Issue - 1

Writer - Brian Michael Bendis

Art - Mike Deodato Jr.

 

Summary:

From her castle in 690 AD, Morgana Le Fay peers into the future and observes Doom at the meeting of Norman Osborn's cabal. In the present, Osborn unveils his new Avengers to the world. To the world, they are Captain Marvel, Ms. Marvel, Sentry, Ares, Wolverine, Hawkeye, and Spider-Man. In reality, a number of them are in fact former members of the Thunderbolts now dressed in the iconic identity of other heroes. Behind the scenes Osborn hires Victoria Hand as deputy director for his new peace keeping force, HAMMER. Meanwhile in Latveria, Osborn's troops return Doom to the site of his demolished castle. Morgana Le Fey is waiting for him and attacks as soon as he lands.

 
 

Notes:

  • Despite what is depicted in Iron Man: Legacy of Doom, Tony Stark did not destroy all his old armors, he kept a stash in the Avengers Tower.
  • This issue follows the events of Secret Invasion: Dark Reign where Osborn officially releases Doom from SHIELD arrest. Doom's arrest was made in Mighty Avengers #11. He was later broken out by the future New Defenders in Fantastic Four #557 after which he was presumably taken into custody again, and held until the events depicted in this issue.
  • Marvel released a number of variant covers for this issue. Including a 2nd printing, 3rd printing, Young Guns, and blank cover. A special variant was also released at the New York Comic Con 2009.

 
   

Issue - 2

Writer - Brian Michael Bendis

Art - Mike Deodato Jr.

 

Summary:

In the not too distant past, Morgana Le Fey stands over a young Victor von Doom and prepares to kill him for his betrayal. She changes her mind at the last minute because she decides she wants him to know why he is being punished. Coming to the present, Morgana awaits Doom's return to Latveria. When he arrives, she unleashes hordes of demonic beings who attack him and the Thunderbolt troops accompanying him. When it is just the two of them left standing, Morgana and Doom cast competing spells over one another until Doom is ultimately vanquished. Morgana once more stands over him ready to deliver the killing blow. Suddenly the Avengers arrive and attack her. One of Morgana's creatures brings their craft down. Osborn warns her to retreat, when she doesn't he sends Sentry to attack her and he promptly rips her head off. The team however does not savor the victory for long because the Sentry explodes and Morgana reappears. Casting a new spell, Spider-Man loses his human form and turns on Ares. Simultaneously a new army of demonic creatures appear and attack the team.

 

 
 

Notes:

  • 37 years prior to the events depicted in this issue Doom is shown to be a boy, apparently reading a book (possibly one of his mother's spell books?) I would say he looks between 5 and 10 years old, making Doom's current age ~ 42 - 47.

  • Morgana Le Fey isn't the first to travel back in time and ponder killing Victor before he becomes Doctor Doom. Johnny Storm suggested this tactic to Reed Richards in Fantastic Four #501.

  • Marvel released a number of variant covers. These included a 2nd printing and Young Guns cover.

 
   

Issue - 3

Writer - Brian Michael Bendis

Art - Mike Deodato Jr.

 

Summary:

In the past, Morgana Le Fey studies the Avengers in order to learn their weaknesses. In the present the Avengers are overwhelmed by her mystic army of monsters. A spell turns Ares into stone. Hawkeye then fires multiple arrows into Morgana which seemingly dispels her and her army. But their victory is once again temporary as Morgana returns yet again. Osborn grabs the still motionless Doom and flees the battle scene to question Doom for answers. Doom reveals that she has cast a spell which prevents him from moving. Pressing Doom for a way to defeat Morgana, he explains that they would need to go back to a point before she began her attack. Osborn appeals to Doom to allow him access to his armor's on-board time device. With Morgana gaining on them, Doom reluctantly relents and grants him access. The two then disappear. Once again in the distant past, Morgana searches for Doom's location only to find him standing right behind her with Osborn at his side.

 
 

Notes:

  • Marvel released a Young Guns variant cover

 
   

Issue - 4

Writer - Brian Michael Bendis

Art - Mike Deodato Jr.

 

Summary:

Doom and Osborn confront Morgana in her own time. Doom casts a spell and send her back to England, One Million B.C. With Morgana disposed of in the past, Doom and Osborn return to the present. Doom undoes the spell which Morgana used to turn Ares into stone. The Sentry however appears to be dead. Osborn leaves Doom with a warning that he is on his own. He cannot be seen running halfway around the world to save him. Once the Avengers have left Doom seemingly reverses the destruction of his castle with what appears to be a time cube.

 
 

Notes:

  • Not really relevant, but I noticed that Marvel isn't using BCE (Before Common Era) which is the norm being used in History these days.

  • Doom has similarly been banished to pre-historic Earth by the Marquis of Death as seen in Fantastic Four #567

  • Castle Doom is restored. It was previously destroyed in Mighty Avengers 9-11. Doom also refers to Nick Fury's destruction of a previous castle in Secret War. See also Castle Doom.

  • Marvel released a Young Guns Variant Cover

 
   

Issue - 6

Writer - Brian Michael Bendis

Art - Mike Deodato Jr. & Will Conrad

 

Summary:

Osborn calls a meeting of the Cabal to discuss a retaliation against Atlantean terrorists who attacked the West Coast. Namor refuses to aid Norman. Doom is in attendance and asks why he was called to the meeting. Norman reminds him that what affects one affect all of them. And it would have been suspicious if he had not called him.

 

Notes:

  • Cameo only

 

 

 
 

Comments:

Doom spends most of this arc out of commission. However the interplay between the "Dark" Avengers is entertaining enough to sustain your attention until the final issue when Doom finally does something. Its also great to see Morgana Le Fey really cut loose. Because this is essentially a sequel to the events seen in Mighty Avengers 9 - 11, I'm going to give it a slightly higher rating for a story in which Doom really does very little. Interesting to note that Latveria seems to be a wasteland. Doom lays the blame on Nick Fury (See Secret War) and Tony Stark (see Might Avengers 9-11) Considering that Castle Doom was supposed to sit atop Doomstadt, I wonder if we are meant to believe that all of Latveria has been decimated. This level of destruction hasn't been depicted anywhere else, least of which recent issues of Fantastic Four which show quite a big homecoming for Doom's "Master" the Marquis of Death. It also doesn't appear to be the case in Doom's Thor appearances, in the Cabal Special, not mention a few others. Bottom Line: *** out 5

 

 

Back to Present Index