New Avengers #24
I haven't been following this title since the last Doom cameo I reviewed which was, er, all the way back in issue #7, so given the density of Hickman's plotting I expect to be a bit lost. But his version of Doctor Doom is always worth showing up to the party for.
Anyway, so far as I can gather from the previouslies, universes are colliding, and when they do, either both are destroyed or one version of Earth has to be sacrificed to spare the other. The heroes are naturally not super big on genociding planets to save themselves, so Namor has decided to do what needs to be done with them, considering it an outrage for the Illuminati to put keeping their hands clean above saving everyone on the planet. Hence, Namor has thrown his lot in with a bunch of bad guys who will help him 'kill worlds'.
Eight months into this project, Namor shows up in Latveria and has a dinner with Doom and Kristoff. But he doesn't have much appetite, saying that he's gone off decadence given everything he's seen: "Formal dinner while the world burns seems pointless. It seems wasteful." Kristoff counters that they have to eat, regardless of circumstances, but Namor thinks it's too much for the three of them and wonders if they can't share it with Latveria's deserving - after all, "You can't take it with you."
Doom considers this change of attitude a major departure for Namor, especially considering he and the rest of the Illuminati have arrogantly set themselves above others, so questions, "is it sincerity speaking... or is this your fall?" Doom says that if his people wanted to come together and overthrow him, there are enough of them that they could: it's not that they think that Castle Doom can't be torn down, but they would lay down their lives to see it stand. "So yes, Doom eats first... and he eats the very best. You used to understand this."
Namor admits that he can't control his cabal of bad guys. They're a necessary evil because the good guys won't sully their hands with destroying planets, but the Cabal enjoy the atrocities too much. "They grow in such acts while I am diminished - the horror of it all has become overwhelming... and they are beginning to sense my hesitation." And then (in a sterling bid for the very hotly contested title of "slashiest moment between Doom and Namor ever"), he tells Doom he needs him, and asks for his help, since Doom understands the principle of only doing what needs to be done without taking pleasure in it.
Doom, however, ain't having it. Nobody gets away with making Doom their second choice.
Doom leaves, and Namor asks Kristoff if he can do anything, but he just says it was good seeing him again: "Best of luck with your genocide."
Later, at the end of the issue, though, Kristoff asks Doom if it wasn't a missed opportunity - hasn't Namor always been their ally? But Doom is firm: "No, Kristoff, you must recognize the broken for what they are." He considers the humbled and lost Namor to be as good as a stranger too him, and also, he believes that there's no benefit, since they know more about the threat than Namor does.
Doom and Kristoff enter a password-secured area, where it turns out they have the Thinker working for them. They've been analysing the fragment of dead planet they seized during the incursion way back in issues 6-7, which is transmitting some kind of signal. The Thinker has managed to map the transmission network. (Doom says, "This... this is fantastic, Thinker." Praising an underling for his genius? I think that's some personal growth there, Victor.) Now Doom has a plan - and all the pieces necessary to bring it to pass, thanks to the help of Molecule Man. Quoth Doom: "Let there be suffering and woe to all who stand in my way."
Oh, Hickman Doom, I've missed you! I'm going to have to grab this series in trades from the library, because I just can't afford to collect all the back issues. (This actually turned out to be a $4.99 issue, which I wasn't expecting - yow. I can't afford that on a regular basis no matter how good it is.) I love all the character interactions in this - humbled, shaken Namor going to Doom for help is fascinating, and I love this take on Kristoff; he's got a lot of attitude, smoothly confident and a little slyly snarky, respectful of his dad's opinion but clearly willing to raise ideas with him. It's the first time I really feel like I've got a strong grasp of the adult Kristoff as a character in his own right instead of just an adjunct to Doom.
This is another artist that's new to me, Valerio Schiti. Must admit I'm not too wild about his plain sheet metal type version of the Doom mask, but that's just a personal preference - it's a pretty realistic take on something you could make out of metal, but I prefer the more intricate, robotic looking style. Preferences aside, though, it's very nice art - a little too strongly outlined on the faces, sometimes, maybe, but still expressive, and Kristoff in particular pulls some fabulous faces that really sell his attitude. (Also in the middle pages that I skipped over recapping he draws an absolutely gorgeous-looking T'challa and Shuri.) Nice, rich, warm colouring too.
All in all, a bit harder to follow than AoA after jumping in cold, but Hickman's usual great job of writing Doom, a fantastic version of Kristoff, and some fascinating character stuff with Namor. Ace!
Not sure if this plot thread will be immediately continued in issue #25 or Doom's part will be sidelined for a while again, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out. Excellent stuff.
Anyway, so far as I can gather from the previouslies, universes are colliding, and when they do, either both are destroyed or one version of Earth has to be sacrificed to spare the other. The heroes are naturally not super big on genociding planets to save themselves, so Namor has decided to do what needs to be done with them, considering it an outrage for the Illuminati to put keeping their hands clean above saving everyone on the planet. Hence, Namor has thrown his lot in with a bunch of bad guys who will help him 'kill worlds'.
Eight months into this project, Namor shows up in Latveria and has a dinner with Doom and Kristoff. But he doesn't have much appetite, saying that he's gone off decadence given everything he's seen: "Formal dinner while the world burns seems pointless. It seems wasteful." Kristoff counters that they have to eat, regardless of circumstances, but Namor thinks it's too much for the three of them and wonders if they can't share it with Latveria's deserving - after all, "You can't take it with you."
Doom considers this change of attitude a major departure for Namor, especially considering he and the rest of the Illuminati have arrogantly set themselves above others, so questions, "is it sincerity speaking... or is this your fall?" Doom says that if his people wanted to come together and overthrow him, there are enough of them that they could: it's not that they think that Castle Doom can't be torn down, but they would lay down their lives to see it stand. "So yes, Doom eats first... and he eats the very best. You used to understand this."
Namor admits that he can't control his cabal of bad guys. They're a necessary evil because the good guys won't sully their hands with destroying planets, but the Cabal enjoy the atrocities too much. "They grow in such acts while I am diminished - the horror of it all has become overwhelming... and they are beginning to sense my hesitation." And then (in a sterling bid for the very hotly contested title of "slashiest moment between Doom and Namor ever"), he tells Doom he needs him, and asks for his help, since Doom understands the principle of only doing what needs to be done without taking pleasure in it.
Doom, however, ain't having it. Nobody gets away with making Doom their second choice.
Doom leaves, and Namor asks Kristoff if he can do anything, but he just says it was good seeing him again: "Best of luck with your genocide."
Later, at the end of the issue, though, Kristoff asks Doom if it wasn't a missed opportunity - hasn't Namor always been their ally? But Doom is firm: "No, Kristoff, you must recognize the broken for what they are." He considers the humbled and lost Namor to be as good as a stranger too him, and also, he believes that there's no benefit, since they know more about the threat than Namor does.
Doom and Kristoff enter a password-secured area, where it turns out they have the Thinker working for them. They've been analysing the fragment of dead planet they seized during the incursion way back in issues 6-7, which is transmitting some kind of signal. The Thinker has managed to map the transmission network. (Doom says, "This... this is fantastic, Thinker." Praising an underling for his genius? I think that's some personal growth there, Victor.) Now Doom has a plan - and all the pieces necessary to bring it to pass, thanks to the help of Molecule Man. Quoth Doom: "Let there be suffering and woe to all who stand in my way."
Oh, Hickman Doom, I've missed you! I'm going to have to grab this series in trades from the library, because I just can't afford to collect all the back issues. (This actually turned out to be a $4.99 issue, which I wasn't expecting - yow. I can't afford that on a regular basis no matter how good it is.) I love all the character interactions in this - humbled, shaken Namor going to Doom for help is fascinating, and I love this take on Kristoff; he's got a lot of attitude, smoothly confident and a little slyly snarky, respectful of his dad's opinion but clearly willing to raise ideas with him. It's the first time I really feel like I've got a strong grasp of the adult Kristoff as a character in his own right instead of just an adjunct to Doom.
This is another artist that's new to me, Valerio Schiti. Must admit I'm not too wild about his plain sheet metal type version of the Doom mask, but that's just a personal preference - it's a pretty realistic take on something you could make out of metal, but I prefer the more intricate, robotic looking style. Preferences aside, though, it's very nice art - a little too strongly outlined on the faces, sometimes, maybe, but still expressive, and Kristoff in particular pulls some fabulous faces that really sell his attitude. (Also in the middle pages that I skipped over recapping he draws an absolutely gorgeous-looking T'challa and Shuri.) Nice, rich, warm colouring too.
All in all, a bit harder to follow than AoA after jumping in cold, but Hickman's usual great job of writing Doom, a fantastic version of Kristoff, and some fascinating character stuff with Namor. Ace!
Not sure if this plot thread will be immediately continued in issue #25 or Doom's part will be sidelined for a while again, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out. Excellent stuff.