How (I Think) One World Under Doom Should Proceed!

So, I recently read Fantastic Four #29, the beginning of the series tie-in to the 'One World Under Doom' event and, I must admit, I really enjoyed it. In an overall story of hearts and minds being convinced to follow a villain, it was fun to have a relatively one-and-done tale (which Ryan North's series seems to have embraced) focusing on heroes battling that by being just generally fantastic.

Now, I haven't picked up the main series yet (I figured I'd wait until the trade comes out), but I have myself intrigued about where this story goes.

So much so, that I do have some ideas of my own.

I'm assuming (because, you know, I haven't read it yet) that OWUD follows Doom's ever so consistent belief that his leadership of the world is for the best. However, FF 29 shows an idea that the problems Doom's leadership causes can be fixed by other, dare I say more heroic, minds.

So, here's my thought on where things should go. FF should continued its tie-ins in a similar manner to issue 29. When the FF discover a problem brought on by Doom's own attempts to fix either the same or a connected problem, they are able to fix it completely, undermining, Doom's authority.

However, with each solving of a problem, the general public become more enamoured by Doom through his propaganda.

Meanwhile, in the main series, Doom's frequent undermining by the FF would cause his pride to lose control, leading to a point where his actions then have an adverse effect to his popularity. As things progress, his authority and the goodwill he has mysteriously acquired begins to degrade, leading to Reed Richards to run against him as 'leader of the world'.

For reasons I don't quite understand, 'Mister Fantastic' is not as popular as Doom in the real world, due to his perceived flaws. I get it, he's somewhat ignorant of his family's needs and can be a little condescending, but, as someone diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, these actions actually sound very familiar.

On the other hand, Doom is an incredibly dramatic dictator who believes primarily in his own superiority.

Therefore, to see these two locked in a battle of wills, with Richards wanting to run on his accomplishments will Doom fighting back by focusing on his rivals flaws would be an interesting story, especially if the fictional audience mirrors real life by only seeing Reed's problems.

Also, I think it would mirror some more important real world events going on right now.

How it ends, I don't know. In truth, I would suspect the good guys win, although wouldn't it be interesting to see them lose, and Doom's rule becoming part of the status quo a la Dark Reign.

Of course, if I could write this kind of thing, then maybe I'd be on the other side of the comics curtain. However, it is an interesting theory to ponder about.

(Finally) Re-Reading ... Doctor Doom: Books of Doom

I've been reading comics for almost 23 years as I write this and in all that time (like everyone, I suppose) I've bought a lot of comics that I've regretted picking up.

However, in all that time there has only ever been one which I've bought, gotten rid of and then regretted losing from the moment it was gone from my collection.

It's been 18 years since Books of Doom was first released and, having picked it up not long after its release, I have regretted getting rid of it (although the specifics of its loss are foggy in my head. Did I sell it? Throw it away? Give it away? I just don't remember) ever since and have longed to find a new copy of either the trade or the singles in all that time.

Thankfully though, the introduction of the world's greatest supervillain into the Marvel Cinematic Universe has finally given me that second chance.

Doctor Doom: Books of Doom (as it has now been rechristened) is a six issue series by Ed Brubaker and Pablo Raimondi that tells the life story of Victor Von Doom from the perspective of the man himself. Interweaved between the character's already established life events, Books of Doom fleshes out Von Doom's life from childhood to his becoming ruler of Latveria to show us how this most iconic of men built himself (sometimes literally) into the character we all know.

I recall Books of Doom being an interesting read when I first read it, giving perspective and depth to Doctor Doom's persona. However, I also recall it not leaving all that much of an impression on me (probably hence its subsequent departure from life).

However, time, age and experience can be great tools when looking at it again all these years later, looking backing and see its previously missed quality.

And it certainly isn't a case of rose tinted glasses as I read it in 2025. Ed Brubaker, now such a mainstay in the crime comic scene with Criminal, Kill or Be Killed and many titles beyond, provides a new intro for this trade describing his love of Doctor Doom and, damn, does that love show in the story. Brubaker tells a fantastic story here, creating a brutal, harrowing and intriguing tale, giving feelings of sympathy without converting the character to a sympathetic character. From the beginning to end, Doom remains Doom, coming across as superior and condescending like readers know him, also confident in his greatness next to other 'mortal men.' However, Brubaker allows moments of vulnerability to creep through, offering us moments between those which are already established in canon to hint that this man's life may take a altogether different road.

What I can't believe is how I forgot how amazing Pablo Raimondi's artwork is on this series. Raimondo very much honours the house style of the time and does so with a great consistency. However, his pencils, coupled with the inks from Mark Farmer, Andrew Hennessy and Robin Riggs as well as Brian Reber's colours, give the entire story not just a European look (and when I say this I mean that there is just some 'feeling' that the story is based in a different place. I can't explain it in truth, but the story movement from Latveria to the States has a ... 'Vibe' to it where the art subtly changes, despite not actually changing. It is truly the weirdest thing!) but Raimondi also seems to wash the entire book with this tone that gives credence that this story is a re-telling, that it all happened so many years ago (again, I just can't explain it, except to say its how my eyes take the panels in. It truly is the strangest thing).

I think what really hit me on this read-through is that the story is told from Doom's perspective but, occasionally, has brief entries from people who were present for these events, giving the book a very 'life and times documentary' feel. As a result, it (along with those previously mentioned time, age and experience) brings me to ask the question, is this really the 'true story' or simply history twisted and re-made to to suit the man telling it and make him look the hero. Certainly, certain events in the world today more than confirm that some people aren't above embellishing events to make themselves better (and I'd say the 'person' telling this story wouldn't be considered reliable).

There was this fear prior to re-reading this that my memory had become a little distorted, that nostalgia and those 'rose-tinted glasses' may have affected my memory. I surely wouldn't have gotten rid of the original edition if it had been a good read, was it really something I should be pining over for nearly 20 years and will it really live up to that feeling?

Thankfully, picking up this new addition was a worthwhile purchase for me as Books of Doom lived up to expectations and then some. I just hope that this time I'm not silly enough to dispose of this copy, I can't rely on Marvel to put it in print a third time.

Although, I like to think I've gotten a little bit smarter than last time.

Re-Reading ... Batman: City of Madness

One of the things I want to do during 2025 is re-read a lot more of my comic collection, mainly to see what truly needs to stay in this space limited world of mine.

As I find myself with a few days between one read and the next, I figured it gave me just enough time to go back over a mini-series I've been mostly avoiding, despite its relative ease of access.

Batman: City of Madness is a Black Label title written and drawn by Christian Ward which follows the Dark Knight as he's drawn into a supernatural mystery revolving around the Court of Owls and a bizarro-esque, horror inspired copy of Gotham.

I remember, when I first saw this series, it was the name Christian Ward, whose work on the Black Bolt series I absolutely adored for both its main character depiction (although that's mostly a Saladin Ahmed contribution) as well as its art, which drew me to it. However, as I read issues one, two and three, I recall finding the tale decidedly lacking from my point of view.

Probably the reason I've been avoiding it for so long.

Therefore, it was quite a pleasant surprise when reading these three issues in shot order came across as much improved read.

Ward writes a seriously compelling detective story while also finding Batman's voice (as always, heard in my head as the late, great Kevin Conroy). Despite the more supernatural backdrop, Ward never seems to shy away from what makes Batman ... well, 'Batman', giving the story a feel that it was originally written as a crime drama before an abrupt change of direction. There is a subtle line of though surrounding fathers and sons as well as loss, which connects many of the main players, which gives this book some real heart that continues to elevate the feeling of helplessness the book gives off in its pages.

The art, however, is a truly different beast. Ward's art style is absolutely, horrifyingly stunning and gives the whole series a truly unsettling and disturbing vibe which is perfect for the plot.

If there is one downside to this series, it is the third issue. The finale feels half an issue too long with a lot of scenes coming across as filler, causing the issue to lose interest to me. Fortunately, it's saved by a heartfelt finale which also hints towards an answer to an ever unanswered question which I don't remember and totally blew my mind after reading.

If ever I need proof that you should re-read everything just to make sure of its quality, this comic collection is it. While I'm not sure if it'll ever get another read, Batman: City of Madness certainly did a better job of impressing me the second time round.

I just hope my next read doesn't do the opposite.