Fantastic Four #199

FANTASTIC FOUR #199 (1978)
by Marv Wolfman & Keith Pollard

Nice cover by Pollard, even if it spoils a pretty major plot point.

The Fantastic Four are prisoners of Doctor Doom, who is using a machine controlled by a piano (!!!!) to transfer their powers into his “son”.

However he’s interrupted when a mob (complete with pitchforks!) led by Zorba surrounds the castle and threatens to revolt.

When Zorba threatens to tell the world “the secret about your son”, Doom shoots at the crowd!!!

Last issue, Zorba admitted that he resistance had less than fifty people. But apparently they have enough weapons to be a threat to the regime? What!?

Doom is at his most melodramatic in this issue. I really, REALLY don’t like this portrayal.

All of this makes Doom realize that he really should expedite the completion of his statue, confronting Alicia.

He agrees to pose for Alicia while explaining that the reason he’s going to abdicate the throne is to show the world that Latveria can change.
Interestingly, it seems that the United Nations are discussing expelling Latveria.

This is a really, really bad characterization for Doom. The disdain for his subjects is in full display this time, as well as the idea that he really doesn’t care for their well-being and he’s constantly lying all the time.

This is basically turning Doctor Doom into a stereotypical moustache-twirling villain.

Then Mr. Fantastic manages to escape his prison… basically because the writer said so?

So let me get this straight: Reed has a device that can short-circuit anything Doom uses against the FF, even if he has no idea of what exactly it’s going to do? COME ON!!!

The Fantastic Four officially disbanded in issue #195, but since Reed has been without powers from issue #178 this must’ve felt like a really big reunion at the time.

The FF do what they do best and trash Doom’s robots, but there’s something different about Reed’s attitude this time.

Then Doom takes Alicia hostage. And at this point he’s fully transitioned into a generic villain.

With Alicia hostage, Doom puts the Fantastic Four in prison. But while he’s busy with the coronation of his son, Zorba frees them.

He’s also discovered something important.

Doom is about to crown is son…

…except he’s not his son. He’s Doom’s clone.
I wonder how the rules of succession treat clones.

While the Fantastic Four fight a few more robots, the clone transforms into Thing hybrid.

He’s not happy about it, revolting against Doom himself.

He also proclaims that he’s not insane because he’s like Doom before his accident.
I’m sorry, what? What does that even mean!?

This is implying that the clone is a good guy… but he was clearly acting as a villain when he was in charge of Cynthian Associates!
So basically he’s fighting Doom because the script says so.

Doom is NOT taking this well.

There’s something odd watching the clone use Mr.Fantastic’s elastic powers while his body is rocky like the Thing’s. I feel like these two powers should be mutually exclusive.

This conflict seems to come out of nowhere. The idea that Doom subconsciously hates himself has a lot of potential, but why would this lead to him creating a perfect clone?

Doom rejects your simplistic psychoanalysis!!!

This makes Doom so mad that he kills his own clone!!!

The ending makes it look like Doom is asking this to the clone, but as per next issue he’s actually blaming the murder on the Fantastic Four.

Speaking of which: next issue is the last Doctor Doom story of the Silver Age!

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Doom significance: 5/10
Only as a reflection of the next issue, which can’t really exist without this one. Amazingly, Doom’s clone is basically never mentioned after this storyline!

 Silver Age-ness: 7/10
On the Marvel, scale, but still… the clone just HAPPENS to turn into a Thing hybrid at the worst moment?

Does it stand the test of time? 2/10
Some very good Fantastic Four action against the robots. That’s the only good thing about this story… Doom’s characterization and dialogue are abysmal, plus the heavy-handed psychoanalysis was handled poorly.

It was a Doombot all along
Unfortunately, based on next issue this is supposed to be the real Doom.

Destroy the FF!
Obviously this one counts.

 Take over the world
The ultimate goal of this entire storyline.

Crazy tech
The Electro-Magnetic Amplifier ™ in Doom’s armor can kill someone with all the powers of the Fantastic Four.

Supervillains created by Doom: 6
He acted as a villain in previous stories and he gets powers here, so I’m adding his clone “Victor Von Doom II” to the list.