I'm still feeling like I'm a little bit stuck between volumes as of late, and with that I've been scouting through the new releases on both Marvel and DC's websites in search of something new to check out. While the other day I was in a book shop in Yerevan which led to a new short read I'll be writing about soon, I also stumbled across some early reviews on One World Under Doom. Doom is a character I haven't read a thing about in the past, and I have only seen them mentioned in comics rather than read anything containing the character. The early reviews seemed interesting, and I was curious about whether this would be something I could get into, or if it would be relying a bit too much on something very much present for most of its narrative: the current political climate. These early reviews made a lot of comparisons to Doom and our present global situation, and that's often a bit of a recipe for disaster in my case, where I read comics to try to escape the chaos of the modern world and get immersed in another where things tend to be a bit more fun and colourful. Albeit still a bit bleak! But Doom is a character I think I should start checking out, with a very large number of comic book runs under his name. All I really know about this character is he's supposedly bad, and stories that surround villains can be quite engaging.
This heavily politically influenced narrative was pretty clear from the firs few panels and pages, where the initial panel showcases a smartphone with news alerts detailing an unknown nation at war and being bombarded by another, and some other unknown nation blocking international aid to another nation that is starving. A newspaper behind it also detailing stories that are similar to recent global events within reality. From there, it jumps into the story in which Doom announces his control over Earth, but that no single person should fear him, he's no dictator (or is he?) that will be initiating death squads and punishing those against him. Instead pursuing a more unified Earth that better adjusts to its needs without the problems of democracy leading to a lack of growth and conflict. While I hate politics, that is a relatively strong introduction for a supposed villain, where we can actually understand some of what he's saying: one single leader that rules over all else could actually lead to a better developed Earth and general society where the usual problems of supposed democracy causes stagnation. Logically, the parties we vote for aren't necessarily the people we vote for, and their actual actions are rarely influenced by the arguments made to us when we vote. Our idea of democracy isn't much different when such people in power simply make their own moves without a unified vote.
This is the tricky aspect of politics, after all. One man claiming he is free of greed and hate and is capable of running entire nations, let alone an entire planet, doesn't actually mean he has the people's bests interests in mind. Nor does it mean he's actually free of such issues. But it's easy to believe a man that does call out everything wrong with the current system. It's easy to join arms when anyone actually acknowledges the state of current politics, which makes this speech from Doom all that much more powerful: direct to the people, caring for their needs and expectations, and yet again ensuring blame is focused on those who put them in that situation to begin with. More rallying of support in Doom's name. I mean, the very first law that Doom initiates is one that bans all war. No more war is allowed. There shall be no more wars within the regions of Latveria. The next is healthcare, after speaking against the inhumane act of having people struggle to afford medicine or treatment. Again, these are powerful moves for any leader to make, and of course would immediately gain Doom some points in the eyes of the people. I actually really liked this introduction, where it paints Doom as the hero against a world that is blatantly corrupt and evil in its own ways. There's no denying that, and the fact that the reader can understand and connect with many of his points makes the character of Doom one we end up supporting.
The irony here is how the comic suddenly introduces the Fantastic Four, a group of what you'd easily now consider to be elites. Ones that have significant power over the people and the force to implement it all. Their first reaction is to figure out how to deal with Doom. Which I think speaks true volumes over the contrast between who are supposedly heroes and villains. The Fantastic Four having had the ability to make the world a better place all this time, instead enforcing the status quo that Doom was just speaking against: corrupt organisations, endless corporate greed, and the toying of citizens that leave them incapable of buying food, getting access to medicine, or receiving a decent education. Wait, so the Fantastic Four are the heroes here? This was amplified even as the Fantastic Four travel elsewhere, discussing money and how Stark has all they need. Doom of course is no altruist leader, there's certainly an agenda here, as there always is. But I think this setup really does speak of how heroes in these stories are just as bad as the people they're claiming to be protecting the world from by fighting. Even Captain America speaks so proudly of having destroyed a huge Hydra flying ship into the ocean a while back; the destruction of the natural world in such a manner is supposedly something to praise.
While it was revealed that Doom had killed leaders and replaced them with robots, something the heroes displayed to the world in the same broadcast manner as Doom did, it led to Doom going on a tangent on how he had lied, how he had killed, but his one day of power had already made more positive changes to the world than anyone else, and of course the heroes couldn't stand that. That contrast I mentioned before came to light quite quickly. Two sides of the same coin that fight for their own versions of good while in fact contributing to the negatives in the world. And this is all occurring as the two groups fight against the remaining soldiers of Hydra as it became clear Doom had killed their leader. All of this was originally his plan, one that saw him as the saviour and the heroes the evil ones. Quite a cool sudden revelation towards the end of the volume, so much within it that spoke on the real world's problems and how it operates. All without being too reliant on it, still telling its own fictional story through Doom and his agenda.
I have to quickly also add that I loved the art style in this. The panels really did pop when they needed. And even when it was a dialogue heavy set of pages, I still never found those panels a little boring visually. Each one felt important, and added to the world building and context of this volume's story. Especially in the sense of pacing. To which the end of the volume really picks things up! Probably one of my favourite first volumes in a while, and this is definitely going to have me a bit impatient waiting for the next one.
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