Ryan North and R.B. Silva’s One World Under Doom #2 sees Doom conquer the world, twice defeating its heroes. The Fantastic Four, his oldest foes, are next. But Doom has a secret weapon: Valeria Richards. Can she stop him from unleashing a catastrophic fate on her family and forever altering the Marvel Universe? Let’s dive in!
The comic opens in Arizona with the Fantastic Four tangling with some carjackers. They’re in disbelief and suspicious over the world’s acceptance of Emperor Doctor Doom. We then meet with Valeria Richards, who secretly confronts “Uncle Doom,” questioning his true motives. Doom teleports them to a Canadian town and challenges her to defend democracy? Valeria argues for collective action against selfish rule, but Doom claims only he can save humanity, citing his past good deeds. Valeria sees through his pretense, recognizing his lust for power, glory, and control. Flash forward, and Doom’s open border declaration is met with cheers in New York. The Fantastic Four crashes the event, demanding his surrender. However, Doom, anticipating their arrival as before, uses civilians as shields and reverts the Thing to human form. Outmatched, the heroes retreat, the Avengers plan their response, and a surprising villain group enters the fray.
Credits: Marvel Comics
Ryan North is making Doctor Doom surprisingly sympathetic by giving him admirable goals like free education, excellent healthcare, and open borders. The brilliance is, of course, that it’s coming from a supervillain, so you know there’s a catch. Seriously, props to North for crafting a story that has me agreeing with a villain in some weird way! Never thought I’d say that.
The dynamic between Doom and Valeria Richards is also interesting, especially seeing Doom in a caring, fatherly light, even though I’m unfamiliar with their history. Their conversations are well done, too. North almost convinces you that Doom is the best thing for humanity, but you can’t forget his desire for a dictatorship. He handles this carefully, making their conversations impactful and both viewpoints clear and believable, again showing North’s great writing.
The initial splash page featuring Valeria hugging Doom is undeniably cool. R.B. Silva effectively showcases Doom’s power through his stance alone, and David Curiel’s colors beautifully highlight the red cape against Doom’s signature green. The panel has an interesting, almost unsettling tension, likely due to the unexpected interaction between these two – like a friendly chat with a known killer. This contrast oddly strengthens the story.
Credits: Marvel Comics
While R.B. Silva brings his artistic talent, some of the panels feel visually cluttered with a lot going on. The characters’ faces also look very similar, almost as if they share a single model. This can be distracting, creating the impression of identical figures in different costumes.
The visceral sound effects – “SCRNAKKT!” as The Thing smashes and “CRRUNCRK!” as Invisible Woman crunches a doombot – truly land with impact, thanks to letterer Travis Lanham. Even the simple “SNAP” carries weight, especially when paired with the recurring visual of green magic radiating from Doom, evoking a powerful feeling reminiscent of Thanos’ iconic snap.
One World Under Doom #2 sees Doctor Doom conquer the world and twice defeat its heroes, with the Fantastic Four as his next target. While Ryan North’s clever writing makes Doom surprisingly sympathetic by pursuing desirable goals with a villainous twist and a compelling Doom-Valeria dynamic, R.B. Silva’s art suffers from cluttered panels and similar character faces.
‘One World Under Doom’ #2 Review: Doom and Valeria Debates Democracy
One World Under Doom #2 sees Doctor Doom conquer the world and twice defeat its heroes, with the Fantastic Four as his next target. While Ryan North’s clever writing makes Doom surprisingly sympathetic by pursuing desirable goals with a villainous twist and a compelling Doom-Valeria dynamic, R.B. Silva’s art suffers from cluttered panels and similar character faces.
