Victor Von Doom is probably your favorite comic book nerd’s favorite comic book villain. If he’s not number one, he’s definitely in their top ten. Since debuting in The Fantastic Four No. 5 in 1962, the Lord of Latveria has caused Marvel’s First Family more grief than anyone. After decades of doing that, he moved on to being a terror to everyone. Spider-Man, the Avengers, and the X-Men have all dealt with him personally. Now that he’s Emperor Doom, Victor is everyone’s problem.
Being king of the world is a step down from being a god (this happened in 2015’s Secret Wars), but what he’s doing in One World Under Doom may be more impressive. It isn’t just that he’s defeated his heroes, forced them to team with him to defeat Dormammu, or tricked the citizens of Earth into believing he’s the best. It’s how he’s done it that’s impressive. And, no one should be shocked that he’s done it with time travel. Except it's cooler than just jumping back to the future.
Fantastic Four No. 3 creative team
- Writer: Ryan North
- Artist: Humberto Ramos
- Colors: Edgar Delgado
- Letters: Vc Joe Caramagna
Doctor Doom is a narcissist, but he’s not a fool. He knows that the heroes’ biggest attribute is their persistence. They will always find a way to win the day, even if it means they perish in the process. Since Victor has a time machine, he does the smart thing and goes back in time after every defeat to find a way to win. That’s probably how he won the debate in One World Under Doom No. 6 and countered every move the superheroes used in issue No. 7.
"I reset the entire universe to an earlier moment--but only Doom keeps his memories. I learn, I adapt, and you all stay the same. "Victor Von Doom
Doom bragged about the magic in his device and how destroying his time machine would tear down the space-time continuum across the solar system. As he continued his pompous rant, Johnny Storm had an idea, but he couldn't say it out loud. If he did, Victor would know it. So he wrote a message in a hydrogen flame that only the Fantastic Four could see, and it said, “Turn his restores into saves.” So, like a video game, Victor doesn't restart before he loses. He respawns at the same point of defeat.
Doom repeatedly went back in time and tried to counter Ben Grimm's punch for what seemed like an eternity. Unfortunately, and ironically, there wasn’t enough time. His machine burned out from repeated use. For the first time since One World Under Doom began, Emperor Doom was defeated. However, after what happened in One World Under Doom No. 7, who knows how this issue connects to the Marvel Comics event? Stay tuned to Bam Smack Pow to find out.
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