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doomfans2020-03-06 02:08 am
nomadicwriter) wrote in doomfans2020-03-06 02:08 am
Doctor Doom #6
Doom and Kang take a road trip across the US, heading back to Latveria the slow way. Along the way they stop off in Texas for Doom to pick up what he calls his ace in the hole, the ultimate nullifier. Kang predictably backstabs him at this point, but Doom comes out on top, stabs him in the throat and heads on alone. When he gets to Mexico, he takes a moment to call Reed from a payphone and tell him to send Blue Marvel past the event horizon of the black hole to dissipate it with negative energy, which Blue Marvel might even survive.
Huh. You know, last issue I was saying I was getting slightly weary of the breakneck pace, and now this is the first episode where I feel like we're treading water a bit. I could possibly be accused of being too picky! But yeah, while things slow down this issue, it's not expanding on any of the stuff I was hoping to see more developed, and so I ended up feeling like it was rather killing time until the sudden yet inevitable betrayal. The scenes with Doom and Kang are fun, but they just kick around some of the contradictory bits of canon about their relationship without concluding anything and we don't really learn anything we didn't know already. I would have preferred to have seen some of those pages used on how we got from the confrontation at the end of last issue to the beginning of this one, and a longer version of the last-page scene with Reed.
There are some nice moments, though. It's interesting to see Doom caught up in all the details of the lives of his imaginary kids. Fascinating to see which details he highlights: that one son has warmth in his heart and the other is tranquil in his soul. Traits Doom lacks but apparently values? I'm also just kind of charmed by the idea of Doom being concerned about his nine-year-old's anxiety issues. And by the fact that he opens his phone call to Reed at the end of the issue with, "Richards, it's me."
Kind of a weird take on the Doom armour from Larroca here. I assume it's a deliberate new look for the armour that Kang provided him, but it's not clear yet if there's supposed to be anything significant about this particular suit, and the flat-nosed mask and awkward chestplate that seems to be strapped on the front of his tunic are not really working for me.
Overall, some interesting details, but I am getting a bit frustrated with Doom always being on the move and random new elements like the ultimate nullifier being introduced all the time instead of scenarios that are already in motion getting more of a chance to play out and develop. It's nice to get some extended scenes of Doom and Kang together, but there are a whole bunch of other characters in play I'd also like him to get some more in-depth follow-up with instead of just a line or two and then we're moving on again.
Huh. You know, last issue I was saying I was getting slightly weary of the breakneck pace, and now this is the first episode where I feel like we're treading water a bit. I could possibly be accused of being too picky! But yeah, while things slow down this issue, it's not expanding on any of the stuff I was hoping to see more developed, and so I ended up feeling like it was rather killing time until the sudden yet inevitable betrayal. The scenes with Doom and Kang are fun, but they just kick around some of the contradictory bits of canon about their relationship without concluding anything and we don't really learn anything we didn't know already. I would have preferred to have seen some of those pages used on how we got from the confrontation at the end of last issue to the beginning of this one, and a longer version of the last-page scene with Reed.
There are some nice moments, though. It's interesting to see Doom caught up in all the details of the lives of his imaginary kids. Fascinating to see which details he highlights: that one son has warmth in his heart and the other is tranquil in his soul. Traits Doom lacks but apparently values? I'm also just kind of charmed by the idea of Doom being concerned about his nine-year-old's anxiety issues. And by the fact that he opens his phone call to Reed at the end of the issue with, "Richards, it's me."
Kind of a weird take on the Doom armour from Larroca here. I assume it's a deliberate new look for the armour that Kang provided him, but it's not clear yet if there's supposed to be anything significant about this particular suit, and the flat-nosed mask and awkward chestplate that seems to be strapped on the front of his tunic are not really working for me.
Overall, some interesting details, but I am getting a bit frustrated with Doom always being on the move and random new elements like the ultimate nullifier being introduced all the time instead of scenarios that are already in motion getting more of a chance to play out and develop. It's nice to get some extended scenes of Doom and Kang together, but there are a whole bunch of other characters in play I'd also like him to get some more in-depth follow-up with instead of just a line or two and then we're moving on again.
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But yes, Doom contrasted with ordinary people and everyday things is always fun. That's why the phone call at the end tickled me; like, on the one hand, yes of course Reed would recognise his voice and not need any introduction, and yet on the other, Doom opening a phone call to his nemesis in such a mundane way is just inherently hilarious. And I really liked that we got some development of the children from his visions as more than just fantasy figures, since it gives some insight into how he might potentially relate to children of his own. You're right that they've been kind of circling round the concept of Doom and fatherhood for a while now; I feel like it's an interesting angle to explore, since he's always been tied in with the F4 and their theme of family, and whatever the later traumas he actually had a very good relationship with his parents. The sort of mid-life crisis vibe this series began with links in with that as well - he's achieved pretty much all he could in terms of conquest and heroism, so what's left now but that more neglected side of his life?