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.
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