Writer: Ryan North
Artist: R.B. Silva
Color Artist: David Curiel
Letter: Travis Lanham
Cover Artist: Ben Harvey
One World Under Doom, Marvel’s latest event series, takes place months after the events of last summer’s Blood Hunt series.
Doctor Doom is now the Sorcerer Supreme. Not a typo.
[Spoilers for 2024’s Blood Hunt to follow].
Last summer, heroes and villains alike with darkforce abilities (Blackout, Cloak, Darkstar, Dusk, Silhouette, Doctor Dark and Shroud) were seized by a mysterious force, their darkforce taken to blot out the sun and turned into portals that allowed a massive vampire army to invade the world lead by a team of “super vampires” called Bloodcoven.
Doctor Strange and Clea try to the Montessi Formula — a spell that would kill all vampires — to save the world, but they don’t have The Darkhold to perform the spell (apparently the book has manifested itself into a young boy who Agatha Harkness and the members of Strange Academy are chasing after). After this realization, Blade shows up on the front steps of the Sanctum and attacks Strange. It turns out The Daywalker is actually the leader of the vampire incursion (so it’s not really Blade, he’s being controlled by Varnae — the first ever vampire). Blade/Varnae turns Strange into a vampire, but luckily The Sorcerer Supreme uses astral projection to escape his corporeal form.
So, in order to stop this vampire incursion (which sees characters like Black Panther turn), the vampire killing spell must be cast. However, the only person who has the power to harness this amount of magic is … Doctor Doom. So, Strange hands over the title of Sorcerer Supreme to the ruler of Latveria (who also has the Darkhold thanks to those pesky Strange Academy Kids). Doom casts the spell in conjunction with strategic strikes from The Avengers and others to end the Blood Hunt.
One World Under Doom #1 brings us to six months after the events of Blood Hunt with Doom taking over every broadcast in the world. He declares that the world is under his control and that the leaders of every country have agreed to his rule. He promises the elimination of war and racism, universal education and healthcare for everyone, and a more harmonious world for all to thrive and survive in.
The masses, who literally just went through a vampire invasion amongst probably every other horrible thing thrown at them in the Marvel universe, seem pretty down for this new world under the Latverian. Well, everyone except two major camps. The first camp is a group of heroes — The Avengers (Captain Marvel, Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson, Scarlet Witch, Storm, Iron Man, Vision, Black Widow, Thor), The Fantastic Four (with Alicia Masters) and various heroes like Squirrel Girl, Spider-Man and Doctor Strange. The second camp is … HYDRA led by Baron Zemo. Both groups attempt to oust Doom — Hydra by force (and the intention of seizing control of the world) and our heroes by exposing Doom as a fraud and restoring the world powers to what they were.
The results are rather shocking for both sides and this is what makes One World Under Doom a fascinating series (so far). The gimmick of Blood Hunt was who in the world of Marvel was going to get turned into a vampire. While the main series (and some of its tie-ins and limited series) had well-crafted stories and suspense, the entire arc itself was built around the concept of “who’s gonna bite it.” After a while, it just felt one-note. With One World Under Doom, we’re presented with a much more though-provoking and troublesome question … “What if the world under Doom is what’s best for mankind?”
This idea that Doom — even through potentially nefarious means — could eliminate war, and create a more fair world for everyone and all he asks for in return is just being cool with him being in charge … is something probably a lot of people would sign up for right now. Also, the brilliance of Doom’s promise of a better world is his ultimate weapon, even more than the powers bestowed upon him as Sorcerer Supreme. How dare anyone challenge his rule — especially his longtime nemesis like The Avengers and Fantastic Four? Do these supposed heroes want the world to revert to a place of war, racial, financial and medical inequality? How dare they? It’s Doom’s best weapon and you have to wonder in future issues and adjacent tie-ins if this will impact our heroes own sense of self and heroism.
And if you’re wondering if this issue is all talk and no action, oh you’re sadly mistaken. One World Under Doom is jam packed with action and makes for one hell of a read.
