Review of Doom Issue #1

Written by: Jonathan Hickman

Art by: Sanford Greene

Colors by: Rachelle Rosenberg, Sanford Greene

Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover art by: Sanford Greene, Matthew Wilson

Cover price: $6.99

Release date: May 15, 2024

Doom #1 imagines a future where everyone and everything Dr. Doom ever cared about was consumed by the unceasing hunger of Galactus. What will Doom do against an unstoppable force?

Well, this issue was a pleasant surprise, and considering the oddities of other Jonathan Hickman experiments brewing at the moment, the most readable and entertaining comic yet. Hickman has also expressed an affinity for all things godlike and cosmic, so this issue hits Hickman’s sweet spot.

Doom #1 is a standalone tale set in the not-so-distant future. Galactus showed signs of allowing his never-ending hunger to drive him into a frenzy, with that path of world-eating destruction headed right for Earth. Dr. Doom set out to face the giant in single combat inside a gigantic mech suit. Unfortunately for Doom, he lost.

Two years later, Doom is found floating in space by Valeria Richards. Doom barely survived with the few functioning pieces of his armor and magic. Valeria and H.E.R.B.I.E retrieve Doom’s body and take him to a temporary shelter where they administer healing aid and tell Doom what’s happened in the years since his disappearance.

Undeterred by Doom’s attack, Galactus continued to consume world after world. Earth’s mightiest heroes and villains assembled for a last stand, but it wasn’t enough, and the Earth was left a lifeless husk. Later, the galaxy’s mightiest cosmic heroes and villains assembled to stop Galactus, but it wasn’t enough.

Eventually, the Celestials arrived to pass judgment on Galactus’s destruction, and even they were powerless to stop Galactus’s accumulated power. Further, Galactus used the confrontation as an opportunity to take the Ultimate Nullifier for his goal of destroying the universe so that it may be reborn.

Valeria infuses Doom with a radical concoction of power, tech, and magic to restore his body. She gifts him new armor forged from unbreakable metals and powered by Infinity cubes. Stronger than ever, Doom, Valeria, and H.E.R.B.I.E begin a coordinated attack against Galactus to destroy the Ultimate Nullifier or die trying.

What’s great about Doom #1? Hickman’s cosmic tale of Doom fighting against hope at the end of all things is a fast-paced, massive (in scale) vision of the future that casts Doom in a new light while maintaining the authenticity of his character. Further, Hickman’s penchant for cosmically over-complicated narration is completely absent, which is a big positive.

What’s not so great about Doom #1? The means and method of Doom’s survival after the first fight gets shortchanged. Otherwise, this is a thoroughly enjoyable comic.

How’s the art? Sanford Greene’s art style pays respect to the Kirby aesthetic and blends in a slightly cartoonish anatomy sensibility that’s reminiscent of a classic Disney cartoon. You’d think those two styles would be incompatible, but it works well here.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Doom #1 is a surprisingly engaging, dramatic, and entertaining comic about Dr. Doom facing the greatest threat to the universe alone. Hickman’s fondness for cosmically-oriented situations hits a sweet spot, and Greene’s eclectic art style looks great.