Warning: SPOILERS for Doctor Doom #3
After years of supervillainy, Doctor Doom has suddenly become one of the most exciting Marvel characters in comics today. And in almost every way, that sudden surge of popularity is due to developments, twists, and tragedies that Doom himself would rather not have to deal with. The most recent? Being murdered in Doctor Doom #2 before being sent straight to Hell. But for a man like Doom, that's an opportunity, not a curse.
It is almost never the case, but in the early issues of Doctor Doom, the star of the series is actually not totally responsible for the hardships he's now facing. After being framed for killing 3,000 scientists on the Moon, Victor Von Doom was soon after executed by a hired gunman. For most people tha means a trip into the after life. But for Doom, his insistence that it is not yet his time to die actually gets heard. Not necessarily by Mephisto... but by the one woman Thanos always hoped would hear him: Lady Death herself. And she's got big plans for Doom.
Some readers may not be familiar with the age-old romance between Thanos and Death, typically shown to be one-sided. Honestly, Marvel Studios may have changed his motivations for the MCU, but in the original comics, Thanos crafted his entire Infinity Gauntlet epic just to impress Lady Death. And yet, she refused to accept him as her servant or speak a single word in his direction. Two honors that are paid to Doom as he battles Mephisto in Hell, only to have Lady Death intervene on his behalf.
Even if Lady Death doesn't completely bow to Doom's desire to return to the living, she does eventually send him back. Only now, he's apparently functioning as her "greatest servant of all." Considering that she never spoke to Thanos, she certainly didn't grant him such a longed-for title, either. The real question, given what Thanos unleashed upon the universe to serve his mistress, is what Doom will be expected to give in the same role. But that is a question for another issue... and let's just hope Thanos doesn't hear about this. Read on for the full solicitation details and plot synopsis below:
- DOCTOR DOOM #3
- Written by: Christopher Cantwell
- Art by: Salvador Larroca
- Cover by: ACO
- DOCTOR DOOM is dead. For now. In this issue he literally finds himself in Hell, battling against his old foe Mephisto for the control of his own soul. It's an epic underworld fight, the victor of which may have to be decided by an unexpected third party. Meanwhile, the Blue Marvel continues his hunt for the Doctor, and begins to wonder if Victor's more victim than villain...
Doctor Doom #3 is available now from your local comic book shop.