Issue-1-3
Writer-Chuck Dixon
Penciler-Leo Manco
Summary:
In the aftermath of the events from
FF# 31[vol3] Doom returns to Planet Doom expecting a warm welcome. What he gets
is total revolution. While holding off the defenses to his base, Doom discovers
that the interior of Planet Doom is a giant computer. Plugging himself in, Doom
discovers that the computer is a replica of Franklin Richard's mind. Doom tricks
the computer Franklin into handing over control of the planet to him. In doing
so Doom creates a paradise in his eyes. Bored with his paradise, Doom finds
challenge in trying to restore his mother's soul to her (recreated) body. At
first thwarted, Doom decides that his chances might be better if can try to
reach her from planet Earth. Taking her body with him, Doom then begins his
journey back to Earth via the Negative Zone. Along the way he encounters
pilgrims which he must first trick into replacing his damaged craft. Having
thought to have destroyed him back on Planet Doom, Doom is surprised to find the
computer Franklin Richards foiling his plans. Discovering that the computer
Franklin is living inside his armor, Doom must purge his systems in order to
destory the annoying child. In doing so, he also destroys his mother. Doom
finally arrives on Earth but in the Baxter Building, home of the FF.
Comments:
An interesting read, but try not to think to hard about the
plot. In fact, read it once, ONCE. If you have to read it more than once you
might end up seeing the same problems I did. Or maybe I'm a nitpicker. The art
is fabulous. Leo Manco is one of my fav MARVEL artists in recent history. In
fact it is safe to say that the art saves the series. The writing although well
done, bothers me in that it contradicts or throws out not only long since
established continuity but also recent. My first problem, Doom is twice the ass
he was in the previous series. He has one endearing dialogue with Lancer that
only serves to tick you off when you find out that her character is essentially
ditched at the end of the series. Second, if Doom turns the world into a
paradise, why has he programmed his utopia to include subjects that must be
forced to appear happy to see him? A fact that is genuinely contradicted when
you consider that while Reed posed as Doom in the pages of the FF, the Latvarian
public were happy for their monarch to return. Third, Doom is forced to travel
through the Negative Zone because it is alluded to that a robot posed as Doom
self destructed inside Castle Doom and destroys the teleport pad. When does this
happen? Did it happen? Why? Fourth, the series ends with Doom coming out of the
Zone and into the FF's headquarters...when does this happen or get picked up?
Was this supposed to be picked up in the pages of the FF or was it picked up
somewhere else, or maybe it was just Chuck Dixon messing with us? Fifth and
finally, the whole plot of Doom trying to restore his mother's
soul contradicts Triumph and Torment where he did that already. In
brief, the three issue run is enjoyable but somewhat disappointing when
compared to the first Dixon series.
Bottom Line: ** out of 5
Notes: