Doom: The Emperor Returns #3 of 3

Title: “Doom: The Emperor Returns:3”

Writer: Chuck Dixon

Penciller: Leonardo Manco

Inkers: Klaus Janson & John Stanisci

Colors: Mariana Sanzone & HiFi Design

Editor: Chase and Brevoort

Doom thinks to himself that the Negative Zone is more challenging than he imagined, but that nothing can stop him from his course. Doom fires in a giant pink squid-like creature that is two kilometers in length. The creature wants to consume Doom, his craft, and the stasis-frozen physical form of his mother. The ship is captured and so Doom jettisons his mother’s body. As Doom is being eaten he tells the creature that he will find him a most unpleasant repast.

Hellscout and Gornkai, the two beings that were watching Doom, say that he has been consumed by the worm and that whatever his motives were that they no longer matter. One notices that the vessel he jettisoned had a lifeform in it. Hellscout asks if it was a living soul. Gornkai says that it was humanoid in life suspension. The two of them go after the lifeform, but Hellscout says that they have to make sure that the intruder cannot threaten the colony. He says that they “cannot abide Satan, no matter what his form”.

Doom bursts forth out of the worm and says that he means death for any that thwart his will.

Back at the colony, Brother Tyndale asks Kenneth Tennyson if he would bring evil to their doorstep. He responds that he sees a soul in need as they look down at the suspended form of Doom’s mother. Tyndale says that Hellscout is supposed to be protecting the colony and yet he brings this to them. Hellscout says that he did what he thought was best. He says that the danger is gone down the worm’s belly. Tyndale looks at the body and says that she hovers just above death and that she is perfectly preserved and ageless. Hellscout’s father shows up and asks what is going on. Hellscout says that he brought the woman there because he sensed no evil in her. His father says that she has no good in her either and that she is without a soul. Hellscout asks how he knows this. He says that he senses this. An alert comes that Pilgrim Rck is under attack. Hellscout asks what is happening and his father says that it is as he foretold. He says that evil begets evil and that he is coming for the “soulless crone” and brings them death and damnation.

Doom followed the energy signature to the colony and opens fire. He says that if they have broken the seal on the chamber that they will die. Doom lands and Hellscout tells him to stand and be recognized. Doom responds that he is Doom. Hellscout asks if that is his name or his nature. Doom says to them he may be both. Hellscoiut attacks Doom with his sword, but it breaks against his armor. Doom says that they are fools to stand against him as he blasts them. Doom inspects the vessel and says that the seal remains intact. He says that his mother is unharmed. Hellscout tells everyone to stay back and that he wants to know what is going on. Doom tells them to stay back. Hellscout says that hey mean him no malice and asks if that is his mother. Doom says that she is her son, but that he has failed her. Hellscout asks how he came to be there. Doom says that he seeks to return home with his mother, but that his vessel was destroyed. Hellscout says that they are not without compassion and that they will help him find his way. Doom asks if they have ships to replace his lost one. Hellscout asks where he wants to go. Doom says that he wants to go back to Earth. Hellscout says that was their homeland before they were charged by god to guard the gateway. He asks Doom how he came to be there. Doom says that he was exiled against his will and that his mother’s soul was torn from her to make his torment greater. He says that he only wishes to reunite her body and soul. Hellscout says to prepare a ship. Hellscout’s father steps up to Doom and says that Doom is a liar. He says that he has looked into his soul and has found Satan. Doom says that he speaks only truth. He grabs the old man’s hands. The old man passes out. He calls the others over and says that the old man was wishing him well on his journey when he passed out. They figure that it may have been a seizure because of his second sight. Hellscout says to take him to the house to rest. Toxins from Doom’s gloves knocked Jacob unconscious. A voice calls to Doom, “I saw what you did. My daddy’s right… you are a bad man.” Doom turns to see Franklin Richards. Franklin says that he knows where bad men go. Franklin is dressed as a devil. He says that Doom tricked him, blew he and the ponies up, made the old man pass out, and now he is going to trick the pilgrim people. Doom says that he destroyed him and saw his corpse, but Franklin points out that he isn’t really real. He says that he is like a video game and that he absorbed him when he absorbed the rest of Planet Doom’s power. Franklin says that he is within the armor and that he needs to reboot the armor to get rid of him. Franklin points out that might kill them both. Doom blasts Franklin again. Hellscout pulls a gun on Doom. He asks if he would kill a child. Doom says that it is a demon and an enemy of his and that it takes on many forms. Franklin reappears in Native American dress. He tells Hellscout that Doom would kill him too and that he just wants his ship. Hellscout says that the boy’s words damn him. Doom says that it is not a boy and that it is an electronic construct. Hellscout tells Gornkai to fly the ship away. Doom blasts Gornkai. Hellscout says that Doom is a betrayer and will die. Two of Hellscout’s shots bounce of Doom’s armor. Doom says that his field is impenetrable. Franklin asks what will happen if he turns the field off. Doom says that his armor is malfunctioning. Hellscout’s next shot floors Doom. Doom launches rockets from his fingers. Franklin asks Doom where he is running to and if his mommy is calling him. Doom boards the ship with his mother’s body and flies off. Franklin tells Hellscout and the others that he will get Doom.

Doom is flying along. He tells his armor to find the new files franklinrichards/exe/bat. The armor locates them and Doom tells the armor to delete them. Franklin appears in a large suit of armor and grabs Doom’s ship out of the air. He says that it will take time to delete the files and that he isn’t going to let him go home. He says that he won’t let him go make more trouble. Dom says that he will also be killing his mother. Franklin says that isn’t his mother. Franklin says that she is no more real than he is, and that by deleting him he is also deleting her. Franklin’s armor grabs the cryogenic chamber and says, “Silly Mister Doom! You always want what you can never have!” Doom says to listen to him, but Franklin says that his mother told him not to listen to strangers. The files are purged and Franklin and Doom’s mother are gone.

Doom thinks about his mother, but realizes that she was just another construct. He says that dwelling on it is unworthy of him and that he has more pressing concerns. On Earth, the Negative Zone portal is breached. Doom’s hand emerges from the portal as he climbs into the Fantastic Four’s base. Doom says, “In the heart of my greatest enemies lair… Doom is home.”

Leader's Lair rating: 4 out of 10

Much ado about nothing. The whole issue just leads to Doom returning to Earth and giving up the power of Planet Doom. Unless you’re a big Hellscout fan the issue just drags. Leonardo Manco’s artwork in this one is pretty lousy. I think that this is one of the instances where Janson’s inks hurt more than they help.