Fantastic Four 581 - 588 & FF 1 -

	Issue - 581 Title - When Everything's Lost, the Battle is Won... Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Neil Edwards Summary: Somewhere, sometime, an adult Franklin Richards meets with his sister Val and grandfather Nathaniel. Together they are fixing the past the and future. Nathaniel travels into the past and visits his son, Reed Richards, while he is studying at State University. There he explains to Reed that after a freak accident, all of the Nathaniel Richards' across all realities were pulled into one universe. Immortus and the TVA ordered them killed, but allowed the Nathan's to choose which amongst them would be the only survivor. All the Nathan's proceeded to kill one another in order to survive. Finally only two remained. This Nathaniel visit Reed before meeting his other remaining self. Reed refuses to let him go without a fight. Together with Victor von Doom and Ben Grimm, the four travel to the future to face the other Nathaniel in his fortress. Notes: Reed mentions that he knows about the weapons technology that Victor is developing in secret. This was revealed in Books of Doom #2 Doom's attire in this adventure would seem to indicate that he already had his costume and armor in mind during his university days.
	Issue - 582 Title - Because of All These Things I've Done. Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Neil Edwards Summary: The battle between young Reed, Ben, and Victor against the evil Nathaniel ends with Victor delivering the fatal blow.
	Issue - 583 Title - Three, Part One: In Latveria, The Flowers Bloom in Winter Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: Valeria Richards breaks into her father's lab and learns that he has rebuilt the Bridge and met with the Council. She then escapes the Baxter Building to meet with Doctor Doom and offer him a deal. In Latveria, Doom orders Boris to summon Kristoff Vernard from exile. Following the events of Fall of the Hulks, Doom's brain has suffered serious brain damage. When Valeria appears before Doom, she offers to heal him if she will help her father. Notes: For more on Doom's brain damage, see Fall of the Hulks. This issue marks the first reappearance of Boris, Doom's longtime aide and confidant. Following his torture at the hands of King Zorba in Fantastic Four #247, he's been absent for the most part. He's present during Fantastic Four Annual #20. Then he was briefly glimpsed in Fantastic Four #374. Appearances following Fantastic Four # 379 are revealed to be Zarrko, the Tomorrow Man in disguise. Whether or not the Boris we see in 374 was Zarrko or not is debatable. I tend to think it was the real Boris as Doom is still alive at that point and would know if someone had swapped Boris out. Boris does appear in Books of Doom, but the framing story doesn't specifically state that it takes place post-Onslaught only a vague hint that it is after the Kristoff/Doom war. Doom states that Kristoff is in exile. Kristoff was denied access to Doom's castle in Tales of the Marvel Universe. He was previously seen in Spider-Man / Fantastic Four attempting to recruit the FF in a bid to retake Latveria for himself.

	Issue - 588 Title - Three, Epilogue: Month of Mourning Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Nick Dragotta Summary: In the wake of Johnny Storm's death in the Negative Zone, the team is in mourning. In Latveria, Doom abdicates his throne to Kristoff. Days later, Doom attends Johnny's funeral. Notes: Kristoff ascends to the throne of Latveria for the second time here, though this is the first time he takes it with his own name. Previously he ruled Latveria while he was programmed to believe he was the true Doctor Doom. This issue was advertised as the "final" issue. It was, at least for a time, an end to the original 1962 numbering, which was restored with the release of #600. Doom has, to date, been present at the end of all previous volumes/numberings of the Fantastic Four (vol. 1 #416, vol.2 #13, vol.3 # 71[500] and now this 588). Continues in FF #1

	Issue - 1 Title - The Club Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: Val reveals to Reed that she invited Doom to join the Future Foundation. Notes: Last page appearance only As part of joining the FF, Doom dons a white colored variation of his normal costume.

	Issue - 2 Title - Doom Nation Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: After learning that Doom is to become part of the team, Ben storms off. Meanwhile, Reed, Nathaniel, and the rest of the FF attempt to learn how to restore Doom's brain. They conclude that Doom's brain is structurally fine, but the actual data is missing. Therefore the solution is to find a back up of Doom's brain. Fortunately Kristoff's brain is a back up of Doom's. The next day the FF travel to Latveria and use Kristoff's brain to restore the missing data in Doom's. The procedure is a success. Afterwards, Doom reveals that the deal that Val made with him was to help Val defeat Reed. Notes: For more on how Kristoff's brain became a virtual back up Doom's, see Fantastic Four #278 - 279 Although Doom has been restored, Kristoff remains on the throne while Doom keeps his bargain with Val.

	Issue - 3 Title - Whatever Happend to all those Reeds? Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: The Wizard, High Evolutionary, Mad Thinker, and Diablo are invited to the foundation to symposium on how to defeat Reed Richards. Doom leads the symposium. Val explains to all that after she used Reed's Bridge to visit the Council of Reeds, she found the Council on the run from the Eternals. The last remaining Reeds escaped death by following Val home. Trapped on this Earth, the Council manipulate events in Old Atlantis, the Forever City, the Blue Area, and make a deal with Annihilus in order to find a way home. To do so, the Council plans to orchestrate a war.

	Issue - 4 Title - The Beating of Drums Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: As Reed explains to the visiting villains the level of threat the Council of Reeds pose, Susan is called away to Old Atlantis where a coup against the crown has broken out. There, one of the Council Reeds accompanies the Mole Man as his creatures attack the city.

	Issue - 5 Title - The Sound of War Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Barry Kitson Summary: Reed and the gathering of villains learn from Val that they plan on building a machine from pieces of four different cities. Among them is the city of Old Atlantis which Reed learns that Susan has just left to in order to stop a revolt. The the ensuing battle results in the destruction of the city. Notes: Cameo only

	Issue - 6 Title - Two Kings Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Greg Tocchini Notes: Not an appearance

	Issue - 7 Title - The Supremor Seed Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Greg Tocchini Notes: Not an appearance

	Issue - 8 Title - Ascension Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: Reed, the FF, and his team of villains travel to the Forever City and see that Attilan has returned. While the High Evolutionary works on disabling his engine, the others battle denizens of the city to reach the Council Reeds. Reed is taken out of the battle when Medusa and Lockjaw teleport him to their city. Meanwhile, Doom manages to hold one of the Council Reeds in his grasp until Diablo and the Mad Thinker betray him. Notes: Doom and Diablo have fought before. See Marvel Super-Heroes #20

	Issue - 9 Title - Burn it Down Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: In the city of Attilan, Reed is told by the Inhumans that they will take care of defeating the Council Reeds. They hold one in their prison and have learned of their plans. Their strategy however involves engaging in total war against the Forever City and its inhabitants. Meanwhile, Doom fights back the Wizard until he is forced to flee. Inhumans surround and apprehend the Council Reed he had previously defeated. Doom then glimpses in the distance the last remaining Council Reed. Before he can sneak up on him, the Council Reed turns the tables on Doom eventually placing a collar on him that can render him a vegetable. Together they leave for Latveria. Meanwhile, with the battle over the Forever City over, Black Bolt dismisses Reed. Reed, Spider-Man, and Nathaniel exit via Eldrac, the door which takes those who pass through it where they need to be. Notes: Doom mentions he has "burned before," a reference to the accident which scarred him (Fantastic Four #5) and of course his various trips to hell (see Authoritative Action, Fantastic Four # , and of course Triumph and Torment) The Council Reed mentions that their stalemate will continue as long as he can imagine being brain-damaged. Doom of course has just been cured of such a condition.

	Issue - 10 Title - What I Need Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Barry Kitson Summary: After stepping through the door, Reed arrives back at the Baxter Building where Sue convinces him to have no more villains in the house. Spider-Man arrives at the Avengers mansion where he talks Thing into going home. Nathaniel is taken to Latveria where he believes the last remaining Council Reed needs him. Unknown to them all, Ronan the Accuser has brought the Kree fleet to Earth. Finally, Thing returns to the Baxter Building and has brought the Avengers along with him. Notes: Cameo only

	Issue - 11 Title - Intelligence Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Barry Kitson Summary: Val and the other kids fit the top three floors of the Baxter Building with a translocater in case they need to escape in an emergency. Reed gathers an army of heroes. Ronan uses the bodies of two Council Reeds to resurrect the Supreme Intelligence. Notes: Not an appearance Continues in Fantastic Four #600

	Issue - 600 Title - Forever Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Steve Epting Summary: The Kree armada attack the planet in full force. In New York, Earth heroes wage a fierce battle. Meanwhile, in Latveria, Nathaniel asks Kristoff to allow the Council Reed free access to Doom's resources. At the same time, the Cult of the Negative Zone make a run for the Negative Zone door so that they can open it and allow Annhilus to cross over. The FF kids activate the translocater to escape the attack of the Cult, but the Negative Zone door remains behind. Spider-Man attempts to stop the Cult from opening the door, but he's too late. When the door opens, to his surprise, Johnny Storm walks through holding Annihilus on a leash. Notes: Panel appearance only

	Issue - 12 Title - Too Many Kids Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Juan Bobilo Summary: Following the attack by the Cult of Zero, Val translocates the top three floors of the Baxter Building to Latveria. The Council Reed observes their arrival. Nathaniel asks Kristoff to deliver the children to the castle. Once the children arrive, the Council Reed explains that he wants to go home. Doom agrees to lend him his army of Doombots, but only if he releases the collar. The Council Reed agrees. As they all prepare to cross The Bridge, Val secretly grabs the Ultimate Nullifier from its vault.

	Issue - 13 Title - Too Many Kids Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Juan Bobilo Summary: Led by the last of the Council of Reeds, the FF kids cross the Bridge. There they see the former base of the Reeds guarded by the 'Mad' Celestials. Kristoff leads his army of Doombots in attack against them. The battle escalates, Kristoff demands that Reed release Doom. Reed refuses until Val threatens him with the Ultimate Nulifier. The Celestials jam open the Bridge forcing them to retreat back to Latveria and find a way to either close it or destroy it. Doom chooses to remain behind with Reed to give Val and the others the time they need to seal off the Bridge.
	Issue - 14 Title - 27 Minutes Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Juan Bobilo Summary: At the cost of his life, Doom holds the Mad Celestials back for 27 minutes.
	Issue - 15 Title - The One Where the Power Pack Shows Up Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Nick Dragotta The final chapter for the Council of Reeds! Guest-starring the Power Pack! Notes: Not an appearance Cameo by Kristoff
	Issue - 16 Title - One Step Beyond Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Nick Dragotta & Steve Epting The fallout of the FOREVER and the DOOM storylines. A bold new direction for the Future Foundation and Marvel’s first family. Notes: Doom obtains an Infinity Gauntlets from an alternate dimension. Doom's story is continued in Fantastic Four #611.
	Issue - 611 Title - Foundation Writer - Jonathan Hickman Art - Ryan Stegman Summary: Doom travels to the home dimension that is aligned with his twin Infinity Gauntlet. He finds an empty void in which he creates. The world he creates however is in his own image. Split between science and magic. The beings which he creates rebel and overthrow him. Elsewhere, Val senses his danger and tells Reed that they must rescue him. Reed and his father, Nathaniel, journey to Doom World, the only planet in the universe and plead for Doom before the ruling council of six. Five agree to release Doom. The sixth unleashes a beast to kill Doom. The beast chases them through the bridge leading to their home universe. As it comes through, the hoards of lobotomized Doom's beat it back allowing Reed, Nathaniel, and Doom to escape. Once they are free, Val destroys the bridge to the Doom World universe. Back in his home universe, after experiencing God-hood first hand, Doom concedes that he and Reed are even. Notes: Another "final" issue using the original numbering. And once again, Doom is present.
	Comments: Jonathan Hickman's Fantastic Four run is truly a feat that must be read in its entirety. Spanning four years and two titles, epic is the only word to describe it. Overall Hickman did Doom fans many favors. First, he undid the damage done to the character during the Fall of the Hulks debacle. Second, he restored Kristoff to Doom's side. Third, and most important of all, he wrote the real Doom. He gives us readers a Doom who knows what honor is. Does he want power? Yes. Is he a villain? Yes. Is he perfect? No. Nor should he be. Fantastic Four #611 is a fantastic (pun not intended) study of the character. Though the outcome is one that has been explored many times before (Emperor Doom, Doom: The Emperor Returns), Hickman does it with a unique flair that shines through. Although Doom is only one small part of Hickman's overall story, and this arc comes with some serious required reading to understand the whole...its highly recommended for Doom fans. *Bottom Line: * * * * out of 5**