Only in comics could an idea like “What if Doctor Doom has to save the Titanic” be considered normal. A bit of goofiness is key in superhero comics. Enter Doomquest #2, where Ryan North and Francesco Mobili have sent Doctor Doom to the past, or at least, his mind. A new kind of time machine that sends your mind into other people’s bodies was Doctor Doom’s final nail in the Reed Richards’ paling in comparison to him argument, but alas, Richards mucked up this latest mission. No matter, as Doctor Doom always prevails. Right?!
If it isn’t clear by now, North is having a grand time throwing Doctor Doom into moments of history to see how only he could resolve big problems. Given the cliffhanger of this issue, I can only guess at the violence and mistakes he’ll make. That’s right, Doctor Doom isn’t without making a mistake in Doomquest #2, but they are merely speed bumps on his way to victory. That makes this issue a mix of slightly comedic results as Doom relives the same night the Titanic was meant to sink.
The setup is rather simple here: Doctor Doom is inside a normal person’s body without his tech, but his mind is still very much intact. His mission is to make Latveria the greatest nation of all time, although landing on the Titanic the night it sank was certainly not his choice. In a kind of Groundhog Day approach, Doom gets to restart from the same moment every time he dies or fails to achieve his goal.
Well, that’s a strategy.
Credit: Marvel Comics
What makes this setup work here is seeing how Doctor Doom navigates each dead end, logically moving from something as base as killing a bunch of folks to be a hero to demanding fealty. All told, North puts him through four attempts, with Doctor Doom’s impressive ego never giving up or admitting defeat.
Art by Mobili is fantastic, with a high level of detail and panel composition that keeps an admittedly mundane location interesting. Seeing Doom’s eyes through his mask does a lot of the character acting, and I’m not sure we’ve ever seen him so dangerous. While he’s not in armor, Mobili draws him in the armor as Doom would see himself, punching, shooting, and killing as he pleases. It’s not often you see Doctor Doom blow someone’s brains out, and it’s an intense moment that’ll linger with you.
Much of the narrative relies on Doom’s inner monologue, presented via captions. He’s in a battle with a situation, not a specific force, and while he does communicate with folks here and there, this is mostly a solo run. This allows North to lean into his egomaniacal rationalizing, although it does make a lack of specific enemy or sidekick to bounce off of a touch lonely.
Doomquest #2 continues to prove that North has found a winning formula by dropping Doctor Doom into impossible situations and letting his ego do the rest. The Titanic setting provides a fascinating playground for Doom’s intellect, forcing him to adapt repeatedly while never losing confidence in his eventual success. Watching him approach failure as little more than a temporary inconvenience is both funny and completely in character. Mobili’s artwork elevates every attempt, giving Doom an intimidating presence even when trapped in an ordinary man’s body. While the story’s focus on Doom’s internal monologue can occasionally make the issue feel solitary, the sheer entertainment value of watching Marvel’s greatest narcissist wrestle with history more than makes up for it. By the final page, North leaves readers eager to see just how much chaos Doom is willing to unleash in pursuit of victory.
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