Issue
– 1
Issue
– 1
Writer – Tom DeFalco
Art – Rick Leonardi
Summary:
In the aftermath of the Fantastic Four's demise at the hands of Onslaught, Nathaniel Richards shuts down Fantastic Four Inc. and prepares to hide Reed's technology from the US government. When government official T. Barton Burrthrop arrives to claim the property, he is shocked to find the building is completely empty. The Burrthrop storms off vowing to track down Reed's "missing" property. Nathaniel then leaves for Latveria with Kristoff, secure in the knowledge that his son's inventions are safely hidden in a small pocket in the Negative Zone. Kristoff and Nathanial arrive in Latveria outside Doom's castle. As his only declared heir, Kristoff intends to take Doom's place on the throne. However guardsmen appear and bar him from entering the castle. Together with Nathaniel, he attempts to gain access until Doom himself appears. Though Kristoff is certain that it is no more than a Doombot, the crowded people of Doomstadt believe otherwise. Furious that he has been denied his inheritance, Kristoff flies off vowing vengeance. Nathaniel watches him go and decides that to secure Doom's technology he must return with back up. Elsewhere in Latveria, Dimitri, grandson of the ruler who Doom deposed years ago, receives a message that Doom is dead. He decides that now is the time to retake the throne. Still elsewhere, the Dreadknight also gets word of Doom's demise and makes plans of his own to take over Latveria. Finally, SHIELD Director G.W. Bridge gets a message of his own warning that various factions are plotting to take over Latveria. Bridge decides that SHIELD must intervene. From a hidden bunker, Kristoff has sent messages to both of these individual and now monitors the situation waiting for his moment to strike.
Notes:
Not an actual appearance
Issue
– 63
Title – Wish You Were Here
Writer – John Francis Moore
Art – Anthony Castrillo
Summary:
The Mutant known as Meltdown awakens in the town of Liddleville with no memory of how she got there. There she meets Dimitri Fortunov. Eventually she recalls that she was on a mission with X-Force to break into Dr. Doom’s castle and destroy his Time Platform. With the aid of Nathaniel Richards the team made it in, but they were confronted by robot servitors. One of the guards knocked Meltdown out. Dimitri explains that he came to the castle because it once belonged to his family. His grandfather was the Baron Doom overthrew. The two suddenly hear Cable’s voice and realize that they are in a miniature town. Cable and the others release Meltdown and Dimitri and make their way to the platform. In the chamber they run into GW Bridge and a pair of SHIELD agents. Bridge is claiming the platform under UN authority. Dmitri suddenly pulls a grenade and one of the SHIELD agents shoot him. The resultant blast activates the platform. At a nearby Zefiro camp, other members of the X-Force team stand as back up. They are shocked to find that the castle suddenly disappears.
Notes:
Issue
– 64
Title – The Haunting of Castle Doom
Writer – John Francis Moore
Art – Anthony Castrillo & Mark Pajarillo
Summary:
Shaken by the explosion of the Time Platform, Siryn and Meltdown search for the other members of their team. They quickly find Rictor and Shatterstar. Meanwhile Cable, Bridge, Nathaniel, and Dimitri awaken in the castle cellar. After Nathaniel determines that they are in the year 1941, they begin their search for the others. Elsewhere in the castle, Baron Tristian Sabbat meets with Baron von Strucker. Sabbat is allowing Strucker to use the castle for scientific experiments. Bridge’s two SHIELD agents overheard that Strucker’s people are perfecting a device to harness energy from the atmosphere. The two deliver this info to the others. Realizing that the device will interfere with them getting home, they all agree to put a stop to the experiments. Along the way, Dimitri and Meltdown manage to put a stop to an assassination attempt on his grandfather. Once the team destroy Strucker’s machine, the interference is gone and they return home. Back in their own time, the castle reappears as do they. Finally, under Bridge’s protestations, Cable destroys the controls of the platform.
Notes:
Not an appearance
Dimitri Fortunov’s grandfather is Baron Tristian Mangegi De Sabbat. He is identified as “the Baron” whom Doom deposed to take over Latveria.
Baron Sabbat exchanged use of Castle Sabbat as a Nazi
base for science experiments in order to avoid Nazi invasion or occupation.
Issue
- 16
Title - The Wages of Conquest
Writer - Mark Bernardo
Art - Joe Bennett
Summary:
Following on a tip supplied by Ben Urich, Spider-Man catches smugglers from Latveria loading advanced weaponry to take back to Latveria. After stopping them, Spider-Man returns to the Daily Bugle with pictures of the event to sell as Peter Parker. Arriving at the Bugle, Peter learns that Betty Brant, on special assignment to Latveria, has been captured by revolutionary forces running the country. The unknown leader has declared that she will be publicly executed. Peter returns home racking his brain to find a way to reach Latveria when the opportunity presents itself. Silver Sable invites Spider-Man to join her latest contract, she's been hired by the Zefiro to stamp out the Latverian revolt. Spider-Man accepts the offer. On their way, Sable briefs Spider-Man and her Pack that the leader is Dreadknight. The plan is to have the pack attempt a frontal assault while she and Spider-Man sneak in to disable the generator which powers Dreadknight's weapons. As the Wild Pack attack, Betty is able to overpower her guard and escape. As she tries to find a way out she runs into Dreadknight. Luckily Spider-Man arrives. The two do battle until electrically charged coil's from Dreadknight's lance connect with his own power source and fry his armor. With Dreadknight defeated, his forces surrender and the rebellion is over. Spider-Man and Betty return to New York.
Notes:
Not an actual appearance
Doom has programmed his Doombots to protect the Zefiro in his absence.
Dreadknight's coup was funded by Roxxon.
It is unclear who is running Latveria following this. Mention is made of an interim government.
Foreign attempts to take over Latveria did not end here. See Blood Brothers.
Comments:
Together, all of the issues above illustrate an important and chaotic period in Latverian history. Doom was not yet back from the Heroes Reborn universe and everybody and their uncle wanted a piece of Latveria. The idea of different factions trying their hands at getting Latveria is interesting. I almost wish that this had been explored again during Doom's recent sojourn in hell...other than the FF taking over in Authoritative Action of course. The biggest shame here is that the one thread which tied all of these separate events together was either forgotten or dismissed...Kristoff! He was the one who told all of these people about Doom being dead back in Tales of the Marvel Universe. Unfortunately he doesn't show up, ever...again. Well, at least to date.