Issue - 7
Writer - Warren Ellis

Art- Stuart Immonen

 

Summary:

Two months have passed since the accident which gave them their powers, Reed ponders on the fate of Victor Van Damme who has not been seen since. He also redoubles his efforts to reverse the conditions of his teammates. Sue however wants him to stop working so that she can examine his condition as well. After some convincing he agrees and she makes several discoveries, not the least of which is that he has no internal organs. Elsewhere, Van Damme recollects his youth and the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. He recollects also his heritage which dates back to Vlad Dracula, the infamous Impaler which inspired so many myths about vampirism. Van Damme struggles to work on a small device but his hands are no longer as precise. He curses Richards for his condition and reveals that his body has been turned into a kind of armor.

 

 

 

Comments:
The name of this story arc is 'Doom.' Thus Victor van Damme is being advertised as the Dr. Doom of the Ultimate universe, or in other words, Ultimate Doom. I think that this Ultimate Doom is emblematic of the problem with the Ultimate universe, sliding time, and updating characters in general. Victor van Damme, whom I don't ruin anything by saying never calls himself Doctor Doom, is so far flung from his original source material, I question the soundness of having called this story 'Doom.' Aside from the obvious change of name, his background is completely different. Victor von Doom was born a gypsy, living a hard life under constant persecution. Victor van Damme on the other is descended from nobility and clearly led a life without financial wants. Granted he lived under persecution from an abusive father, but this breeds a different kind of man with a different set of issues. While a well written comic, I feel I can't recommend this Ultimate Doom to veterans. While straying far from the source may be the idea, its not my cup of tea or my idea of fun reading. Bottom Line: ** out of 5

 

 

Issue - 8
Writer - Warren Ellis

Art- Stuart Immonen

 

Summary:

An exchange student studying in Copenhagen meets a native who encourages him to visit the 'Keep,' a self made community built in a PAZ [Permanent Autonomous Zone]. The zone is being led by none other than Victor van Damme. In the Baxter Building, Reed and Sue continue their examinations of Ben and begin to test his strength. Suddenly the building comes under attack by a horde of mechanical insects. Lunching a nearby, Johnny Storm sees this and flies to aid his teammates. Inside, one of the insects directs its attack on Reed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

Damme hardly makes an appearance here. The focus is on Reed and Sue's examining Ben. Ellis manages to capture a bit of light humor between the group which is welcome. Something I do like is Ellis' focus on keeping the science reasonable. The explanation for the accident is surprisingly understandable. I was also happy to Johnny using his brain while imparting a little bit of science for the younger readers of the book. The pace is obviously in the 'writing for the trade' style so as a monthly buyer I would have been supremely disappointed. The cliffhanger especially I found devoid of suspense what so ever. Bottom Line: * out of 5

 

Issue - 9
Writer - Warren Ellis

Art- Stuart Immonen

 

Summary:

The four rush through the building in order to find Dr. Storm, Sue and Johnny's father, but instead find out that the side of the building he's in has been quarantined. Locked out, the four form a plan to incinerate the army of insects. Drawing them together in one room, Johnny is left with the insect and begins to generate heat at maximum levels. The result is all the remaining insects are destroyed. After studying the remains of one of the insects, Reed discovers that they were built by Victor van Damme.

 

Comments:

An action packed issue comprised of the team running through corridors. Sort of reminded me of Doctor Who in that sense. A fine issue although van Damme is a no show save for a brief [and somewhat pointless] flashback. Once more, the 'writing for the trade' style harms the monthly installments. The reader knowing that van Damme was the one who unleashed the insect last issue make this issue's cliffhanger even worse. Bottom Line: * out of 5
 

 

 

 

Issue - 10
Writer - Warren Ellis

Art- Stuart Immonen

 

Summary:
Reed and Dr. Storm discuss the new development that they now know that van Damme is alive and trying to kill them. By dissecting the robot insects Reed was able to track his location, Denmark. The fact that van Damme changed the specifications on the N-Zone device which changed them, means that he may hold the key to reversing their conditions. This makes Reed want to go after him. However Dr. Storm reminds him that the military must be the one to bring him in. Undeterred, Reed recruits the others to go out in his 'Fantasticar' in order to get van Damme. Meanwhile, van Damme reviews the flight records of his insects and sees that they have failed. He then deduces that Reed will no doubt track his location. In a fit of anger he kills one of his loyalists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

In the one issue so far, where we see more of van Damme, remarkably less happens than in any of the previous issues. Literally most of the issue takes place in a hanger bay with the four talking. The opening conversation between Reed and Dr. Storm is also somewhat superfluous seeing how it covers information we already know or dabbles in pointless theories such as Reed considering that Doom might not have been changed. The highlight of the issue is van Damme's inducting a new settler into his community. His speech about the freedom he offers and the loyalty he commands is at least echoing Doom's own claims in the 616 universe for Latveria. Damme's subsequent attack on his new inductee is probably the most exciting chilling panel in the whole arc so far. Bottom Line: ** out of 5

 

 

 

Issue - 11
Writer - Warren Ellis

Art- Stuart Immonen

 

Summary:

Reed and company travel in the Fantasticar and head towards Denmark. Van Damme meanwhile rallies the people of the Keep on his side by telling them that the Americans want to take him away in chains. When the group arrives, van Damme greets them by shooting them down with a rocket launcher. The group crash lands into a building which quickly crumbles on top of them. After escaping the rubble, van Damme begins to defeat each of them in tandem. Johnny he impales with blades formed from his own skin. Ben he takes down with another rocket, and Sue he suffocates with poison gas released from his breath. Finally Reed steps onto the scene to confront van Damme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

I found this issue to be the best so far because it balances between action and non-action sequences. Issue #9 was really just a big action scene. Here we get action but we also get a few character moments such as Doom rallying the people and Reed's little gift for Sue. The action at the end is great. Doom's abilities are finally shown and prove to be gruesome. I'm not fond of the idea that Doom should have 'powers.' While in certain respects it brings Reed and Damme closer to being to sides of the different coin, it doesn't sit well with me. The dialog in the fight excellent in its simplicity. "Here. Shooting you in the chest." The cliffhanger is again nothing to write home about, however its better than what's come before. While I don't hold the Ultimate universe in high regard, I feel that for those curious about the 'Ultimate Doom', I can recommend this issue. Bottom Line: **** out of 5

 

 

 

Issue - 12
Writer - Warren Ellis

Art- Stuart Immonen

 

Summary:

Reed surprises Damme with his stretching abilities and promptly defeats him. The others regroup and each bring their own abilities into keeping Damme down. Eventually Damme reveals that he has all of the settlers in the Keep under his control via a cybernetic micro-fiber embedded in all their necks in the form of a dragon tattoo. While Reed attempts to override the signal, the others fend off the now zombie-fied settlers. Before Reed can break Damme's signal, the US army arrives to take all five of them back to America. However the intervention of the Danish army prevents them by citing their unlawful entry into their country. The team and the army have no choice but to withdraw. Damme gloats at Reed by telling him that he will never reveal to him the information he has which can reverse their conditions. As Reed leaves, he finds a thorn made form Damme's skin. Picking it up, he then uses it to slash his face leaving a permanent scar. Damme is left alone, deserted by his people who have now seen him for who he is.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments:

The Ultimate 'Doom' arc comes to a close. The issue itself is great. Being the last part, there's no more room for slow paced storytelling. We get to see a lot of nice team work on the FF's part which is good. Damme is allowed to rant madly which is great so that the reader can get a better idea of what makes this character tick. Overall the only problem I have with the issue is that the character is supposed to be some sort of equivalent to the 616 Doom. Perhaps if I stopped comparing him to his supposed counterpart, I could enjoy the story better. Unfortunately the story is called 'Doom' and the comic is called Ultimate Fantastic Four, so it sets itself up for comparisons. As Victor van Damme rants and raves about how he knows his lineage after it being beaten into him as a child and he calls to his abusive father for acceptance I realize why Warren Ellis* perhaps why the character's name was changed.  While the name may not have been best, I think I know why. Readers should not look at this as the Ultimate Victor von Doom. This is Victor van Damme. At least that's what I hope and will keep on telling myself. While I really don't like the Ultimate imprint, this is nonetheless supposedly an alternate version of Doom. My recommendation to any that are curious, either buy issues #11 & 12 if you can find them for less than $12.99 or just buy the trade for that price. Bottom Line: **** out of 5

Notes:

 

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