Doctor Doom seems to have figured out the best course of action in taking over the world: Make everyone like him. One World Under Doom #1 ended on a cliffhanger where a civilian embraced Doom’s help, and that aid continues in One World Under Doom #2. But is Dr. Doom mind controlling people, or something far worse? It seems the heroes think so, and they also seem to think they can rationalize this with the world.
One World Under Doom #2 consists of four scenes. The issue opens with the Fantastic Four stopping a bank robbery while discussing what they will do to stop Doom. The plan is to convince the public that when he speaks from the U.N., he’s bad and can’t be trusted. We see this plan unfold, ending in what the cover reveals. It seems Doom is a very giving leader.
While it’s satisfying to see the Fantastic Four plan and then enact that plan in a single issue, this issue feels less like an event-level issue and more like a transitional step. The transformation of Thing, which is primarily already known thanks to solicitations and the cover of the issue, doesn’t seem all that extraordinary. The transformation is a big deal, sure, but we’ve seen him transform before.
Valeria loves Dr. Doom. And he loves her.
Credit: Marvel
That includes a third scene between Doom and Valeria as they discuss his intentions. She and he trust each other, so we know he’s talking truthfully. Writer Ryan North uses this scene to unpack Doom’s point of view on democracy and how it failed until he unified all of them under his rule. It’s a fair argument and a problem that we can see in our own world, where Ukraine and Russia are at war, and tariffs are wreaking havoc on prices. There’s some logic there, but with Doom, we know it’s all for selfish reasons. Then again, maybe both can be true.
The fourth and final scene is all about setting up where the heroes go from here. Surprisingly, they still don’t believe Doctor Doom has convinced the world without duping or controlling them. This, in turn, means they need to up their risks by bringing in a whole new batch of heavy hitters. It’ll make for a fun team-up in only superhero comics know-how. Is it as logical and smart as Valeria and Doom’s debate about anarchy vs. democracy? Not so much.
As far as the art is concerned, R.B. Silva’s pencils are sharp and detailed. The opening action sequence is exciting, especially since the Fantastic Four rarely take on such lowly threats. The Valeria and Doom conversation is amplified with some incredible locations, making their sometimes lengthy points interesting to read.
One World Under Doom #2 delivers compelling character moments and sharp visuals but lacks the weight of a significant event issue. While the Fantastic Four’s strategy plays out satisfyingly, the heroes’ reluctance to believe Doom’s influence still feels somewhat forced. However, the debate between Valeria and Doom offers the most engaging philosophical discussion, making this issue an intriguing, if not essential, read.
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