I knew of the Books of Doom mini-series by reputation, though I had never read it. Coincidentally, I started seeking out the original comics or the TP collection at my local comic shop’s end-of-the-year sale, before spying the new reprint one merry Wednesday several weeks later. I am happy to report that the story lives up to its status as the best retelling of Victor Von Doom’s origins ever.
The 2025 Doctor Doom: Books of Doom collection opens with an introduction by author Ed Brubaker. In it, he discusses the inspiration for the series; a Doctor Doom story from Astonishing Tales #8, written by Gerry Conway with art by Gene Colan. This story revealed that, once a year, Doctor Doom did battle with the demon that claimed the soul of his sorceress mother. Every year, he failed to save her.
I think Astonishing Tales #8 may be the single-most influential comic regarding modern interpretations of Doctor Doom. The same story clearly set up Triumph and Torment – the team-up with Doctor Strange in which Doom asked the Sorcerer Supreme to aid him in this battle. Both stories portray Victor Von Doom as a noble demon. He is a man who may use questionable means, but whose ultimate goals are noble and pure.
Books of Doom says otherwise.
Certainly this is how Doom sees himself, as he dictates the story of his life in his own words to a journalist. This recollection is interrupted with interviews with those who were there for the events Doom describes. Their view of things is different than that of the Latverian monarch. Yet it cannot be definitively said that their viewpoint is the true one either.
Brubaker’s script builds upon the original Doctor Doom origin envisioned by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He inspires sympathy for the devil but does not allow us to forget for one moment what sort of man Victor Von Doom is. For all his talk of building a better tomorrow, he is trapped in the past. From his obsession with saving his mother, to his belief that Reed Richards sabotaged his experiments, he cannot move on from avenging the slights inflicted upon him. Whether or not he was wronged is immaterial. He cannot advance in either case.
The artwork by Argentinian artist Pablo Raimonid shows similar depth and complexity. One particularly noteworthy point is his use of shadow, which hints at the inner darkness of Doom’s soul and the world of espionage into which he is drawn as a young man. Raimonid also offers one of the strongest designs for Doctor Doom’s armor ever envisioned.
Marvel Comics rates this collection T+, for readers 13 and up. I believe this to be a fair assessment. There is violence and death in this series, and we are not spared the horrific details of how Doctor Doom was forever burned and scarred by a lab accident. There is some sexual content, with Doom depicted naked in bed after being reunited with his first love, Valeria. Nothing is shown, however, and their brief love scene is shrouded in shadows and limited to two panels. There is nothing here that is inappropriate for a teen audience, and I think most libraires would benefit from having a copy of this volume in their collection.
Doctor Doom: Books of Doom
By Ed Brubaker
Art by Pablo Raimond
Marvel, 2025
ISBN: 9781302964733
Company Age Rating: T+
NFNT Age Recommendation: Adult (18+), Older Teen (16-18), Teen (13-16)
Creator Representation: Argentinian,
Character Representation: Romanian,
