SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP #12 (1977)
by Bill Mantlo & Bob Hall
Cover by Dave Cockrum
Doctor Doom fighting Nazis on the Moon!!! What else is there to say!?
Last issue, Doom prevented the Red Skull from controlling Earth with Doom’s hypnotic satellite.
Red Skull has teleported to his Moon base (!!!), so Doom follows him taking the Shroud but leaving Captain America and Namor behind.
This is also the death of Rudolfo, the previous ruler of Latveria who helped Doom last issue.
It’s not actually clear that he dies… he was struck by the Red Skull last time and looked alive… but future stories will say that he died from his injuries, and this is his only panel of this story.
We continue the theme of nobody liking the Shroud. That’s fine for me, he’s still in his insufferable phase. And once again: he’s supposed to be blind, but good luck figuring that out!!!
Doom has the best insults.
We finally get an explanation on how Red Skull was able to take over Latveria during Doom’s latest absence: buying his weapons from Doom himself.
If you think Doctor Doom is a bad boss, you don’t want to know how it is working for Red Skull.
Although if you think that working for a Nazi with a skull for a head is a bad idea, you probably deserve this.
I’m not usually a big fan of Bob Hope’s art, but he’s on fire this issue.
Then we get to Red Skull and his space suit!
I cannot believe that they didn’t sell action figures of this.
This is now an 80s cartoon, isn’t it?
Doom is not impressed.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why Doctor Doom is the freaking best!!!
I could read an 80 page special entirely made of scenes with Doctor Doom fighting Red Skull on the Moon.
Doom still falls prey to his only real weakness: pride.
But he STILL keeps fighting, no matter how little sense it makes that his Freeze-Unit ™ still works on the Moon!
In the end Red Skull, and especially his leadership skills, prove to be no match for Doctor Doom.
Red Skull is abandoned on the Moon, and Doctor Doom goes back home for a much-deserved nap.
This is one of the greatest comics ever published and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Doom significance: 6/10
This is technically Rudolfo’s last appearance. A pity that he doesn’t have anything to do with the story itself.
Silver Age-ness: 10/10
On the Marvel scale, sure, but fighting Nazis in power armor on the Moon!!!
Does it stand the test of time? 10/10
I think I need a cigarette, and I don’t even smoke.
It was a Doombot all along
Yes it COULD be a robot, but why deny this awesomeness to the real Doom?
Take over the world & Destroy the FF!
Not at all! In fact…
Times Doom has saved the world: 3
For the second time on a row!
Crazy tech
The Ionic Blade ™ needs to be used again!