovers the team tailing him into the tunnels beneath Castle Doom. Meanwhile, Doom summons Mephisto and promptly offers him the soul of Franklin in exchange for his mother's. The deal is interrupted by Kristoff who is leading a squad of Doombots. While Kristoff attacks Doom, Mephisto grabs Franklin and drags him into hell. The FF arrive on the scene and Reed follows Mephisto. In hell, Franklin uses his powers to blind Mephisto who promptly sends them back to Latveria. The battle between Doom and Kristoff has subsided. Reed scolds Doom for betraying Franklin for he might have been able to help him. Doom admits that he is unable to trust another to do something that he has always failed to do. The nearby Doombots over hear this confession and instantly assume that Doom is an imposter for admitting failure. The Doombots attack him. Although Doom manages to destroy them, he flees knowing that all of the Doombots would have been informed of this and would turn against him. Doom vows that the war between him and Kristoff has just begun.

Comments:

This story takes place before Triumph and Torment so I rank this as one of the more enjoyable adventures in which Doom tries to save his mother. The use of Franklin, competitor for the world's strongest mutant, certainly makes this ploy unique. Reading it I am forced to think on the fact that Unthinkable becomes more and more like rubbish the more older stories I read. Not only does a child Franklin get snatched into hell, but the issue alludes to an earlier instance in which he defeated Mephisto. Mark Waid, I hope you're taking notes. Then again, it arguable that thanks to Marvel's sliding time policy, this never happened. Anyway, the story features a strong presence by both Doom and Kristoff which is great in my book. However, the writing chores here are done by Steve Englehart, not my favorite Doom writer. As usual Englehart plays up Doom's double crossing nature. His take on Doom seems to be a guy who thinks he is honorable but cuts every corner he can. For me, the highlight of the issue is when Ben says "Yeah! Doom took your kid, so we use his kid against him! I like it." Yeah Ben, I like it too.

This issue also marks the beginning of the Kristoff / Doom war. The conflict will rage all throughout Steve Englehart's tenure as writer. It serves as one of the primary reasons for naming this period, The Monarch in Exile. While this idea is certainly a thrilling one, I found it was not executed very well. Perhaps since this is a thread left over from John Bryne, Englehart wasn't sure what he wanted to do with it? Maybe its just I don't see eye to eye with him. Doom's absence from the throne while offering a new and compelling slate of Doom stories to tell I don't think did much for the character. It's ultimate resolution also proved disappointing to say the least. Nevertheless, this is a milestone in Doom's history so Bottom Line: Buy It!