When you think of Doctor Doom, what comes to mind? Is it his nearly unparalleled knowledge of magic and science? His rivalry with Reed Richards? The many times he’s become a god or as powerful as one? Or is it his arrogance? For fans of Marvel Comics, the latter is something that people know is part of Victor von Doom’s personality.
Usually, Victor is defeated because he can’t get over himself. It’s the one blemish in his almost perfect skill set. Now that he’s Earth’s ruler and protector of this realm as Sorcerer Supreme, can Doom put his hubris aside to keep everyone safe? That question was answered in One World Under Doom No. 4 (of 9).
"I am the Dark Lord of the Faltine, and you, Victor... you are just a man."Dormmamu
One World Under Doom No. 4 creative team
- Writer: Ryan North
- Artist: R.B. Silva
- Colorist: David Curiel
At the end of One World Under Doom No. 3, The Dread Dormammu removed anyone from Earth who could stop him from taking over. However, he left Doom so he could defeat him and take the Eye of Agomotto.
As the fight begins, Victor says he cast three spells. The first protects against Dormammu’s attacks and it works for a little while, too, as he uses moves from foes like Johnny Storm (his flames), Cyclops (his optic blasts), and Wolverine (his claws). Sadly, that doesn't work for long, and Doom is beaten badly. However, the second spell was to buy him one minute, to, as he says, defy death. In that minute, Victor has to make a decision.
Earlier in the fight, Dormammu said he knew two secrets. The first is that his entering of the realm is Victor’s fault because he allowed the realm’s magical defenses to weaken - it's the job of the Sorcerer Supreme to stop this from happening, and he failed. The second is that Doom could strengthen them whenever he wanted, but that would force him to relinquish the title of Sorcerer Supreme, and he’d lose everything.
"Doom gives himself but the smallest taste of defeat… and my entire soul rejects it. It is antithetical to every cell in my being. It is not Doom."Victor Von Doom
So, does Victor von Doom, Earth’s ruler and Sorcerer Supreme, admit defeat and give up everything he’s fought for? Of course not. Because, for his third spell, Doom sends his Doombots to the same realm as the Avengers, X-Men, and other heroes. While there, they labored together to get back. And, as Doom predicted, the heroes of Earth saw that Dormammu was the true threat.
And with that, Captain America yells out, Avengers, Assemble!”
To be continued in issue No. 5 of One World Under Doom.
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