Issue
- 1
Issue
- 1
Title - A Knight in Hell
Writer - David Michelinie / Bob Layton
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
While Tony Stark is melting down his old armors for recycling, he goes over video logs recorded from his armor. As he reviews one in particular, he is shocked to view an encounter with Dr. Doom that he does not remember. Suddenly the memories come flooding back. He begins to recall that on that day he was in orbit working on a SI satelitte. Doom appeared to him as a hologram stating that he must visit him in Latveria because lives depended upon it. As Iron Man he traveled to Doom's castle where Doom explained the reason for his calling. He has discovered that Mephisto has found a way to bring about the End of Days and he wants Iron Man's help based on their previous trip back in time. Using his Time Cube, Doom and Iron Man traverse into Hell. Fighting their way into Mephisto's lair, Doom promptly exchanges Iron Man for a small metal shard. Doom exits and Mephisto reveals to Iron Man that Doom traded him for the shard. He is now trapped in Hell, forever.
Notes:
If we are to assume that this
adventure takes place either shortly before or after Iron Man #249-250, then
Doom's reference to "the 'people's government" must be a reference to
Kristoff's regime. Though considering that Kristoff believed and acted as
Doom, his regime hardly seems to fit the bill of a "people's government."
King Zorba's brief reign (1978-1982) is a better fit. It may be possible
that Michelinie and Layton got their continuity mixed up. This is
understandable considering that 1) they worked on the series nearly 20 years
ago 2) Doom was out of power a lot in this period (hence the name of the
section) and it could get confusing. I have always found it coincidental
that on both (now all three) occasions that Michelinie and Layton have
written these Iron Man and Doom encounters, Doom is always dethroned. Even
more ironic is that now with this third installment of the Camelot trilogy,
Doom has just been arrested by SHIELD and is no longer in power.
This is not the first time Doom has bargained with Mephisto. He first bargained with him to battle for his mother's soul on a yearly basis (Astonishing Tales #8). This is also not the first time that Doom has offered Mephisto a soul. He previously offered the soul of Franklin Richards in exchange for that of his mother's (Fantastic Four Annual #20). Later he also exchanged with the demons Haazareth the soul of his former lover Valeria for increased mystical power (Unthinkable).
Issue
- 2
Title - Knight of the Living Dad
Writer - David Michelinie / Bob Layton
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
In Doom's Latverian castle, he holds Morgana Le Fay captive in a mystic cage. He gives her a choice, perform an incantation he needs which requires Pendragon blood or he will give her over to Mephisto as a possession. Meanwhile, in Hell, Iron Man is forced to fight his father, Howard Stark, in demonic form. Back in Doom's lair, Morgana casts a spell which fuses Doom's armor with the shard from Excalibur. After casting the spell, Doom sends Morgana back to her confinement in the Land of Gor. As Iron Man fights against his father, he must also overcome his father's taunts. Armed with his own armor, the demon Howard pummels Iron Man. But eventually Iron Man gets the upper hand and overcomes his father. Using technology from the demon Howard's armor, Iron Man is able to keep Mephisto's minions at bay. Finally he manages to activate the trigger which Doom has previously provided to return home. Reappearing in Doom's castle, Doom is not surprised to see Iron Man return. Iron Man is poised to take on Doom when he suddenly reveals a sword which easily cuts through his armor. Doom reveals that the sword is none other than Excalibur, and with it, he is invincible.
Notes:
This would mark the first time that Doom has wielded Excalibur. He attempted to lift it in Iron Man #250.
Issue - 3
Title - Knight Games
Writer - David Michelinie / Bob Layton
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
Armed with Excalibur, Doom proves too much for Iron Man who is extremely depowered from his sojourn in Hell. After using Doom's own Time Platform against him, Iron Man flees battle in order to recuperate. Doom decides not to pursue because of more important matters. Elsewhere, Stark Industries scientist review information from one of SI's satellites and finds that stars are beginning to move, as if something were headed towards Earth. While trying to rest for his next encounter with Doom, Iron Man is visited by Merlin. The sorceror reveals that as King Arthur's chosen champion, he must travel to Ballanayr Plain in Scotland and prevent Doom from completing his power and getting the Excalibur Scabbard. Traveling there, Iron Man finds a stone circle similar to Stonehenge. When Doom suddenly arrives, the circle becomes active. Trapped inside the circle, the scabbard appeared to both of them in reflections, but not in the real life. After breaking one of the reflections, Doom unleashes an army of stone knights which attack them both. Later Iron Man accidentally breaks another reflection unleashing a beast made of liquid tentacles. Using the last vestiges of his power, Iron Man disperses all their foes. Finally, he sees that one reflection is not reverse but shows a true image. Dashing for it, Iron Man reaches the scabbard before Doom. With scabbard in hand, Iron Man's armor is transformed. Doom then calls Iron Man's attention skyward. A giant eye appears breaking through the clouds and Doom reveals that he has damned them all.
Notes:
Issue - 4
Title - Knightmare's End
Writer - David Michelinie / Bob Layton
Art - Ron Lim
Summary:
Iron Man and Doom watch anxiously as their joint foe is revealed. A massive humanoid form made up entirely of eye-balls. Together they engage the monster, but soon it begins to move toward a nearby populated city. The two manage to get a reprieve in the battle by causing the creature to fall into a crater in the ground, created by the magic of Excalibur. Doom takes this moment to explain. In his search for greater mystic knowledge, he stole a tome from the beast which they now pursue. The beast swore revenge and has come to take it. Doom bargained with Mephisto in order to get Excalibur and the scabbard to have the power to defeat it. Doom's tale is interrupted when the beast rises from the crater and begins anew its attack on nearby people. Merlin appears to the two and explains that Excalibur is still the answer. In order to win, Doom must put the sword into the scabbard. Iron Man reluctantly agrees and allows Doom to drive Excalibur into him. With sword and scabbard together, the beast is defeated. Both Doom and Iron Man are returned to their normal forms. Merlin appears once more to reveal that he will return Excallibur to the Lady of the Lake and that no one will remember the truth of what has happened. Iron Man is surprised that Merlin would wipe his memory, but the sorceror explains that all things change in time, even heroes. In the present, Tony Stark's memory of these events is finally restored. Lingering however is how hurt he feels that Merlin would not trust him. Tony decides to buy the land surrounding the lake in which the Lady of the Lake resides and plans to have a mall built over it. In the plans, he stipulates that the lake be untouched and hidden underneath. By doing so, he hopes to send a message to Merlin that he can indeed be trusted.
Comments:
A fantastic end to a fun trilogy. This limited series ties threads from both previous installments. Admittedly I think it drags a bit in some places, but frankly the fantastic art by Ron Lim and Bob Layton more than make up for any dull spots in the story. Story-wise, the series succeeds in giving Iron Man / Tony some very good character moments keeping in mind that any developments here could not be big ones seeing how the bulk of the story is a flashback to years ago. Particularly I enjoyed the fact that his father is the villain in issue 2 and the moment where he must trust Doom in issue 4. Something else I enjoyed was having Doom in the hands of someone who knows how to write the character. Doom can be villainous but honorable. Doom swore to strike again one day and did indeed do so in issue one of this series. But as we learn in issue 4, it was also to serve his purpose to protect his people. I thought it was wonderful how everything all added up. Art-wise, as I've said, Lim and Layton do an amazing job. Both Doom and Iron Man have not looked this good in years if you ask me. The new interpretations on their armors were welcome additions. Frankly, after seeing Doom in that black armor, I wouldn't mind if he adopted it permanently. He looked really cool. Bottom Line ***** out of 5
Notes: