Warning: Contains SPOILERS forDoctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon #1
As much asDoctor Doomlikes to pretend that he’s the hero in his own story, the Emperor Supreme that he has been a villain this entire time. The burden of having spent years trying to take over the world has caught up to Doom, and he’s ready to confess his sins. All it took was a moment of introspection and one surprising Guardian of the Galaxy.
Doctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon #1 -by J. Michael Straczynski and Will Robson - is a one-shot adventure that seesthe current Sorcerer Supremedo the last thing anyone would expect - ask a favor. Doctor Doom has been meditating on his past, reflecting on the pain he’s endured and the pain he’s caused.
He wonders why the universe had to exist in such a way that growth could not happen without suffering.Doom struggles to understand his purpose.To help invent a time-machine that can travel beyond time, Doctor Doom seeks out Rocket Raccoon to provide his ingenious expertise.
The Emperor Supreme Knows He’s Been the Villain
Doctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon #1 -Written by J. Michael Straczynski; Art by Will Robson; Color by Andrew Dalhouse; Lettering by VC’s Cory Petit; Cover Art by Gary Frank & Alex Sinclair
“The mask that hides a face of rage and sorrow that I can never remove.” “I unleashed a parade of horrors outrages, thefts, manipulations, and murders.” “But each time, I was defeated. Broken. Until finally, with great difficulty, I began to understand that I had always, only, and ever been on the wrong side of history.” - Doctor Doom
IfDoctor Doom is known for one thing, it’s for his overwhelming and arrogant pride. To be honest, he deserves it. Victor von Doom persisted past early tragedies to singlehandedly become one of the world’s leadingscientific minds, mystical masters, and national leaders.However, he’s not without his faults and he’s finally starting to admit them. When Rocket visits Doom in Latveria, he wants to know why Doom is so obsessed with traveling back in time. The king recalls his early life, losing his parents and coming to America for a second opportunity that would later disfigure him.
Doom admits that these early disasters broke him. He was heartbroken that, despite his early altruistic efforts, the universe seemed to have punished him. But from that pain, Doctor Doom confesses that he became a monster. He wanted revenge for his life’s misfortune. He further admits thathe placed that rage in the wrong direction.He didn’t know who or what to blame and pickedReed Richards and the Fantastic Fouras the easiest targets. However, despite his revelations, Doctor Doom is in no way forgiving himself.
Doctor Doom Is Trying to the Hero Earth Deserves
Realistically, He Still Hasn’t Learned Anything
Doctor Doom is an especially terrifying villain because of his hardened dedication. Doom has traditionally believed that he was on the right side of history. He has never seen himself as the villain, igniting the same ferocity to defeat the heroes that, from his perspective, are the villains. Now,as Sorcerer Supremeand Earth’s sole savior, Doom is in a new position of power that demands a level of selfless responsibility that the historical villain has never had. He’s had this type of power before, such as his reign as God Emperor Doom,but frequently fails because of his ego.
He treats his wrongdoings as a natural reaction to the pain inflicted on him.
But nowDoctor Doomhas finally developed a sense of introspection. He admits that he has always been the villain, despite his best intentions to be the hero. However,this in no way pardons Doomfrom his crimes. Despite confessing his worst sins to Rocket, his journey to uncover the reason for his suffering and past-failures is a self-centered one. He treats his wrongdoings as a natural reaction to the pain inflicted on him. Realistically, Doom hasn’t learned anything. However, change is still change, andDoctor Doomfinally owning up to his villainous past is a change for the heroic.
Doctor Doom & Rocket Raccoon #1is now available from Marvel Comics
