current / archive / issues / faq / RSS feed / twitter /
Doomenstein!
| < previous | next > |
There's a whole heap of Doctor Doom in this comic - he's there on the cover, and then he pops up in the first story, a parody of 'Camelot' featuring Thor, called 'Comicloct'.
Early on in this story there's a gathering of supervillains which, unusually,does not feature Doom amongt them.
However, it seems that this time around Roy Thomas and Marie Severin are spreading the villains out, as he appears on the very next page along with other characters who weren't in the preceding group.
As I keep saying, he's there as a representative of supervillains, not necessarily as the character of Doctor Doom himself. This is made even more clear in his other main appearance, as 'Doctor Doomenstein' in a retelling of the Hollywood version of 'Frankenstein'.
Apart from living in a castle and looking the same, 'Doomenstein' has no resemblance to Doctor Doom, although there are similarities to recent versions of 'Dr Bloom' seen in this series, in that he speaks with a 'comedy' German accent, again probably referencing 'Wolfgang' from 'Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In'.
Between these two stories there's yet another appearance, alongside perennial 'Not Brand Echh' favourite Aunt May in a 'Puzzles' section.
Doom sits wearing comfy slippers, reading a magazine - the 'humour' coming from the juxtaposition with his usual role as the ultimate supervillain. This has been how he's been used throughout this series, as a representative of supervillainy whose position is secure enough to be mocked without need for explanation.
In the mainstream Marvel Universe between the publishing dates of March 1967 and March 1969 Doctor Doom only appeared as a main character (as opposed to cameo or parody) in two issues of Daredevil. However, during the same period he appeared in nine issues of 'Not Brand Echh', often several times per issue. It's thus a mark of how well established he is in his position as Number One Baddy that it can survive this constant mockery with very little reinforcement of his 'proper' role elsewhere.
There's just one issue of 'Not Brand Echh' to go - it's been interesting reading them, but I must say I'm very glad that next time we'll be returning to the pages of 'The Fantastic Four' for 'The Name Is Doom'!
link to information about this issue
posted 30/7/2018 by Mark Hibbett
| < previous | next > |
Comments: