Doom, Doctor Strange: The Oath

Doom 1-3

I’m struggling to remember why I bought this random Doom miniseries.  I’m guessing that I purchased it as an on-sale set when I saw the Manco credit on the cover.  He does art so rarely that I grab it when I see it.  

Chuck Dixon really is the master of the get-in-get-out action story.  Look at how he begins: A naked Doom is stranded on an alien world.  He kills a lion in single combat with his bare hands, fashions an outfit out of it, and sets out to conquer the planet in the span of six pages.  I don’t know why he’s on the mirror Earth planet.  I don’t know why it’s populated by Mad Max rejects.  And I don’t care at all.  Doom is here to kick ass, and I’m completely on board.

Under Dixon’s pen, Doom is basically Batman.  Supremely confident, implacable, and nothing stands between him and his goal.  Plus, there’s the added bonus of the best inner monologues ever.

 

The only time in the history of the world that this wasn't sour grapes and the speaker actually meant it.

Everything he thinks (and says) is another testament to his certainty that the universe is his birthright.  I appreciate that he’s also more than happy to do the work necessary to claim it.  He doesn’t expect it to appear on a silver platter.

Everything he says is a bumper sticker.

Doom doesn't think small.

The story itself takes a complete back seat to Doom’s magnificent, superior opinion of himself.  I was grateful just to have a glimpse into his worldview, and I would have stayed for more if it were available.  (The plot is actually batshit crazy, with post-apocalyptic slavers and giant sea creatures.  Judged on its own merits, it’s really not that good.  But the presence of Doom elevates it to greater heights.  In fact, Dixon’s Doom should show up in all horrible plots.  The world would be a better place for it.)

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? Yes

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty good

Doctor Strange: The Oath 1-5

Things I liked:

The opening page is perfect in its stillness.  Iron Fist casually icing his knee in Night Nurse’s waiting room immediately sets the mood.  Marcos Martin is amazing as usual in this series.  

Simply charming.

Love.  That.  Cape.

The existence of a magical panacea that literally cures all disease provides Brian K Vaughan with the opportunity to raise some interesting questions - Would pharmaceutical companies really destroy such a thing to protect their interests?  Would a wonder drug cause more harm than good (overpopulation, abuse of drugs and sex with no health consequences, etc)?  Given the opportunity to synthesize the drug for the world in exchange for the life of a friend dying in front of you, which do you choose?

It’s unreasonable to expect Vaughan to tackle those issues with any depth in the span of five issues.  There’s an adventure to get on with, after all.  But it was enough for him to bring them up, and it made me think for a couple minutes, which is more than most comics achieve.  

Regret buying? No

Would buy again? Yes

Would read again? Yes

Rating: Pretty good