Doom 2099 // Review
2099 continues to show us the future of the Marvel Universe, and it’s been a mixed bag so far. However, the one true Doom has returned to the future, and he’s out to take down the imposter who claims to be him.
Doom 2099 was written by Chip Zdarsky, with Marco Castiello on art. Chris Sotomayor provided the colors, and Clayton Cowles lettered the book.
Deep in the depths of the Ravage, a man with heavy facial scarring and no memory is found by a pair of Thor worshippers. The unknown man winds up defeating those same Thorites once he has enough strength, saving the child in their care from a fate worse than death. Upon finding an inventor’s home, the man realizes who he is: Doom. And if he’s Doom, the one lording over the planet must be an impostor or a defective robot copy. There can be only one Doom, let the battle be joined.
This story is one of the gems of the 2099 event, right up on par with Conan 2099. Zdarsky has shown many times in the past that he has a great handle on the Fantastic Four characters, and this book is no exception. Doom is caring in his own ruthless way, providing care for the Thorite child only until another is there who can. The flashbacks with Reed of the present are incredible and feel like they came right from the end of Zdarsky’s dream FF run. Marvel needs to give Zdarsky a full run on the Fantastic Four once Slott chooses to step down, and this book proves it.
The art is also excellent as well. Small body language details are everywhere, putting more character into this incarnation of Doom than just the dialogue. The colors for the outside world are somewhat muted, unfortunately. Still, this works for a section of the world left ravaged and destroyed by an unknown disaster. Interior shots of Doom’s stronghold and the Tinkerer’s hideout, meanwhile, are highly detailed and filled with color. Special praise goes to the one-page sequence of Doom building his helmet while declaring himself once and for all.
While 2099 has become a mixed bag of re-creations, Doom 2099 could become an entire storyline of its own, worthy of Victor Von Doom himself. Fantastic Four fans may not have liked the 2099 book with their name on it, but they should grab Doom 2099 now.
