Dr. Doom #4: Including both Doom AND Gloom

So far, I’ve been really impressed with this Dr. Doom series, but the past two issues have really tested my patience if you will. I wasn’t over the moon happy with last issues “Hell story”, and this issue won’t top my “best of 2019” list. The biggest problem that I had was the writing. Author Christopher Cantwell does a fine job with the dialogue and the overall story, but what ruins it for me is that there’s a conversation going on the whole issue which you read without seeing exactly who is speaking. I’m not a big fan of this story within a story device in writing, but here it not only doesn’t work, but it also hurts the main narrative. Even when it’s revealed who’s doing the talking, it still doesn’t really make much sense. The one good part is that the issue has a really healthy dose of guest-stars. The issue also furthers the uneasiness between Symkaria and Latveria, which turns really interesting when the Prime Minister of one of the nations pulls a “King Ralph”! I just realized that not everyone reading this will get that reference, so go ahead and google it. Technically, Cantwell does a good job of writing this issue. Creatively, not so much.

Thankfully artist Salvador Larroca is there to at least make the book look nice. There’s a lot of action in this issue, and Larroca is a master of rendering realistic-looking action that sucks you in and makes you feel like you’re a part of the fights. Larroca gets the chance to draw a lot of additional Marvel characters this issue, so that’s a really nice treat. He does a superior job, as usual.

To buy or not to buy? That is a really tough question to answer with this book. I’m gonna go with my gut and say go ahead and skip this issue.