NO ONE RIVALS DOOM: Get Ready for THE BOOK OF DOOM OMNIBUS

An enormous 60th anniversary celebration of everyone’s favorite despot…

Here’s how this goes: The Joker is comics’ all-time greatest villain. I will brook no dissent.

But I acknowledge those misguided souls who believe it to be Victor Von Doom, the archenemy of the Fantastic Four (and almost everyone else in the Marvel Universe) who has a penchant for making outrageous declarations while referring to himself in the third person.

Hell, even Mark Hamill understood that Darth Vader was pretty much a stand-in for Dr. Doom.

Doom loses his shit in Fantastic Four #258, by John Byrne

But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here because Marvel in 2022 will be releasing Doctor Doom: The Book Of Doom Omnibus, a suitably massive collection of the Latverian overlord’s greatest battles with the greatest heroes of the Marvel Universe.

And why 2022? Because that’s the 60th anniversary of Doom’s first appearance, in Fantastic Four #5, which was released in April 1962.

Dig the official description from an Amazon listing:

DOCTOR DOOM: THE BOOK OF DOOM OMNIBUS

Placeholder art, presumably

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, John Byrne, Walt Simonson, Larry Lieber, Steve Ditko, Mike Sekowsky, Keith Giffen and others

Bow before the majesty of Doctor Doom! The greatest villain of all is celebrated in a tome of tyranny six decades in the making! Featuring the Latverian ruler’s first battle with the accursed Reed Richards and his Fantastic Four — and their most epic clashes since! Plus, Doom’s unforgettable encounters with Spider-Man, Iron Man, the X-Men and the Avengers! A trip to hell with Doctor Strange! The power of the Beyonder! Victor von Doom’s incredible life story contained in the Books of Doom! And more tales of the Lord of Latveria!

COLLECTING: Fantastic Four (1961) 5-6, 39-40, 246-247, 258, 278-279, 350, 352; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 5; Marvel Super-Heroes (1967) 20; Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) 1-2; Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) 13-14; Champions (1975) 16; Amazing Spider-Man Annual (1964) 14; Uncanny X-Men (1981) 145-147; Iron Man (1968) 149-150; Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (1984) 10-12; Marvel Graphic Novel (1982): Emperor Doom, Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom – Triumph and Torment; Fantastic Four (1998) 67-70, 500; Fantastic Four Special (2005) 1; Books of Doom (2005) 1-6; material from Fantastic Four (1961) 236, 358; Fantastic Four Annual (1963) 2; Astonishing Tales (1970) 1-3, 6-8; Marvel Double-Shot (2003) 2

Hardcover/1,336 pages
List price: $125
On-sale date: April 12, 2022

A few thoughts:

— Assuming the on-sale date holds, Marvel’s timing is impeccable: FF #5 came out April 10, 1962, according to comics.org. The omnibus is due April 12.

— I’m impressed that Marvel didn’t just make this an FF collection. Even if the Fantastic Four — especially Reed Richards — tops his enemies list, he really makes life miserable for everyone.

— Dr. Doom is one of the greatest comics character names ever. Ever.

Standard caveat: This has not been solicited by Marvel yet, so nothing is official until it’s official. Even then, things can change. Just keep coming to 13th Dimension for updates.

MORE

— FANTASTIC FOUR #1: Marvel Plans Major Tribute to Lee and Kirby’s Classic. Click here.

— FANTASTIC FOUR, AVENGERS 1970s Novels to Become Audiobooks. Click here.

Author: Dan Greenfield

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7 Comments

  1. Wait, no FF 198-200??? That’s one of Doom’s greatest stories.

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    • Came here to make precisely that point! Serious omission!

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    • That was the first thing I thought when I saw the issues listed! Great story, great art – just epic. It should have been included.

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  2. Dr. Doom is a really iconic character in the Marvel Universe, so it’s nice that he’s geting his due.

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  3. Dr. Doom is the best comic book villain ever, not Joker. Sorry, not sorry- I’ll fight you all over it!

    “NO ONE RIVALS DOOM! NO ONE!!”

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  4. Hello Friends. I bought FF 258 in real time. I never liked that Doom referred to Magneto as a “freak.” Hopefully now that Disney/Marvel owns FF, Dr. Doom can finally be portrayed correctly.

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