Avengers: Emperor Doom

[mattbib]

As I occasionally do, I re-read this original graphic novel the other day. And it's still as good as ever. Lots of good characters, and, despite not being an FF book, a great look at the character of Doom. I especially loved the way he systematically eliminated all the non-human characters before using Purple Man to take over the world. This is also probably my favorite use of Wonder Man. Ever. I also liked the way Iron Man failed to overcome the brainwashing.

Has anyone NOT read this? I strongly recommend finding it. :)

[Will.S]

I always come VERY close to buying it but I keep thinking that Marvel is going to do a collection including this graphic novel (with better paper). If I can find it for a good price I'll give it a go though.

[Captain Exaggeration]

As I occasionally do, I re-read this original graphic novel the other day. And it's still as good as ever. Lots of good characters, and, despite not being an FF book, a great look at the character of Doom. I especially loved the way he systematically eliminated all the non-human characters before using Purple Man to take over the world. This is also probably my favorite use of Wonder Man. Ever. I also liked the way Iron Man failed to overcome the brainwashing.

Has anyone NOT read this? I strongly recommend finding it. :)

I wish my comic store had some of the old graphic novels. If I find it some time I'll probably pick it up. I love me some Doom stories.

[John Nowak]

It's hard to go wrong with a good Doctor Doom story, yeah.

[XPac]

I definatlely liked that story.

I'm both a Wonderman fan and a Dr. Doom fan, so this was right up my ally. Simon RARELY gets to play hero. And this was a nice character piece for Dr. Doom.

Doom ruling the world did have it's upsides. No racism, no homelessness, no war, no hunger. He didn't spend all day having the population of earth errect giant statues of himself. He really did try and make the world into what he honestly believed was a better place. And even though I feel he was wrong (as free will is more than a little important), you can almost see why he's a guy that does believes he's doing the world a favor.

I was hoping with the resurgence of the popularity of PUrple Man via Bendis, someone might reprint it someday. So far no such luck.

[garin]

The world was absolutely better off under Doom. I liked it that Simon wasn't sure that they'd done the right thing in deposing him.

[DDM]

Doom ruling the world did have it's upsides. No racism, no homelessness, no war, no hunger...

...No free will...

[Shellhead]

This was a great sequel to a good story (Super-Villain Team-Up #14/Champions #16), and like Mattbib said, one of the best Wonder Man stories. It's also a great Dr. Doom story, and a decent Avengers story. I'm not a big fan of Bob Hall's artwork, but he gave a decent effort this time around.

[StoneGold]

In some ways, I hate this as a Doom story. OK, he conquered the world. He got bored with it. So now why does he still try to conquer it?

[XPac]

In some ways, I hate this as a Doom story. OK, he conquered the world. He got bored with it. So now why does he still try to conquer it?

I think Doom wants to conquer the world... he just doesn't necessarily want to rule it (even though he genuinely feels that he'd do a better job than anyone else).

It's sort of similiar to Kang in that effect. The conquering part is less a means to an end, but rather an end unto itself. Once you actually suceed in conquering something, the fun part is basically over.

[DDM]

In some ways, I hate this as a Doom story. OK, he conquered the world. He got bored with it. So now why does he still try to conquer it?

Doctor Doom wants to prove to Reed Richards his plans & technology is far more superior & better. That's all. Doom does not really want to conquer the Earth.

[Shellhead]

I think Doom wants to conquer the world... he just doesn't necessarily want to rule it (even though he genuinely feels that he'd do a better job than anyone else).

It's sort of similiar to Kang in that effect. The conquering part is less a means to an end, but rather an end unto itself. Once you actually suceed in conquering something, the fun part is basically over.

I believe it. Sometimes wanting is better than having. Or as George Alec Effinger once wrote (as near as I can remember), for every beautiful woman, there is a guy who is sick of her dirty underwear on the floor.

[StoneGold]

I believe it. Sometimes wanting is better than having. Or as George Alec Effinger once wrote (as near as I can remember), for every beautiful woman, there is a guy who is sick of her dirty underwear on the floor.

Problem with that is, why does he keep trying to take over the earth then? Generally, when you break up with a girl, you don't try to bang her again, you move on to her hotter sister.

[Kirk G]

I always come VERY close to buying it but I keep thinking that Marvel is going to do a collection including this graphic novel (with better paper). If I can find it for a good price I'll give it a go though.

Does anyone recall a similar graphic novel that was published about the same time called IIRC "The Revenge of the Living Monolith"? As I recall, that was as big a story as Emperor Doom, and actually changed the status of a Marvel character or villian... But didn't necessary stick.

I think I bought them both.
What did you think?

[Mitchel]

This is also probably my favorite use of Wonder Man. Ever.

I don't have this one although a Wonder Man fan scanned most of it and sent it over to my site some years ago when we were discussing it at my message board. I have to agree that this is great use of the character. You can't go wrong with Michelinie writing the character.