current / archive / issues / faq / RSS feed / twitter /
Visions Of Hate!
| < previous | next > |
This is the second part of a four issue-long story in "Marvel Team-Up" which sees Spider-man and various pals travel back to the time of the Salem Witch Trials. Doctor Doom very nearly appeared in the previous issue, in which The Scarlet Witch was summoned by evil voices to a mysterious castle, where she stole a time machine. It's clearly Doom's time machine, although its less clear whether the castle is in Latveria or the original one near New York (which seems to be left completely unguarded - surely a health and safety incident waiting to happen?) but Doom himself is never mentioned, I guess in order to raise suspense for when he eventually does appear, in this issue.
Spider-man, Scarlet With and The Vision start the issue in Salem in 1692, with The Scarlet Witch casually mentioning that yes, it definitely was Doctor Doom's castle she was summoned to, which rather spoils my theory above. They're surrounded by Cotton Mather and various Salem citizens, who are extremely keen to see them burnt as witches. It's a bit of an uneasy situation for a reader - we know that the people of Salem murdered several women in a fit of mass delusion, but in this case all three characters are at least supernatural, and one really is a witch!
A big fight breaks out, as it so often does, until Spider-man is knocked out and Wanda is shot. The Vision is about to embark on a killing spree, but then he gets struck down by Cotton Mather with what seems to be a laser powered crucifix.
Spider-man wakes up in a dungeon, where a Historical Character gives him a brief history of the Salem Witch Trials. Again, it's a slightly uneasy read as these were real people who were killed, but then maybe it's no different to reading stories set in, say, World War Two.
Spidey breaks free, freeing the others along the way, and together they escape, with him and The Vision heading towards a "weird greenish glow away off in the woods". This turns out to be Cotton Mather's master, the distinctly demonic "Dark Rider".
The Vision, who is rather enjoying This Human Emotion You Call "Hatred" leaps in to thump him. Another fight ensues, broken by a voice off panel who turns out to be...
Doctor Doom! He's arrogant, demanding an alliance, and working for the common good - all excellent signifiers of Doom which, hopefully, we'll see more of in the next issue!
link to information about this issue
posted 5/7/2019 by Mark Hibbett
| < previous | next > |
Comments: