I was pleasantly surprised by the first volume of Books of Doom, this was a comic I really didn't expect to enjoy from the moment my eyes set upon that first page. The art style was something that really does not speak to me, in fact I'd go as far as saying that it's quite ugly so far. If not oddly uncanny in parts. Usually I would've dropped the comic super early on in this case and moved on to the next, but this story instantly hooked me in, and to the point where I completely stopped paying attention to the art style entirely, constantly glancing over page after page with how immersive things were getting. I'm relatively new to the Doom character and I've been reading two relatively modern comics featuring that character, but I was curious as to other stories that might expand upon him a bit more, especially when online I saw people criticising the character's modern representation and saying his previous stories felt more serious. The Doom one-shot has been incredible so far in its own ways, but I still needed that context into the character, curious as to who he actually is and how he came to be that character. Books of Doom goes to the very start, the childhood experiences of the character, the Doom before Doom. From the loss of his mother from demonic possessions and dark arts, to the loss of his father and childhood love as a result of his own inner demons starting to shine.
I like these origin stories that show a character being dealt a series of harsh cards that lead to them taking a more negative perception on the world, these stories that see characters that could've been heroes or ordinary people had their circumstances been different; where we see those events and start to actually sympathise with the character and understand why they are the ways they are, even if we don't necessarily support them and their current agendas. The most powerful villains are the ones that ordinary people can grow to feel for, and understand. The ones that step beyond the concept of being comically evil for the sake of being evil and prove they have something to not only stand for, but fight to pursue. This often leads to conflicting situations where the viewer or reader can then find themselves on the fence on who to support, even if the story does lean more on the side of the 'good guys'. So far, this story has definitely showed the reader that Doom's childhood was tough, where people cast him and his family aside and refused to allow them to be part of a community his family contributed to. A struggled gypsy life that grew even harder as his family were quite literally hunted one-by-one. Doom's inner-hatred for others already starting to shine from a young age, where he stated he would seek out revenge on those who aim to cast them aside. That he would follow in his mother's footsteps and become a monster, a promise, in fact.
The first actual consideration of child Doom being weaponised comes from the United States government which aims to not only keep his abilities under their radar, but also utilise them for their own agendas. Doom being taken out of the gypsy life and thrown into the modern world in the process. I like that this comic details much of these events from the perspective of adult Doom himself, narration that explores his thoughts and reasoning behind some of the decisions he made as they occur for us. As if he directly is telling us his story. It's a very dialogue-heavy story, but again I think that is a strength given it helps overlook some of the art as you're more immersed in the world building than really noticing the visuals. Doom considered the acceptance of the offer from the US purely as a means to escape, having no real idea that it'd lead to another form of imprisonment, where he is safe to study as he pleases, but works in secret labs creating everything he possibly can. Conflicted under knowing he'd be making one side stronger against its foes, while aware that it meant is own personal safety and ability to explore and strengthen his own interests. With the narration comes the perspective of a foreigner in the US, and how Doom was simply uninterested in the general student life that he saw so many addicted to.
He speaks of the American dream and how he had no interest in it. How that lack of interest kept him guided forward on his own interests and agendas. The fact that even the people at the lab reminded him of the same fools back in the school that would endlessly gossip about nonsensical topics and waste their time elsewhere. It didn't seem like something that was being shaped out of the character with exposure to this environment, but more that he had entered it already knowing he had no interest in integrating. Still already showing those signs of being far more powerful than everyone else around him, knowing that the tools he was given at his expose would only make him stronger. Though curiosity would get the best of him and lead him into the path he had previously spoken against, how he admits he got too cocky despite having such a strong level of deception to ensure nobody would question him and catch on to his actual goals. This created a bigger monster, someone with zero social skills and no ability to act normal around people, even if they showed an interest in him.; going so far that he even strangles a girl under the assumption that she was trying to get beneath his skin and figure him out. The same way he had previously killed a man that had briefly haunted him before leaving to the US.
This is where the comic shifts a bit, as we switch perspectives and get the viewpoint from those who handled him at the military base. The coverups they conducted, but also the awareness of what they were starting to deal with. Not just a quiet foreigner with some skills, but instead someone that was clearly quite dangerous and could lash out at any point. Doom establishing his plans to return to his mother, utilising time machines and other forms of tech he had created, though this did work, it also backfired and created the horrific burns and scars that led to him hiding his face in the future. Alongside a total collapse of his US life as the experiment was considered a failure that almost killed others. This was ultimately the birth of the Doom character, the point of no return, yet again cast out and thrown into hiding. Clearly incapable of surviving with others. Another solid volume that kept me stupidly immersed throughout, with great writing that really sold the character. I'm excited to read more!