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Warning! Spoilers for One World Under Doom #5 ahead!
Marvel Comics just delivered a major battle pitting all of Earth’s heroes, led by Doctor Doom, against the demonic forces of Dormammu, with Doom striking the final blow by using an unprecedented spell, which Scarlet Witch refers to as “forever magic.” Yet, in their own right, the conditions of Doom’s spell are seemingly ominous portents of what is to come down the road for the Marvel Universe.
One World Under Doom #5, written by Ryan North, with art by R.B. Silva, climaxes with Doom casting Dormammu out of the Earthly realm, “back to his meager dimension,” in Doom’s words, where the ethereal villain will be “held there in eternal spells of my own design,” as Doom boasts.
When Scarlet Witch protests that this is “impossible,” Doom adds a menacing qualifier: his spell will last “forever,” so long as his current reign over the Earth as Emperor also never ends.
Doctor Doom Pulls Off The “Impossible” With “Forever Magic,” But There’s A Massive Catch
One World Under Doom #5, Written By Ryan North; Art By R.B. Silva
Doctor Doom has been one of Marvel’s leading magic users for decades, but his current tenure as the Sorcerer Supreme has featured the character ascending to unparalleled heights of power, even for Doom. In part, this was necessary in order to facilitate the premise of the ongoing One World Under Doom saga, which features Doom effortlessly conquering Earth and installing himself as Emperor, before turning his attention to even greater threats, such as that presented by Dormammu. Now, in One World Under Doom #5, even Scarlet Witch herself is shocked by the extent of Doom’s mastery over magic.
One World Under Doom #5 makes it clear that the people of Earth, including its mightiest heroes, have made a deal with the devil in order to defeat a demon.
However, as always with Doom, what seems to be an act of incredible heroism also doubles as a kind of failsafe to ensure his dominion over the entire world. By tying protection against Dormammu to the continuity of his imperial reign, Doom offers safety with literal strings attached. Essentially, One World Under Doom #5 makes it clear that the people of Earth, including its mightiest heroes, have made a deal with the devil in order to defeat a demon. It is a chilling moment, one that turns the victory of One World Under Doom #5 into a dark omen.
Doctor Doom’s Great Heroic Triumph Might Have Just Sowed The Seeds Of His Defeat
Forecasting One World Under Doom’s Arc
Doctor Doom is too smart not to realize what he’s doing by connecting Dormammu’s continued banishment directly to his “rule of Earth,” but at the same time, it serves as an example of the supreme hubris of the character. His spell is rooted in the idea that he expects, and believes, that his reign as Emperor will be eternal. Given the nature of Marvel storytelling, Doom’s global control won’t last indefinitely, and while that means a future return of Dormammu as a threat, the much more pressing question is what will be Doom’s undoing.
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Hubris has been key to the downfall of heroes and villains alike since the very dawn of storytelling, and it has been Doctor Doom’s Achilles heel in many previous Marvel tales. So, it seems fair to forecast that this classic character flaw will play a role in the endgame for One World Under Doom, in some way. That is to say, Doom has been so unstoppable as this massive Marvel Comics event series has progressed, that it seems as though the only person who can orchestrate Doom’s defeat at this point is Doctor Doom himself.
One World Under Doom #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.
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