What happens when a superhero team is tasked with enforcing the rule of one of the most infamous villains in the Marvel Universe? In Doom’s Division, writer Yoon Ha Lee places Tiger Division in the service of Doctor Doom, forcing the team to grapple with a reality where justice and loyalty collide under the iron-fisted rule of Latveria’s sovereign.
In this exclusive interview, Yoon Ha Lee delves into the themes and challenges of Doom’s Division.
The Cost of Heroism
For Lee, this central conflict is rooted in a question that drives much of his storytelling: “But at what cost?” he asks. “You can have world peace, but at what cost? You can make the villain combust, but at what cost? You can have white chocolate pecan bread pudding for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but at what cost? (I may be projecting.)”
That dilemma isn’t unique to Doom’s world; it’s a reflection of our own. “That’s the dilemma faced by people in a world under Doom’s rule because it’s the same dilemma we all face, in some form or another, every day in our world.”
Political Intrigue and Tactical Complexity
As a writer renowned for his intricate political and military narratives in Machineries of Empire, Lee was well-prepared to navigate the complexities of Tiger Division’s role in Doom’s regime.
“Keeping track of multiple competing players and their agendas, and who’s telling the truth about their goals!” he explains. “There’s a character in that trilogy who lies constantly… but sometimes the truth slips out, so I had to know, for every single line of dialogue, whether it was true or false, to what degree, and for what reason the truth/falsehood was spoken. Let’s just say that experience came in handy when it came to plotting for Doom’s Division!”
Expanding the Team
Adding to this complexity is the expanded lineup of the team. Their presence, Lee says, adds further layers to the story.
“The ideal of a Pan-Asian super hero team-up doesn’t only contend with old national/cultural alliances and rivalries, but personal relationships as well,” he notes. “Beyond that, Doom’s rule does span the world in ways that bring people from disparate backgrounds together in unexpected ways, whether that has to do with the latest K-pop hit single, delicious gimchi, or adorable yet deadly robots.”
Doom’s Influence on Tiger Division
But it’s Doom himself who casts the longest shadow over the series. As Tiger Division operates under his command, its leaders, White Fox and Taegukgi, must tread carefully.
Lee references a Korean proverb to illustrate their predicament: “There’s a Korean saying I learned once: a shrimp between two whales, referring to the peninsula’s precarious geostrategic position between China and Japan, or later, powers further afield. I don’t imagine White Fox or Taegukgi, as people involved with national security, wouldn’t understand how carefully they might need to tread around a figure of Doctor Doom’s stature and reach.”
Internal Conflict and Ideological Divides
Internal tensions within the team will also come to the forefront, as some heroes may be more willing to accept Doom’s rule than others. “We’ll see some hard discussions and harder decisions along those lines!” Lee teases.
“One thing I kept in mind as I wrote each character is that everyone on the team has a commitment to mercy, justice… heroism. But each character defines those qualities differently, each character is willing to make different compromises (if any), each character has different specific goals and means within that shared commitment. Sometimes this bifurcation looks like a weakness. I like to think that having varied perspectives—different lenses on the world, its problems, ways to address those problems—can be more of a strength.”
Sunfire’s Role and Perspective
Sunfire’s involvement adds yet another dynamic to the mix, given his history with both Japan and mutantkind.
“I don’t think anyone’s surprised that Sunfire has strong opinions!” Lee says. “Nor is he someone to sit back when he sees a course of action. I like to imagine that getting pwned by Sunfire in Mechabellum (my latest strategy videogame addiction!) would be a masterclass in adaptive strategy.”
Personal Influences and Marvel Inspirations
Beyond the political intrigue and superhero spectacle, Doom’s Division holds personal significance for Lee. Marvel comics played a formative role in his high school years, and he recalls how a certain blue-furred X-Man made a lasting impression.
“One of my favorite characters from the joyfully out-of-order comics that my friend Lauren would share during high school was Nightcrawler. I didn’t learn more about his backstory until I went to college in the US, but what I loved about him was that here was someone condemned and feared for his devil-like physical appearance, but who never, ever gave up on compassion or hope or kindness.”
Korean Representation and Cultural Details
This balance between darkness and hope extends to how Lee approached Korean representation in Doom’s Division.
“In this case, I took my cues from the team behind the original run of Tiger Division! I remember bursting into happy tears upon seeing the very first panel of the first issue, which has an establishing shot of the Han River. I lived in Seoul for half my childhood and I’ve seen that view.” He adds, “Alongside the elements that readers would recognize as ‘overtly’ Korean, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the original Tiger Division by adding small details that would ring true for readers, whatever their background, who are versed in the culture.”
Final Thoughts: The Heroism Question
With Doom’s Division, Yoon Ha Lee isn’t just exploring what it means to enforce Doom’s vision—he’s asking deeper questions about power, morality, and what it truly means to be a hero. And as readers follow Tiger Division’s path under Doom’s rule, they may find themselves asking the same question that guides so much of Lee’s storytelling: But at what cost?
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