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brenticus's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is absolutely the best Doctor Doom story I've ever read. It gives so much depth to his character without really redeeming him, and his interactions with Strange show his strength of conviction alongside his massive ego.
In this story, we see Doom not as an evil being, but as a driven being. He will use any means to achieve his goal, as long as in the end he remains unbeholden to anyone but himself. Even in teaming up with Doctor Strange, he does so as an earned reward, not by asking for help. Strange, on the other hand, is told to put his ego aside and assist this villain in whatever scheme he desires.
The art bears some mention, because while it's merely serviceable for much of the volume there are some fairly impressive scenes in the back half that really elevate the tension. Nothing mind-blowing artistically, but strong scenes that perfectly capture the situation without words. This might be mostly impressive to me after reading a bunch of 70s Marvel comics lately.
Basically, if you have any interest in Doom you should read this, and if you don't then reading this will give you that interest. Fantastic volume.
In this story, we see Doom not as an evil being, but as a driven being. He will use any means to achieve his goal, as long as in the end he remains unbeholden to anyone but himself. Even in teaming up with Doctor Strange, he does so as an earned reward, not by asking for help. Strange, on the other hand, is told to put his ego aside and assist this villain in whatever scheme he desires.
The art bears some mention, because while it's merely serviceable for much of the volume there are some fairly impressive scenes in the back half that really elevate the tension. Nothing mind-blowing artistically, but strong scenes that perfectly capture the situation without words. This might be mostly impressive to me after reading a bunch of 70s Marvel comics lately.
Basically, if you have any interest in Doom you should read this, and if you don't then reading this will give you that interest. Fantastic volume.
sofiam97's review against another edition
4.0
I quite enjoyed this book. I liked the art and the story. It was interesting while also giving some backstory to the characters; works pretty well as a stand-alone.
skolastic's review against another edition
4.0
Of the three Doctor Strange "greatest hits" I read (the others being the first Marvel Masterworks volume and the Season One graphic novel), this was far and away my favorite. Doctor Doom tricks (for lack of a better word) Doctor Strange into helping him rescue his mother (Doom's, not Strange's) from Hell. There are some nice touches to the writing - I like the implication that the Aged Genghis whose cult helped Doom create his armor is sort of a colleague of the Ancient One - and Mignola's art is really nice and also really fascinating. (You can see the first hints of his later style in the early "contest of wizards" section and in the Castle Doom segment.) Some additional early Mignola Marvel work and earlier issues that set up this storyline are included, but these are pretty much just filler. This doesn't reach any really great heights of storytelling, ultimately, but it's a great concept solidly executed that finds a clever new way to deliver on the promise of the Marvel universe.
hilaritas's review against another edition
5.0
This book makes great use of the two titular doctors, turning the plot on the strain between Doom's haughty independence and his tragic grief for his mother's lost soul, which can only be redeemed through cooperation with Strange. The art isn't as polished as Mignola's later work on his creator-owned series, but it's got a nice gothic looseness that suits the material perfectly. The scripting is suitably operatic but also has moments of humor. While a lot of panels devolve into guys shooting beams at each other, the book as a whole hinges on a philosophical/theological puzzle that is both heady and emotional. Wonderful short read.