Even when Doom wins, Doom loses. Since becoming Sorcerer Supreme in “Blood Hunt”, Doctor Doom has used his new role to take over the world. Every hero on the planet stepped up to defeat him and failed. Doom used his high-level magic powers to make the moment a fixed event in time. Nothing can change this. Nothing.
There is one problem in Doom’s victory. Valeria Richards, his beloved goddaughter was accidentally killed while trying to reason with him. Few people matter to Doom as much as Valeria. How does he respond to his own actions?
ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #9 by Ryan North, R. B. Silva, David Curiel, Travis Lanham concludes the latest Marvel Comics event with a can’t miss issue.
Let’s take a closer look at where the finale plays out.
credit: marvel comics
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
North throws a massive curve into this finale. Doom accepting he caused this death doesn’t not register. Watching the lengths he goes to fix this is very telling. It reflects his self-confidence. Doom also lets a small part of himself vulnerable to his conscious. This is a rare moment but adds to his complexity.
This point shines when dealing with a larger god: The Living Tribunal. The dialogue shows Doom’s demands to fix his wrong action. It doesn’t go unnoticed this “human” side of Doom is driving the scenes. The result is a costly one. His confrontation with Reed Richards dabbles in the heavy toll taken. Both characters have many thoughts boiling over. One’s emotions take over and leave the story in a very shocking state. The epilogue opens up another dangerous path. North leaves readers with much to ponder as a new era sets on the Marvel Universe.
Silva and Curiel flashback the relationship between Doom and Valeria to open. The two page splash of the present makes matters that more impactful. Seeing Doom face off with gods makes for powerful panels. It reflects his unwavering conviction to save Valeria. This escalates with the Tribunal gets involved.
From Doom’s presence facing off to the full page shot of the deal done, everything hits here. The fallout turns more grounded as the world reacts. Readers see many sides of the argument of Doom’s actions. This leads into a confrontation with Reed Richards. The old enemies spare no expense squabbling. Their stare down leads into a full page exclamation point. It’s impact is written on the final panel. There’s no doubt this story changes course for the MCU.
FINAL GRADE: 9.4
Doom’s greatest victory comes with a heavy toll in this phenomenal finale. North’s writing unlocks a side of the Monarch rarely seen in the MCU. Silva and the art team construct an impactful journey in a dark soul. Whenever Doom is involved, it is no mere story. It’s an event. This series lived up to billing so don’t miss the finish.
Let me know your thoughts on ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #9 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!