REVIEW: ‘One World Under Doom’ Issue 5

One World Under Doom Issue 5 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Ryan North, art by R.B. Silva, colors by David Curiel, and letters by Travis Lanham.

Doctor Doom teams up with the Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four to save the world against Dormammu, which makes the good guys question whether he is the right man to rule Earth.

Following on from the battle for the fate of Earth in the last issue and the awesome image of Doctor Doom standing alongside the world’s heroes, ready to launch into battle, it could be expected that North would attempt to match and even elevate the action. And he does, but briefly. For a few pages, the showdown is incredible, the former enemies moving as one and actually fighting alongside each other.

But then the pace slows to a walk, and the topic reverts to what it always does: how great Doom is as a ruler. An argument breaks out where even the heroes themselves are starting to ask if maybe Doom is the right answer. His actions are working, and his most vigorous opposition is now faltering. It has been tedious at times in this event because it’s always moving backward to the same conversation, killing action and momentum.

However, One World Under Doom Issue 5 has taken it one step further. It’s more soul-crushing because his plan is working, and those who are meant to stand up against him are beginning to recognize his vision and status. 

The dialogue and the characters are fascinating within One World Under Doom Issue 5 because despite bringing all the heroes back, North keeps the cast small. There aren’t acres of dialogue in the fight against Dormammu. The Avengers aren’t happy about the arrangement, but they know what happens if they fail. However, there are many members of the battle who don’t speak or take any action at all.

The main characters may initially seem static and underutilized, but their voices become louder and clearer in the second half. Thor is the one who has broken his resolve, now on the side of Doom. Others accept his achievements. The voices of the heroes feel genuine, as though they come from an authentic place rather than simply placing them in political positions without consideration.

Thor lived under Odin, who isn’t a million miles away from Doom in how he rules and his effectiveness. Others, like Iron Man and Squirrel Girl, are principled and continue to question everything. Every action that Doctor Doom takes can’t be trusted.

The art is glorious. It’s undeniably exciting to see the heroes alongside Marvel’s greatest villain. It’s a team-up of dreams, and Silva unleashes that chaos terrifically. Dormammu is now on the back foot. Some of the redesigns of characters, such as Iron Man, may take some getting used to, but they are creative concepts. Then Doom begins to regain his full power and take over, and his majesty is restored.

The book then becomes more static and filled with conversations, but Silva tries to find ways to excite the reader. There are engaging visuals and effective uses of powers, and the heroes become animated and agitated during their arguments. However, it’s also frustrating to see characters just be there, off to the side, and not do anything. You will see Wolverine or Rogue included in the book, but they are faces in the corner of the panel, which feels like a waste.

The colors are gorgeous. The vibrancy of Marvel heroes and villains is on full display. It’s not just their costumes but the powers they fire. There’s an extreme intensity to Doom’s magic, glowing incredibly green. One of the best visuals of the entire issue is Doom casting spells alongside Scarlet Witch. Their colors contrast superbly, creating a red and green glow that alternates in the panels. The lettering is consistently calm and easy to read. 

One World Under Doom Issue 5 returns to a simmering scale. It wouldn’t have been possible to match the enormity and intensity of the previous issue. None of the challenges against Doom or the battles have lived up to the billing. This issue tries to do that but falls short.

It’s an awkward balance between a clash between Marvel’s finest and a grown-up discussion on how authoritarianism can gradually grind people down into accepting and even championing it. On the latter, North has excelled in that regard. However, in the former, the event has so far struggled to capitalize on the capabilities of the superheroes available.

One World Under Doom Issue 5 is available where comics are sold.