What a tangled web Doom is weaving. After having created Battleworld in order to ‘save’ pieces of different realities after the Incursion Wave, he’s been able to sit back and enjoy everything that exists. What happens when someone close to him betrays his orders and beliefs? Since this is Doom we’re talking about, the only thing Doom could do was to put an end to him. What he may not have thought about in that split second moment is as some mourn the loss of the ally, this could be the beginning of the crumbling of Doom’s reign. The scary thing is how Doom handles the aftermath.
As Doom deals with everything, Jonathan Hickman does reveal a little more about what happened ‘in the beginning.’ One of the questions left unanswered, until now, was what happened to the Molecule Man. As we find out more, the scope of it all is enough to make you pause and think. Doom may be acting as god of Battleworld but at the same time, it’s as if Hickman is being allowed to be god over the Marvel Universe. I can’t remember the last time I was so glued to each page in a comic. I found myself slowly reading over each word, taking it all in. I could totally go for an extra issue featuring Doom and Owen to see how everything formed between SECRET WARS #1 and 2.
As with the previous four issues, Esad Ribic’s art and Ive Svorcina’s colors are amazing. You can see the emotion oozing off each page. Doom is carrying a lot on his shoulders. Despite wearing a cloak and an iron mask, you can see the emotion, burden, and guilt for all his actions. There are so many moments you just have to stop and take in all the detail in each panel.
As we see the next stage begin, each visual gets you more and more excited. We could try to figure out what Jonathan Hickman has planned yet you’ll find yourself sucked into the story. Sure, there are some things that ‘have to happen’ in this series, but each tiny bit of detail and information makes this story an incredible journey. Ribic and Svorcina capture the essence and atmosphere the script demands. Part of it may be my love for the original Secret Wars but I just can’t help but get excited with each issue. I am now at the point where I immediately crave the next issue and dread it at the same time since it means we’re one more issue closer to this story being over.
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