Fantastic Four #600 (2011)
by Jonathan Hickman & Steve Epting
cover by Gabriele Dell’Otto
Since this is both the 600th issue and the 50th anniversary there’s A LOT going on in this issue, but the Doctor Doom involvement is quite limited.
We continue from last time, with Evil Reed Richards and Regular Nathaniel Richards taking Doctor Doom back to Latveria. With Doom still wearing the collar that has been used to lobotomize other Dooms by Evil Reed.
Kristoff, who is currently ruling Latveria in Doom’s absence, is not a fan.
While this is going on, the New York heroes are busy keeping an alien invasion at bay. And the Future Foundation kids fwoomp the top of the Baxter Building elsewhere, something that is going to matter soon.
And the Human Torch returns from the Negative Zone: not only he’s not dead, but he’s in control of Annihilus and his army now.
There’s a lot to love in Fantastic Four #600… the way Johnny Storm survived and returned is a great showcase of his hidden depts, and there’s a great little story about Franklin… but that’s not Doom related, and we have to move on.
FF vol.1 #12 (2012)
by Jonathan Hickman & Juan Bobillo
cover by Steve Epting
At this point both Fantastic Four and FF continue as separate series.
But while Fantastic Four is still blessed by incredible Steve Epting artwork, he only does the cover for FF…
…but the pencils are by Juan Bobillo, and they’re absolutely atrocious.
I mean, Hickman is still going to deliver a great story with top-notch dialogues and great moments for Doom…
…but when the artwork LOOKS LIKE THIS, it seriously loses all gravitas.
But back to the story: now we have Evil Reed, Doom, Kristoff, Nathaniel and Valeria all together to brainstorm.
Well, I’ve been keeping him Evil Reed the whole time, but that doesn’t really distinguish him from the rest of the Council Of Reeds.
Bentley is right: Jerk Reed is a better name.
Doom is not really feeling this artwork either.
But he’s also still upset about the collar that Jerk Reed attached to him last time.
For the smartest man of your universe, Jerk Reed, you’re really naïve if you believe Doom is not constantly fantasizing about incinerating you.
Jerk Reed’s goal this entire time has been rebuilding the Stargate portal that will bring him back to the old Council headquarters.
FF vol.1 #13 (2011)
by Jonathan Hickman & Juan Bobillo
cover by Mike Choi
Well that’s one upsetting cover if I’ve ever seen one. In a good sense, mind you.
Too bad the artwork inside is still crap.
Once on the other side, they find what destroyed the Council Of Reeds: the Mad Celestials.
“Oh boy” indeed.
The reason why the gang went to Latveria is that they need a bunch of Doombots to stall the Celestials for a while.
Take a moment to consider that Doctor Doom has at his disposal dozens of Doombots that can WITHSTAND CELESTIALS for a few seconds!
Yes they go down immediately, but against THE CELESTIALS the fact that they keep up AT ALL is incredibly impressive!
Jerk Reed has been wearing an Infinity Gauntlet the whole time, but since it only works in HIS universe and not this one it’s not as useful as you’d think.
Valeria has brought a valid argument to convince Jerk Reed to free Doctor Doom: the ULTIMATE NULLIFIER (which was in Regular Reed’s possession at the time).
Can she also use it to nullify the artist for making her look absolutely ridiculous?
So Doctor Doom is FINALLY able to act on his own.
He better hurry, because now the Mad Celestials are keeping the portal open: there’s nothing stopping them from reaching the regular timeline.
Jerk Reed volunteers to stay behind with the Ultimate Nullifier…
…but Doom also volunteers.
Man, if only we had better artwork. This would be one of Doom’s most badass moments.
FF vol.1 #14 (2012)
by Jonathan Hickman & Juan Bobillo
cover by Mike Choi
Well at least the covers are still amazing.
We learn in a flashback that Nathaniel and Valeria have been discussing how to deal with the multiple crisis (because there’s lots of stuff also going on in the other Fantastic Four book now).
Valeria has a theory.
Nathaniel trusts Doom to be Doom enough to save the day, but he’s also suspicious he’ll be too Doom.
Back to the present: you would think that Jerk Reed would have victory in his hands when he has the Ultimate Nullifier.
But that weapon has a catch: it’s only as powerful as the conviction of its user, and it’s not easy to use it against a god.
Watching Jerk Reed be disintegrated, and facing multiple Space Gods… Doctor Doom has a boast so badass that it makes you forget the artwork.
That’s when we see a flashback to the previous issue that includes a lot more dialogue.
Got to love that “some of us like you that way”.
Again, this would be SO cool with another artist! In particular just cannot take Valeria seriously when she’s drawn like this… sure, her age is more than a little vague in this period, but she’s not a baby!!!
Despite his boasts, however, even Doom doesn’t seem entirely certain he’ll pull through.
For about two seconds.
And so Doctor Freaking Doom holds his ground AGAINST FOUR CELESTIALS.
Aaaaand it’s pretty much for nothing since one of the Mad Celestials still ch-chunks into the main timeline.
FF vol.1 #15 (2012)
by Jonathan Hickman & Nick Dragotta
Going rapidly through this one since technically speaking Doom doesn’t appear.
But his sacrifice wasn’t in vain: it bough exactly as much time as Valeria hoped.
Kristoff is not taking this well.
As is Reed.
Ultimately the whole reason for causing the delay was to give time from Future Franklin and Future Valeria to reach the present.
FF vol.1 #16 (2012)
written by Jonathan Hickman
pencils by Nick Dragotta & Steve Epting
cover by Mike Choi
The conclusion to the main storyline, plus the epilogue which I’ll cover next time.
Good news: the terrible artwork is gone!
Why was it so important to summon Future Franklin?
Well… just see Fantastic Four #604: the dude HAS GALACTUS AS HIS HERALD.
And Future Valeria was able to manipulate everyone from behind the scenes, including her younger self.
But back to THIS story, which deals with the aftermath of Future Franklin saving the universe.
This story also states that Franklin is destined to become the Galactus of the next universe once his own dies, which based on other stories MIGHT still be canon.
But what’s important for us is that Doctor Doom not only survived the Mad Celestials (!!!)…
…not only he’s found the TWO Infinity Gauntlets left behind by the Council Of Reeds…
…but he has gathered the so-called Parliament Of Doom: his counterparts mindwiped by the Reeds.
That’s… probably not good.
Doom significance: 8/10
Not only this will lead to another badass Doom moment next time, but it’s also kind of the first step towards the new Secret Wars.
Silver Age-ness: 0/10
Not really.
Does it stand the test of time? 8/10
Have I mentioned how much the artwork sucks in the Doom-centric issues?
Just imagine Doom’s last stand penciled by Epting, or even by Kitson like the previous issues!
I’ve liked Bobillo’s artwork in She-Hulk, but there his caricatural style was definitely a better match than what is supposed to be an epic adventure of cosmic proportions.
Also I have BARELY scratched the surface of the Hickman run, which is incredibly complex without feeling overly complicated. Highly recommended to all Fantastic Four fans.
It was a Doombot all along
Between the mind-dampening collar and the whole Celestial business, definitely not the case.
Times Doom has saved the world: 18
All hope lies in Doom.
Crazy tech
No wonder there are Doombots that can be useful to stall Celestials: DOOM HIMSELF can withstand an attack from the Space Gods! And there’s no indication they were particularly holding back.