Only a few characters in modern superhero comics are as entertaining as Doctor Doom, which is why it’s an exciting week as Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene team up on Doom #1. The new extra-sized one-shot details a final battle between Doom and Galactus in a time and place where Dr. Doom is our only hope. This is a must-read for folks who enjoyed Hickman’s excellent past run on Fantastic Four, but it takes the cake, thanks to the incredible art.
Doom #1 opens with a shot of the cosmos as space burns and planets fly by. We soon push in on Dr. Doom’s mouth and see his body ravaged and broken, hovering through space. He lost whatever battle he was in and is likely dead. Soon, Valeria Richards finds him and nurses him back to health. She’s a bit older and has witnessed incredibly awful things. Every hero dies, and Dr. Doom is the universe’s only hope.
The standout when reading this book is the art. There are cool sci-fi visuals, epic fights with Galactus scarier than ever, and tons of cool energy effects. Colors by Greene and Rachelle Rosenberg pop and lean into the comic book brightness one can hope for with cosmic stories. Greene stretches the pages with cool layout choices, forcing you to turn the entire comic on one page or split a page with diagonal panels that convey energy blasts.
Doctor Doom is rendered in a way that’s as if he’s not human at all but a burned body, not unlike Darth Vader. Some of the best art involves every superhero Marvel’s got, with two double-page splashes filled with many characters. Greene captures an epic final battle well and does it justice.
Doom ain’t looking good.
Credit: Marvel
As far as the plot, this story is rather simple. Valeria needs Dr. Doom to stop a hungrier and more tenacious Galactus than ever. Much of the issue recaps how we got here, but there’s little conflict from Dr. Doom’s side. He’s been given another chance to fight Galactus, and fighting him again is the only option. A large chunk of the story is captioned with Doom’s thoughts on the inevitability of death and the end, but it doesn’t mean much. It’s almost like a madman talking in circles with very little effect.
Doom #1 is a visual delight, offering the end of every superhero and a final battle with Galactus in one issue. Dr. Doom emerges from this story as a man who sees himself as the inevitable end for anyone who faces him. He rambles a bit too much, but you can’t deny how epic and awesome this story can get.
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