It’s a good time to be Doctor Doom. Not only is Doom’s influence spreading over Chip Zdarsky’s Captain America and Avengers: Armageddon, but he’s also set to appear in the upcoming Black Panther/Namor: Doomed miniseries. We also can’t forget Doomquest, which is taking the Lord of Latveria on a trip through time. And of course, there’s Robert Downey Jr.’s upcoming portrayal of Doom in Avengers: Doomsday. Marvel doesn’t think that’s enough Doom, as the Challenges of Doom series will pit him against some of the biggest heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe. It’s only fitting that Challenges of Doom: Mr. Fantastic #1 is the first installment, as it focuses on the longstanding rivalry between Doom and Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic.
Challenges of Doom is spearheaded by Al Ewing, who pens the issue and is slated to do the same for the other installments. That’s arguably what made me most interested in this miniseries, since Ewing has a gift for breaking down iconic characters and a deep love of Marvel’s history. With Challenges of Doom: Mr. Fantastic #1, he turns the clock all the way back to Doom’s youth and showcases the events that led him to college in America, and subsequently his first encounters with Reed. These conversations are the best part of the book, as you immediately see that Doom’s arrogance was baked into him from the get go while Reed’s desire to help others, not his intellect or his elasticity, would be his greatest power.
The artwork in Challenges of Doom: Mr. Fantastic #1 comes courtesy of Mike Henderson, who is a truly incredible talent. Henderson has a dynamic, intense style that draws the reader’s eye to every event going on in the page, whether it’s Doom forging his iconic armor and mask or pouring over chalkboards full of scientific equations in his dorm room. The standout page comes when Doom tests the machine that will eventually leave him a scarred monstrosity, and comes face to face with a massive version of Mephisto, which is an image that’s truly terrifying. I also love that Henderson gives Doom and Reed different styles of clothing and posture that hints at the men they’ll become; while Doom is almost impeccably dressed and comes complete with a haughty air, Reed is more down to Earth and approachable.
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An element that draws the eye in Challenges of Doom: Mr. Fantastic #1 is the use of color by Mattia Iacono. In nearly every page, Doom is surrounded by or wearing some form of green. Both the clothes he wears in Latveria and in America are different shades of green, not to mention all of the different hues surrounding him; the forests where his people make their home are a bright verdant green, and when he stumbles upon the monks who will forge his armor, he’s wrapped in a green cloak that mimics his iconic hood and cape. It’s rare for a comic to utilize a character’s signature color this well, but Iacono succeeds on every level.
Challenges of Doom: Mr. Fantastic #1 offers a new take on the events that shaped Doctor Doom into the villainous figure he is today, and offers a new glimpse at his rivalry with Reed Richards. If you aren’t “Doomed” out, this is worth picking up and is a promising start to a character study of one of Marvel’s greatest villains.
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