Writer: Christopher Cantwell

Art: Salvador Larroca, GURU-eFX, VC’s Cory Petit, and Aco

Price: $4.99

Release Date: October 9th, 2019

Doctor Doom. One of the greatest villains in Marvel comics has also done great good. Now with the world on the brink of disaster, which side of the line is Doom on? Let’s find out!

A black hole has been constructed on the moon, called the Antlion. Why do you ask? To solve climate change. Dr. Doom thinks it’s a terrible idea and tells the newscast he has joined via satellite as much. After the news hosts and Doom take some verbal jabs at each other Doom abruptly leaves the interview.

Here’s where we get our first glimpse of how troubled Doom is. And he’s troubled at many levels. Things didn’t go his way in the interview so he left abruptly then punched out his tech guy.

We then see the so-called another side of the coin where Doom can be very genuine and caring.

Later, alone in his study Doom is visited by a glitched out Kang the Conqueror. My guess is that Kang is still suffering from his beat down by Moon Knight in the Moon Knight Annual!! Doom tells Kang a proverb of the pursuit of happiness and how happiness destroyed an artist, but Kang corrects him saying that happiness isn’t the problem. The “endless pursuit” of happiness is.

Then as Doom wraps his face with bandages before bed as he sings the song “Buffalo Gals”. After a bit of digging, and help from my wife, I found that Buffalo Gals was written by John Hodges who performed as “Cool White”, but in “blackface”. I think this symbolizes Doom and his mask. What he is, versus what he wants to be but hidden behind a mask perhaps? The good and bad, right and wrong, light versus dark, etc… He then slips into a vision of a perfect life with a family.

The lyrics “dance by the light of the moon” come into play too later!!!

Weeks pass. Doom has more visions of fishing with his son and how he helped save the world.

Later the Antlion Control Center and Antlion station are blown up. Thousands dead and the terrorists show the Latverian Flag. Doom panics and surrenders immediately, but there’s a price on his head already. He’s quickly attacked by Union Jack and Agent Zero. Doom quickly defeats them but has another vision of himself and his wife talking about peace. He realizes he’s not in control and surrenders.

This is quite an issue. There’s a lot going on at many levels. This will be a story I think of not only Doom’s inner turmoil but of how he’s portrayed by the world. Who set him up and why? Who’s going to not only believe him but also help him? Or is this a journey he must travel alone? I also think when things go bad, like seeing his own face, it triggers Doom’s visions of his perceived perfect life

The art is fabulous. Salvador Larroca and Guru-eFX really shine on this issue. I felt like I was in Latveria the art is so good!!

I also have a feeling Buffalo Gals may be played by @bmur3660 at Bills games this year!!

Final Thoughts:

This is a very thought-provoking issue, in a good way! We’ve got a major villain, a big disaster, and a major catastrophe that sets Doom up as their perpetrator. Throw in Doom’s inner battle with himself, and we’ve got an awesome number one issue. I can’t wait to see how this unfolds!