Doctor Doom #9 (2020)
by Christopher Cantwell & Salvador Larroca
I’d rather have Doctor Doom like this under the mask than the thoroughly disappointing way this series has depicted his scars.
So much for the plot about the Latverian coup that drove the initial 8 issues of the series.
Also, where is Doom running here?
The artificial black hole on the Moon is completely out of control, to the point that all super-scientist heroes are stumped. So Doctor Doom is going to save the world with his own space mission, followed by the only people he trusts… copies of himself.
Look there is A LOT you could say about Doom’s megalomania. But if the guy wants to brag to the entire world that he managed to fix something that all other heroes can’t… FOR ONCE, isn’t he justified?
“I actually feel safe now that Doctor Doom is handling it”, said nobody ever.
You’d expect Doom would want to rule the planet after he saves it, but actually plans to announce that he’s no longer a villain.
Because that worked soooo well for you in the past, Victor.
Well, he’s going to rule the planet EVENTUALLY. He’s still Doom.
Doom’s pathological need to always be the best at everything never ceased to intrigue me.
It’s not enough to be humble, he MUST be the humbled person who ever humbled.
Remember to feel safe with the knowledge that DOCTOR DOOM is targeting the Moon with enough power to vaporize a black hole.
Like the previous issue, which was almost entirely narrated through an entry on Doom’s diary, this one is an extended look into his thoughts.
And I vastly prefer this one: not only because WE ACTUALLY GET TO READ THE STORY HE’S TELLING, but also because it showcases how Doom is constantly imagining one big moment after the other.
Even the options that Doom considers for his self-imposed exile are fascinating… they all tell their own little story just by describing them.
Not the last time in the 2020s that Doom will keep Latveria in the hands of Victorious.
He will, however, have a radically different vision of his relationship with her the next time we see them.
Everything is working just fine…
…until Reed Richards calls.
I should point out that while Reed is correct, Doom ALSO didn’t have ANYTHING to do with the malfunction of the black hole. But considering that he was the only one who thought that using a black hole to fix climate change… SOMEHOW… was a bad idea, Doom has all the reasons in the world to gloat!
The only thing Reed wanted to say was just good luck.
And Doctor Doom FREAKS OUT.
Doom is SO addicted to mind games that he can’t even FATHOM that Reed doesn’t have ulterior motives for wishing him good luck!!!
Maybe a second opinion would calm him down… if there WAS a second opinion and he wasn’t surrounded by yes-robots.
Logically, Doom KNOWS that this an unimportant distraction he could simply ignore…
…but when it comes to Reed Richards, Doctor Doom never thinks logically.
Checking if Reed sabotaged something, or if everything is in order? That one isn’t too bad…
…but then Doom goes into a frenzy and starts fidgeting with every possible detail.
Of course it couldn’t POSSIBLY be your paranoia, Victor, it MUST be Richards!!!
This is FAR from the first time that Doctor Doom has been defeated ONLY because of something HE did… but it’s fair to say that this is the most LITERAL case!!!
The series will conclude next issue. Without blowing up the Moon for real, because who could possibly think that’s a good idea?
Doom significance: 1/10
I think this only influences the finale. Even the fact that Victorious is briefly the regent of Latveria isn’t brought up later, when it REALLY should have.
Silver Age-ness: 4/10
The fact that nobody in the entire superhero community does anything about the black hole and trust Doctor Doom to fix everything.
Will it stand the test of time? 10/10
This series is incredibly frustrating, because it jumps from issues that are incredibly irritating to some of the best Doctor Doom writing I’ve seen in years.
His paranoia above all else, but also his ego: he can’t simply atone for his crimes and become a better person, he has to do it in the most spectacular way imaginable and be loved by everyone for doing it.
Crazy tech
Doctor Doom casually has a super-laser with the power of a third of the Sun.
Either he had one just laying around or built one in a couple of weeks; both are impressive and not all that surprising.