One World Under Doom #4 Review- Doctor Doom: Our Savior?

From Marvel Comics 

Written by Ryan North 

Art by R.B. Silva

Cover Art by Ben Harvey

Marvel’s latest event series is certainly a definitive moment in comic book history for the villain every comic book fan loves- Doctor Doom. For the uninitiated, the genesis of this series ties back to the climactic events of Blood Hunt by Jed MacKay from last year (which you can read my review of HERE)which ultimately saw the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme passed on to Doctor Doom (not a spoiler, if you have been to a comic shop recently you’ve seen a ton of covers with Doom as the Sorcerer, don’t yell at me).

It has been some time since Marvel Comics so seamlessly transitioned from one event title to the next, and I am happy to say that One World Under Doom has delivered on the promise of the potential for an empire of an all powerful DOOM in the Marvel Comics Universe. A concept which could have felt one note or expected, but under the stewardship of capable writer Ryan North, has blossomed into a poignant, nuanced portrayal of a world wrestling with fanaticism and global trauma. In fact, One World Under Doom and the frequent tie-ins in North’s excellent Fantastic Four ongoing series feel like the story comic book readers NEED right now in order to grapple with the increasingly complicated reality of totalitarian government taking control of the hearts and minds of friends and family members.

However, this pervading familiarity that the title evokes is not it's only selling point, as the series serves a dual role as a genuinely exhilarating, monumental tale in the Marvel canon that feels like the climax of ideas and emotions generated from many an Avengers title featuring Doctor Doom as the antagonist over the years. If I have anything to say about this event series it is that it is NOT like other event series from Marvel, with a complex, character driven narrative with twists and turns to delight fans both new and old. 

Let’s talk more specifically about the shocking turn of events in Issue #4, which means, 

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD! 

In the finale of Issue #3, we bore witness to the Dark Lord of the Faltine, Dormammu awakening in his dark realm with the realization that after so many decades, the Earth remained unprotected by the powers of the Sorcerer Supreme. With all that Doctor Doom has had to contend with as Emperor of the World, his inherited responsibilities as Sorcerer seemingly fell to the wayside. Which leads us to issue #4, where Dormammu arrives on Earth in terrifying eldritch fashion, banishing, in a mere instant, all of Earth’s heroes to an extra dimensional plane leaving only Doom to contend with the ancient foe. 

After multiple issues mounting towards the Avengers realization that Doom is actually trying to be the benevolent leader the world needs- Doom now has the opportunity to prove that he is our one and only savior. The juxtaposition of expectation and reality has been a huge component of what makes this event series so great, with North defying ours, and the ensemble cast of the Avengers, expectations of how Doom’s insidious plan will unfold. Which is what makes the stakes of this fateful bout between Doom and Dormammu so thrillingly heightened, not knowing if Doom will play the hero or leave the Earth to its fate, or even if Doom does act righteously, will he have to power to stop Dormammu or is he (characteristically) pridefully overconfident? 

At first, Doom seems to have learned from his past failures and intercepts Dormammu with subterfuge and cunning tactics that leave the demon howling in pain. However, Doom quickly falls victim to one of his classic failings- fighting alone. With an army of demons to contend with, in addition to Dormammu, Doom is forced to react in a way that Dormammu would not expect- by utilizing some of the powers of the heroes that have so often defeated him. 

Once more, North elevates the heart pounding action of his series with the intelligent reshaping of Doom’s character, endowing Doctor Doom with the much needed grace of character evolution as befits his station as Emperor. While in the past, Doctor Doom would never have resorted to using the carnival tricks of his enemies, it is truly satisfying now to see the character resort to any means necessary in order to win the day (it’s certainly handy that no heroes were watching, because you can imagine the ridicule? Also, I just can’t help but laugh reading the jaw-dropping magical action in this comic compared to something like Sub-Mariner #20 from 1968 and realizing how far Doctor Doom has come as a character). Really this entire issue is similarly revealing of Doom’s mindset and selfish impulses, showcasing through action rather than words, Doom’s resilient vanity and pride in the face of cataclysm. 

A sentiment which Dormammu makes abundantly clear as he torturously cripples Doctor Doom’s arm and leg after secretly stealing the protective Eye of Agommatto, musing that Doom could banish Dormammu from the Earth with a thought- but can’t bring himself to even think of losing. 

As Doom is tossed aside and sinks into the water of a rushing river, he summons the tenacity to rise once more, triggering a latent temporal spell to buy himself time to think as Dormammu sends a fatal blow his way. Stuck in limbo, Doom rallies against Dormammu’s spells and pushes himself out of harm's way just in time for his third spell to manifest. Evidently, while Doom faced Dormammu, he sent an army of Doom Bots to the realm Dormmamu banished our familiar heroes to, rescuing them in time for them to save the day as they always have before.

The writing in this issue is truly beautiful, allowing Doctor Doom a moment to shine as both hero and villain, not hiding his flaws or capacity for self righteousness, but embracing it and moreover, using it as the key factor that allows him to win in this fateful instance. What’s more, the concept of Doom (of all Marvel Villains) willingly orchestrating for the Avengers to come to his aid, seems like an improbable plot point to execute effectively, and yet North has done so on a grand stage. The opportunity for comic fans to uncover new truths and contradictions about infamous characters like Doctor Doom is all too rare (with the last instances I can think of being Guardians of the Galaxy by Al Ewing and Doctor Doom: Bedford Falls by Christopher Cantwell) and I hope that other event series can lead to the kind of grounded introspection that One World Under Doom has offered for other cult favorite villains. 

Perhaps the most thrilling aspect of One World Under Doom #4, is that it ends as abruptly as it started, leaving the reader to question how this event series can possibly wrap up, which is the level of unpredictability that has made for the most memorable Marvel titles in recent memory. Proving yet again North’s refined perspective for a story that began with the appropriately campy concept of “Doctor Doom Rules Supreme!” 

If you are looking to understand the current climate of the Marvel Comics Universe and learn more about the principles of some of its most iconic heroes and villains, then you can do no better than One World Under Doom #4 on shelves now at your local comic book store! 

-Nicholas Aaron Hodge