The Last Time Doctor Doom Took Over the World (Part 1) (2025)

The latest crossover gripping theMarvel Universe is “One World Under Doom,” in which Doctor Doomhas taken over the world. I'm excited about this primarily becausethe series is being written by Ryan North, the man who penned my unironically favorite comic book series, “The Unbeatable SquirrelGirl.” I was thrilled when he was given the reins of the FantasticFour and looked forward to more of his take on Doctor Doom,especially since this limited series brings back not only SquirrelGirl, but also Brain Drain and Nancy Whitehead.

But I would be remiss if I didn't pointout this isn't the first time Doom has taken over the world, incontinuity. The first I discovered in the wonderful black-and-whitepages of a Marvel Essential volume, which was some of the best bangyou could get for your comics buck a few years ago, before digitalcomics were plentiful – and un-pirated.

I picked up “Essential Super-VillainTeam-Up” Vol. 1* at a comic show years ago for less than its coverprice of $16.99. It was strictly a volume purchase. I do appreciateDoom as one of Marvel's and comicdom's great villains, but it wasn'ta series I had a particular hankering for or even knew existed. Butever since snagging “Essential X-Men” Vol. 1 with my employeediscount as a seasonal worker at Waldenbooks, I'd known they were agreat deal and gateway to comics I probably wasn't going to be ableto obtain issue by issue.

It wasn't a rotating cast of villains,a la Marvel Team-Up or Two-in-One. Instead, Doom shared a lot of thefeatured issues with Namor, frenemy to both the bad doctor and hisarch-nemeses the Fantastic Four. There were some Red Skullappearances, and two issues, released in 1979 and 1980, featuring theRed Skull and the Hate-Monger.

The 14^th issue was the onlyone to co-star Magneto, but what an issue it was.

It opens with Magneto pushing his waythrough a throng of Latverians celebrating because their monarch,Doctor Doom, told them to. Given that they live under Doom's shadow,the presence of the Master of Magnetism doesn't really impress them,at least not until he topples a statue of their ruler.

Magneto levitates right to Doom'scastle, where he bursts in and informs the Doctor he thinks theyought to take over the world together. Doom is unimpressed with thesuggestion, since, well, he already has.

Seems he's been pumping gas into theatmosphere for a while, which has unknowingly subjugated the world'spopulace to his will. Magneto's not buying it, but it's hard to argueonce Doom forces him to kneel.

But, as it proved for James Bond orwhoever that movie title was referring to, the world is not enoughfor Doom. Magneto's the only person who knows he's in control; noteven the accursed Mister Fantastic realizes he's been beaten. Doomcraves a challenge, and he decides Magneto is the guy to give it tohim. He toasts his opponent with a drugged drink that not only knockshim out but renders him immune to the mind control.

Magneto decides his first move shouldbe enlisting the aid of Earth's Mightiest Heroes, who are,unsurprisingly, not overly receptive when Mags bursts through thedoors of their mansion. He pretty quickly defeats the team** withoutkilling them or even really trying to, making Captain America givehim the benefit of the doubt.

When he tells them why he's there, aholographic projection of Doom appears and orders the heroes to bowbefore him, which they do, including the Vision. I guess androids cannot only cry but also breathe.

Doom, being a sporting fellow orperhaps just still bored, allows Magneto to choose one ally from thegroup. He picks the Beast, I presume for his intellect or banterskills, because there are definitely more powerful options in theroom.

After Magneto uses his powers toreverse the mind control because there's iron in blood and blood inthe brain and comic book science, the Beast decides they should …go enlist the aid of other heroes. I mean, it seems at this pointpretty obvious that Doom wasn't kidding when he said he controlledeverybody, but Hank McCoy's got more Ph.D.s than me.

Neither the Fantastic Four nor theX-Men are home, but Beast informs his erstwhile ally that there's anew team of heroes out on the West Coast, featuring X-alumni Angeland Iceman. Arriving in the Los Angeles, the unlikely duo findthemselves face to face with not only Angel and Iceman, but the restof the Champions – Darkstar, Ghost Rider, Hercules and Black Widow.And guess what? They're not eager to help them either.

A note at the bottom of the pageinforms us this is the last issue of Super-Villain Team-Up*** andthis story will continue in “Champions” #16. That's where we'llpick up next week to find out why Doom had to take over the worldagain all these years later.

This issue is a blast. It encapsulatesso much of what I love about Marvel comics: the shared universe, thehistory, the melodramatic dialogue, the brilliantly simple setup.Doom wins and doesn't have anyone's nose to rub in it, so he startsto undo his success.

I'm not sure how or why Mantlo settledon Magneto as his foil. It seems a natural role for Namor or theThing – I love it when Ben Grimm faces long odds – but thatdoesn't take away at all from the fun of the story. Don't just takemy word for it. If you have Marvel Unlimited or can find the issuesor reprints, read them for yourself.

* - And also the only volume.

** - With nary a melodramatic thoughtbubble about the Scarlet Witch,
who probably hadn't been revealed ashis daughter at this point.

*** - Though three more would bepublished over the next three years.