Doom: The Emperor Returns #1of 3

Title: “Doom: The Emperor Returns: 1

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Penciller: Leonardo Manco

Inker: Leonardo Manco

Colors: Mariana Manco

Editor: Chase and Brevoort

Outside Doom’s city soldiers attack the dome.

Doom says that he offered this world peace, but that his own soldiers mutiny against him. Doom says that sometimes he wonders why he bothers. Lancer says that she is surprised that Doom has doubts. Doom says that he never regrets, as it is a luxury for weaklings. Doom says that he only explores possibilities. Doom says that this is not the place of his birth. He says that it is a construct, an imagining, from the mind of his enemy’s child, Franklin Richards. Doom says that is a bitter irony. He says that he thought he would re-create it in his own image, but that he is opposed “at every turn by smaller minds”. Lancer says that the “smaller minds” combine to be one giant army. She says that she though Atlans was tough, but Doom has trained these men. Doom tells her to spare him her “sardonic observations”. Doom asks Lancer if she is not at all bothered that her world is an imitation of a world that shares the same orbit on the other side of the sun. Lancer says that she just isn’t that existential. She asks if they can concentrate on more immediate concerns. Doom says that he grows tired of universal opposition. He says that he trained the army, and that now that the planet is his they seek to unseat him. Lancer says that about sums it up. She says that they have no gratitude.

A technician calls out that the dome’s energy is falling, and that one more attack will knock it down. Lancer says that they have to route power to the dome. Doom says that there is no more power unless a contingency of his bears fruit. Doom checks in with Deepcore One and asks if they are near completion. The man says that they have run into complications. He says that they are quite indescribable. Doom tells the man to prepare for his arrival. Lancer asks about the city’s defenses. Doom says that is why he has her. He says that she possesses the rarest of commodities… his trust.

Below, the man says that they drilled through the mantle and dropped a shaft one hundred miles towards the core. The man keeps going on until Doom tells him to get to the point. The man takes Doom to the planet’s insides to reveal that the entire interior of the planet is covered with artificial construction. He starts to tell Doom what he thinks, but Doom cuts him off and tells him not to presume to share his “feeble imaginings” with him.

Above, SHIELD’s dreadnought has breached the outer defenses. They’re dropping field disruptor that are attuned to the dome’s frequency. Lancer asks how long they have. The man says that it may be minutes or even seconds. Lancer yells out for Doom.

Below, Doom says that he should have known. He says that he had an inkling that Planet Doom is artificial in every respect, and that its brain is here at its core. Doom says that it is so massive that even he recognizes it as wondrous. He says that it is a reality engine. The driller asks Doom if this is god. Doom asks if the man is still there, and tells him to get out as he has much to do without listening to his whining. Doom says that it is a masterless brain programmed with the task of keeping the illusion of a live world. Doom says that it was masterless until today. Doom shoots a link into the machinery so he can commune with it and know all. The machine defends itself against Doom. Doom struggles, but says, “You are a machine! Stupid and lifeless! You cannot best… Doom”.

Above, the dome has fallen. Lancer says that even if Doom were here he would realize that this is suicide. Doom’s men start retreating. Lancer wonders what Doom could be doing that is so important. The bombardment is over. The attackers now send in the Iron Men.

Within the mindscape of the machine Doom floats. Doom says that he will not be toyed with. He says that he is Doom. A child’s outline calls him doody. Doom says that this place is not real. The outline says that it is his place, his world. Doom says that he knows who he is. He says that he is the son of Richards. The outline takes the form of Franklin Richards. He asks what Doom is doing there, and that he doesn’t want him there. Doom says that the planet is the re-creation of Franklin’s brain. “Franklin” says that he guesses so, but that he has to go as it is past his bedtime. A giant hand comes out of nowhere and grabs Doom. Franklin tells Doom to have fun with Mr. Celestial. Doom tells Franklin that if he kills him that his world is lost. Franklin asks what he means and says that it is his world. He says that he does what he wants, and makes the rules. He says that it is all pretend anyway, but that it feels real like when Mr. Celestial is going to chew him up. Doom tells Franklin to listen to him.

Above, the Iron Man are going through the city like a hot knife through butter. Suddenly Lancer appears out of nowhere in a ship. She blasts the Iron Men. Lancer says that if they think she is being tough on him they should be thankful that the doctor isn’t in. The Iron Men start to regroup. Suddenly Lancer is knocked from her ship by a metal tentacle. The man inside the suit recognizes Lancer and then introduces himself as General Otto Octavius.

Below, Doom tells Franklin that the world he made is in chaos. He says that it faces total destruction, and that only he can save it. Franklin says that Doom had better not be kidding. Doom says, “Doom does not jest.” Franklin tells Doom to catch and throws a soccer ball at him. Doom palms the soccer ball in the air. He says that he tried to bring peace to his world through his order. Franklin says that Doom can’t run everything, and that this is his pretend. Franklin tells Doom to give him his ball back. Doom holds the ball above Franklin’s reach. He says that his pretend is a cruel and soulless place. He says that its creation was hasty and ill conceived. He says that it was the work of a child, and though a powerful child, it is still immature. Doom says that he could complete the vision. Franklin stops jumping for the ball and says, “A happy pretend?” Doom says that it would be happy. He says that Franklin must surrender control of the planet, and then he will give him back his ball. Franklin says that his dad says that he is a bad man, and that Uncle Ben says that he is the “baddest guy ever”. Doom asks Franklin if he has ever done anything bad, something that was wrong, something that he was sorry for. Franklin says that he has. Doom says that he wanted to be forgiven and would do anything to make it right. Franklin agrees. Doom tells Franklin to look at his face, and says that he has been punished for his sins. He tells Franklin to let him redeem himself by making his world a paradise. Franklin asks if there will be ponies. Doom says that if he wants that there will be ponies. Franklin says that Doom can run things. Doom says that he will not be sorry. Franklin says that Doom isn’t as bad as mom and dad said he was.

Above ground, General Octavius and the Iron Men are celebrating their victory. Suddenly there is a energy field on the horizon sweeping towards them. Octavius wonders if this is the work of Doom, and if this is the end. The field sweeps over them.

Franklin says that wasn’t so bad. Doom says that only one of his intellect could absorb the knowledge and power of a world. Franklin double checks that it is going to be a happy place. Doom says that it will, and Franklin reminds him that he promised. The two of them ride an elevator to the surface. Franklin says, “I can’t wait to see what you did, Mister Doom.” Doom says that he is called ‘Doctor Doom’. Doom amazes himself as he reaches the surface. Franklin says, “cool” as he looks out at the beautiful village that resides below an enormous mountain that houses a large castle on top. Doom says that this is Planet Doom as it was meant to be, and as the world would be under his leadership… perfection.

Leader’s Lair rating: 9 out of 10

This is Doom at his finest. Doom is back the way that he is supposed to be. His ambition has taken over. It is not good enough to rule an artificial planet unless you have the power of the planet at your disposal. Doom again takes power that would destroy a lesser man and shows why he is the greatest villain in the Marvel Universe. Manco’s style is very harsh, but it works very well with this story. My only real critique is that some of the above ground battle is a little sketchy and confusing at first. Still an excellent issue overall.