Doom: The Emperor Returns #2 of 3

Title: “Doom: The Emperor Returns: 2”

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Penciller: Leonardo Manco

Inker: Leonardo Manco

Colors: Mariana Sanzone & HiFi Design

Editor: Chase and Brevoort

Doom feels the rush of data from all the knowledge of an entire world. Doom says that was exquisite. Doom reels from the overwhelming nature of what he is going through. “Franklin Richards” asks Doom if he is all right and tells him that it will be over soon. After it stops, Franklin asks Doom if he feels smart. Doom says that his intelligence has increased a hundred fold. Doom says that the world is his to shape as he sees fit. Franklin reminds Doom about the ponies and Doom says that there will be ponies. Doom and Franklin look out over Planet Doom. Franklin says that this place is awesome. Doom says that this is Latveria, not as it was, but as Doom wished it to be. A feeling wells up in Doom, and he thinks that it is good that his tear ducts were seared away years ago because he wouldn’t want to shed tears. The new Lancer appears and says that she has been looking for him. She says that the people are concerned when their liege is absent. Doom says that he had duties elsewhere, but that now he returns to the service of his citizens. Franklin, now dressed as a cowboy, asks him about his promise. Doom says that he has not forgotten. Franklin looks over and sees ponies. Franklin runs to them. Doom says that he always keeps his promises. Doom blasts the ponies and Franklin together. As Doom and Lancer walk away Lancer says that it is good to have him home. Doom says that it is good to be home at last. All that is left of Franklin and the ponies is a horseshoe and a cowboy hat.

As Doom walks through the streets the people cheer him. Doom says that it is gratifying to know that the people appreciate his efforts. A guard menacingly murmurs to the crowd to show more enthusiasm.

They walk into Castle Doom, and Lancer says that Doom acts like he has never seen it before. Doom says that in many ways he has not. Doom asks Lancer if everything has proceeded in his absence. Lancer says that his laws are still there even when he is not. Doom asks if there is peace worldwide. Lancer asks him he would tolerate conflict. Doom says that he would not. Lancer says that the entire world is content to follow Doom’s book of laws, and that a copy is in every home in the world. Doom asks about his enemies, but Lancer doesn’t understand. She says that it is unthinkable to oppose him. Doom rubs his head and says that it is a paradise then. Lancer says that there is another that missed him while he was gone. Doom looks up to see his mother. Doom says that he dared not hope that he could restore her. Doom asks his mother if she doesn’t recognize him. Lancer says that it seems as though the woman’s soul is absent. Doom says that it is absent, and that he knows that it is in hell.

Later, Doom checks in with his scientists and asks them what progress they have made. They apologize to Doom, as they have made no progress at all. They suggest that maybe they missed a procedure. Doom says that they are all the most brilliant minds on the planet, and that they are nearly as smart as he is. Doom starts to say that if they followed his orders that they should not have failed, but he is cut off by one of the scientists. Doom looks over to see who would dare interrupt him. Doom sees his world’s Reed Richards. Doom says that he is still arrogant and defiant as he grabs Richards by the throat. He says that the blame must lie with him then. He says that Richards does not want his mother restored, and that even here and now he thwarts his desires. Doom drops Richards to the ground dead. Doom tells Richards to take a message to his mother in hell. Doom says that he will free her.

Doom holds a book as he stands on a pentagram (starred circle). He says that science has failed him, but that he is the master of more that the physical plane. Doom says that his family history extends back to the shadowy and mysterious origins of the Romani, and that it is these skills that he will use to free his mother. Doom calls out to his mother. A voice answers him. Doom sticks out his hand to guide his mother back, but a demon grabs Doom’s hand. Doom asks who the demon is. The demon says that Doom is going to bark his name “in the deepest ring of Gehenna.” The demon says that Doom’s mother howls for him, and asks if Doom really thought he would bring his mother to this empty place. He says that it would be so much easier to bring Doom to her. Doom shouts never and releases his glove that is still in the demon’s grip. The demon says that Doom amuses them, and that it is almost a pity to take him from this hollow fantasy that he has created. The demon says that this is a torment that they never would have conceived of. Doom reads some words and the demon disappears. As it goes the demon says that Doom wins for now, but that they have an eternity to wait for him. Doom sits alone on the floor dismal for his failure.

Doom looks out over his world and says that all is as it should be, and yet the demon did not lie when he said that it was a hollow world, a self-indulgent illusion. Lancer tells Doom that he seems troubled. Doom says that he doesn’t know this place, and that he doesn’t know her. He says that she is a shadow of the Lancer he knew, and that she is useless to him as a slave. Doom says that the experiment does have some merit since it has given him a bitter taste of what might be. Doom says that he must return to his real home where he will work to accomplish his goals instead of wishing them into existence. Doom walks to his teleportation device. Lancer says that she doesn’t understand, but Doom just says that she cannot understand, and that it is beyond her ability to grasp. Doom doesn’t teleport away. He says that he is thwarted again. Doom checks the controls and sees that all is functioning on this end. Doom wonders what is happening on the other side of the sun.

At the true Latervia, two men are monitoring the seismograph. One says that it is approaching nine. The other says that soon the tremors will exceed the tolerances for even the castle. They ask “Doom” what to do, but the doombot just says that everything will be fine. A tremor hits and the doombot falls over and explodes. The castle crumbles.

Doom stands on Planet Doom and says, “The fools”. Doom says that there is only one recourse for him. Doom says that it is a pathway fraught with peril. Lancer asks, “Doom knows fear?” Doom says that he fears nothing, but that there may be forces that will try to delay him, and that he does not tolerate delay even from the Negative Zone. Doom says that there is another portal in the Baxter Building of Earth Prime. Lancer asks if they are to travel through the mad swirling void. Doom says that only he is going. Doom says that Lancer is staying behind “in this vapid monument” to his vanity. He says that after he goes that she will be restored to her true nature. He says that he is traveling to the world of his birth, and from there he “might yet pluck my mother from the fires of perdition.” As Doom begins to pass through the portal, Lancer asks him if he will ever return. Doom says that perhaps he will, and that she may be of use to him again.

Doom rockets through the Negative Zone. Two armored figures watch him as he goes.

Leader’s Lair rating: 6 out of 10

The story is an enticing one, but one without much delivery as of yet. Doom wants to save his mother from hell… though I don’t get why he thinks he will have more success doing it from Earth Prime than he did from Planet Doom. It’s still a good premise and a good story. Again Doom is unsatisfied with a sterile and quick victory (as he was in the Marvel Graphic Novel Emperor Doom). It seems that Doom is more satisfied with the struggle than the actual results. Manco’s art struggles a little in this issue. It’s still good, but I think that Mariana Manco’s inks sit a little better on his pencils. Perhaps the added responsibility of inking caused him to be a little hurried and the attention to detail isn’t quite there.