These are the last issues from the Claremont run included in my retrospective.
So far it’s been a near complete clusterf##k, but I have fond memories of this two-parter.
Is it just nostalgia or does Claremont really turn things around?
Fantastic Four vol.3 #30 (2000)
by Chris Claremont & Salvador Larroca
That is a great cover! Even though it makes Doom’s armor look a bit tiny.
Reed is still stuck inside Doctor Doom’s armor. Despite the fact that the threat from his Generals is gone at this point, he’s STILL continuing the charade and brings the entire team to Latveria.
Larrocca is a bit too over-the-top for my tastes in this series, but credit where it’s due: the two-page spread showing Latveria is just gorgeous.
Over the years, the FF go back and forth between being aware that Doom is beloved in Latveria and thinking it’s just an act. As do the writers, of course.
At this point Susan knows that something is up, because last issue she discovered Reed is actually fully capable of removing the armor. I’m not sold on her going along with it: why didn’t she confront Reed about it? Especially before moving to what is essentially enemy territory?
The reason given is that Reed is keeping tabs on her and the rest of the team (creepy!). But isn’t going along with his plan MORE dangerous at this point?
I think having Susan discover the secret before reaching Latveria was a big writing mistake.
Reed’s official reason for going there DOES make sense: he wants to get rid of Doom’s weapons.
So why don’t have her discover he has ulterior motives after she’s already agreed to go there, and realize she let her guard down in trusting Reed implicitly?
Especially since that’s exactly what happens with the Human Torch!
When THE HUMAN TORCH is the most reasonable and cautious one, you might not be the best choice for a Fantastic Four writer.
I wonder: does Doom typically let the Doombots handle all this ceremonial stuff?
To keep the Torch and the Thing busy, Reed sends a few robots that he claims have been accidentally activated.
I’m still not sold on the voices Claremont gives the characters: would the Thing REALLY identify Doom’s technology like this?
Don’t worry about them. Invisible Woman’s got this.
Another thing to wonder: what do all these maids do when Doom is the only one around?
Susan goes to sleep thinking about her situation…
And that’s when Doom returns to the story, contacting her through her dreams using Aboriginal magic!!!
That’s right, DOCTOR DOOM CAN SNEAK INTO YOUR DREAMS.
Pleasant nightmares, everyone!
Doom is still wearing the makeshift armor he created in his awesome miniseries, and he wants the real deal back because he knows the power of marketing.
And finally we have the explanation for why Reed has been acting out of character since he’s taken Doom’s place.
To wear Doom armor means you BECOME DOOM. How cool is that!?!?
This… Doom being able to enter dreams and his armor being haunted… is BY FAR the best thing to come out of the Claremont run.
I still can’t believe Claremont is able to nail Doom’s character and motivations so clearly, and yet he completely missed the mark with Reed.
This won’t be the last time the Fantastic Four access Doom’s mystical library.
Reed is so far gone at this point that he’s started to call himself Doom.
You should never go full Doom!
I’ve condensed the scenes, but Susan’s talks with Doom span multiple nights.
The fact that she doesn’t immediately trust Doom is what sells this strange alliance.
She eventually retrieves the device that will allow the real Doom to return.
Only Reed Richards would figure out a way to give stretchy powers to an armor!!!
No matter his armor, Doctor Doom always knows how to make an entrance.
Fantastic Four vol.3 #31 (2000)
by Chris Claremont & Salvador Larroca
When cosplayers disagree on what is the best look.
Invisible Woman might be the most dangerous member of the FF, at least on a physical level, but Doom has been consistently shown to have ways to get around her force field.
Doom’s motivation for stopping Reed is basically “STOP BEING AS COOL AS ME!”.
“Hey Ben, should we do something?”
“Nah, matchstick, we’re useless in this run”
Unfortunately the fight between the two Dooms is rather unimpressive, and Claremont goes overboard with his narration as he typically does.
Doom spending most of the time talking about how great his weapons are EVEN WHEN THEY’RE USED AGAINST HIM, though, is one of the most Doctor Doom things ever.
Without his armor, Doom is at a disadvantage and has to flee thanks to Invisible Woman.
Also note that the Thing and the Torch are STILL convinced Reed is just fine, despite him having gone full Doom.
Doom just can’t help being himself.
He’s also DEFINITELY flirting with her.
Reed’s not the only one being creepy in this storyline.
It’s only a matter of time before Reed finds them, however. Doom is genre savvy enough to know separating is a TERRIBLE idea.
Normally I really hate it when characters drop references that have nothing to do with what’s going on. But Doom namedropping Alexander the Great is something he would definitely do.
Reed isn’t the one to find them: first the Torch is able to identify their “heat profile”…
…and the Thing comes up with a low-tech solution: a glorified stethoscope.
I actually don’t mind this one: it’s perfectly in-character for him, plus both Reed and Doom WOULD completely ignore a mundane solution.
And then Claremont throws away the concept by revealing the Thing was using a Resonance Scanner™, which is CLEARLY something he would be able to come up on his own.
Both the Thing and the Torch manage to find Doom and Susan.
Reed has the excuse of being influenced by the armor, but why Susan is being unnecessarily secretive.
JUST SAY “REED’S BEEN BRAINWASHED”, DAMMIT!!!
So they decide to take Doom prisoner to Reed, and the Torch proposes executing him.
WHICH HE DOES!!!
And then Reed breaks into a true Doom Monologue™ on how everything will be great once he’s taken over the world.
His plan is to divide society into two groups: one that will conquer the universe, and one that will stay behind to play with virtual reality.
Not saying I agree with that plan, but saying this is the same as machines enslaving humanity is a bit of a stretch!!!
This is apparently appalling to Invisible Doom, which… WHY!? That’s basically what Doom has been trying to achieve his entire career!!!
This was all, of course, a group effort to fake Doom’s death.
And so we end with Doctor Doom reclaiming his armor, freeing Reed from its control.
Yeah this is definitely a Doom victory, but I wouldn’t exactly call that “a fair fight”.
This is the best compliment Doom will ever give Reed, and he can’t even hear it.
Doom significance: 5/10
Doom returns to be the ruler of Latveria; he’s been away ever since Onslaught.
Silver Age-ness: 2/10
Reed’s version of Doom-speak has a distinct old-fashioned feeling.
Does it stand the test of time? 7/10
A vast, and I do mean VAST improvement over the rest of the run.
There are several strong points: the idea that wearing Doom’s armor turns you into Doom is AMAZING, as is his ability to enter someone’s dreams.
And his dialogue with Susan is top-notch, with him slowly bringing her to his side.
What seriously damages the story is the truly unnecessary drama for its own sake. The Thing and the Torch trust Reed WAY too much when it’s abundantly clear he’s not himself!
You would think having Reed in full control of Doom’s technology while keeping his knowledge of the team’s tactics, AND the need to ally themselves with Doctor Doom, would be enough to carry the story.
It was a Doombot all along
His robots can do truly absurd stuff, but I refuse to believe they can enter dreams.
Times Doom has saved the world: 13
He helps to stop Reed’s plan, so while the FF probably would’ve done so anyway it still counts.
Times Latveria has been conquered: 12
The country goes back to Doom once again. I’m not counting Reed’s rule because nobody knew it was him and he barely got to do anything.
Crazy tech
Not a whole lot, since the armor possessing Reed is probably mostly magic and Doom being able to easily disrupt Susan’s force field is nothing new.
So I’m giving this to the stretchy armor! Does Doom still have that?