For the past four issues, Doctor Doom has been on an absolute winning streak, clashing with Earth’s mightiest heroes, the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four. Now, in One World Under Doom #5, he sets his sights on an even greater threat: Dormammu. And what a showstopper it is!
One World Under Doom #5 opens with a battered but triumphant Dr. Doom, having survived Dormammu’s assault and, more importantly, saving Earth’s heroes. Now, with the decision to either surrender to Dormammu or join Doom in battle, the stage is set for an epic showdown. With the combined forces of the Avengers, X-Men, and Fantastic Four, Doom becomes an unstoppable force. The art is incredible, especially a double-page spread of all the heroes charging. Doom cleverly uses Scarlet Witch to cut Dormammu’s power, leading to awesome superhero action with all sorts of blasts and special abilities. In a shocking twist, Doom even gets a new power-up to “neutralize” Dormammu, winning the day.
After the big win, Doom’s people are celebrating him, and there’s even a convenience spell that seems to guarantee his rule forever. The heroes, meanwhile, are cleaning up and trying to figure out Doom’s masterful plan. Thor even wonders if Doom, despite his reputation, might be the right leader for Earth. But Tony Stark quickly points out the obvious: his name is Doom! The issue ends with a cliffhanger, promising more exciting developments to come.
Marvel Comics
One World Under Doom #5 truly ramps up the action, delivering a satisfying first drop of the dominoes that will eventually topple Dr. Doom’s control over the Marvel Universe. It’s a great read. One of the standout moments is the subtle hesitation when Doom gives Scarlet Witch her command, and Wanda turns to Carol for approval. It’s a small detail, but it speaks volumes about the team’s relationships and the chain of command within the Avengers, with Carol currently leading. It’s a nice touch by North that subtly highlights the team’s dynamics.
The art by R.B. Silva continues to shine, and colorist David Curiel elevates it to an incredible level with out-of-this-world colors. Doom’s dark green armor continues to radiate the perfect amount of evil, and all the energy attacks from the Avengers and Dormammu look magnificent. The grand set pieces are awesome and truly pop off the page, feeling like a brand-new, shiny toy. This book looks fantastic, thanks to the synchronized effort of this art and color team.
The Invisible Woman is a true standout in this issue. Ryan uses her powers in incredibly creative ways, and the panel where she turns the ground and rubble invisible is simply gorgeous, powerful, graceful, and perfectly rendered by Silva and Curiel.
While the plot is spectacular and seeing all the heroes team up against Dormammu is awesome, it can feel a bit contrived. That big moment, though visually impressive, lacked a deeper thematic punch beyond simply looking “damn cool.” Why is Doom ordering the Avengers around? Because the plot was constructed to lead to that very moment, and while, again, it looks super cool, it doesn’t feel earned by Doom. I mean, when even Dormammu is questioning why the heroes are obeying Doom, it really makes the heroes look pretty lame and only makes Doom seem more impressive.
There’s also some subtle political commentary woven in. Dr. Doom has the populace enthralled, with his news outlets subtly pushing the idea that a supervillain ruling them is a good thing. It eerily echoes current news cycles and hits uncomfortably close to home. But in this scenario, Doom is actually doing good, which even the heroes acknowledge. However, we, the readers, know better, and it’s clear he’ll eventually slip up, as we see in that jaw-dropping cliffhanger.
Marvel Comics
Beyond the art, letterer Travis Lanham delivers excellent work with clean, easy-to-read lettering and some fantastic onomatopoeia, from Dormammu’s magical energy beams to Tony’s unibeam and that satisfying left hook from Invisible Woman. All these elements combine to create very exciting action that truly draws you in.
If there’s a negative, it’s that the heroes constantly caught off guard by Doom. They have no idea how he’s getting the upper hand, and for the ‘World’s Mightiest Heroes,’ it’s pretty embarrassing to be outsmarted issue after issue. But ultimately, it’s a thought-provoking story, and that helps to gloss over some of the more frustrating plot points.
One World Under Doom #5 delivers an action-packed issue where Doctor Doom leads Earth’s heroes against Dormammu, showcasing incredible art and subtle political commentary. Despite some contrivances and the heroes seeming easily outsmarted, it’s a satisfying read that sets the stage for future developments. This series is the event of the summer; if you are not reading it, you’re missing out!
‘One World Under Doom’ #5 When Villains Lead and Heroes Follow
One World Under Doom #5 delivers an action-packed issue where Doctor Doom leads Earth’s heroes against Dormammu, showcasing incredible art and subtle political commentary. Despite some contrivances and the heroes seeming easily outsmarted, it’s a satisfying read that sets the stage for future developments. This series is the event of the summer; if you are not reading it, you’re missing out!
