Introduction to Essential Doom
Barring further interruption, read on for Stuffo's Top Ten Doom Comic Book Appearances.
A Temple of Doom
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics©. All Rights Reserved
His First Appearance
Victor Von Doom appears for the first time. We learn that he is an ex-classmate of Reed Richards who fled to Tibet to learn sorcery following a science experiment gone awry. In this issue, Doom ensnares Four Freedoms Plaza in a giant net, takes the Invisible Girl hostage, and demands that Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, and the Human Torch use his time machine to travel into the past to procure the magical treasure of the pirate Blackbeard. I'm not joking.
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics©. All Rights Reserved
Surf's Up
With the Fantastic Four busy battling the sinister Sandman, Dr. Doom manages to defeat the Silver Surfer and steal his cosmic powers. Doom then proceeds to give the Four the thrashing of a lifetime and even takes a ride on the Surfer's surfboard!
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics©. All Rights Reserved
Tibet on it
Upon learning that his gypsy bloodline entitles him to the throne of the European nation known as Latveria, Doom leaves Tibet and demands that ruler Prince Rudolfo vacate his land as soon as possible. Prince Rudolfo refuses Doom. Prince Rudolfo dies.
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics©. All Rights Reserved
Mommie Dearest
It is revealed that Doom's mommy is a sorceress who sold her soul to the devil (known as Mephisto) in exchange for the protection of her family. Continuing his yearly ritual, Doom confronts numerous demons and Mephisto in an attempt to reclaim his Mother's soul from the pits of hell.
A Doom With A View
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics©. All Rights Reserved
Fantastic Four #247
Rip Van Doom
After awakening from a catatonic state, Doom returns to Latveria and learns that the nation has fallen into desperate times under the command of Zorba, a descendant of Prince Rudolfo. With the aid of the Fantastic Four, Doom defeats Zorba, retakes Latveria, and becomes the custodian of a young boy named Kristoff whose mother was killed in the fighting.
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics ©. All Rights Reserved
Secret Wars #10
God For A Day
The cosmic deity known as The Beyonder abducts all of the heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe to compete in a cosmic battle of the titans. Doom creates an armor that is capable of harnessing the power of the devourer of worlds, Galactus. After losing multiple limbs and even being dissected alive, Doom is somehow still able to use his intellect to defeat the Beyonder and obtain (temporary) Godhood.
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics ©. All Rights Reserved
Fantastic Four #350
Daddy's Home
We are led to believe that Doom "died" in a previous issue, Fantastic Four #260. Now one of Doom's robotic Doombot henchmen enacts a contingency plan to brainwash Doom's ward Kristoff into believing that he is actually the real Victor Von Doom. So brainwashed that he believes the Doombot has somehow trapped him in the body of a child, Kristoff eventually gains control of Latveria. Unfortunately for Kristoff, the real Doom returns in this issue and is a little upset.
Doomin Onion
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics ©. All Rights Reserved
Up In Smoke
Doom obtains the power of the Watcher, a cosmic entity charged with observing important events in the universe. He lures a powerful alien known as "The Hunger" to Latveria. Upon defeating the Hunger alongside the Fantastic Four, Doom lays dying until he uses the remaining power in his armor to disintegrate both himself and Reed Richards.
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics ©. All Rights Reserved
Doom, You Old Softie
By now, Doom and Reed are back in action. In the first part of a multiple-issue arc, Doom devotes his energies to strengthening his own mystic powers and travels abroad to find the lost love that he left behind when he came to America. Upon finding his old flame, Doom imprisons her and uses her soul to create a new mystical armor that enables him to strip the Fantastic Four of their powers and send Reed and Sue's children to Hell!
Photo courtesy Marvel Comics ©. All Rights Reserved
Ain't No Thing
Having been imprisoned in the Null dimension by Reed Richards, Doom finally manages to find a way to escape by taking over the mind and body of Sue Richards. He's been in control of every other member of the Fantastic Four. To complete the set he possesses the body of the Thing. He's defeated only after Mr. Fantastic is forced to kill Ben Grimm.