Daily Comics Digression #1: Doomboomafoo

Daily Comics Digression #1: Doomboomafoo

So I'm going to try a new thing here where I give a random smattering of comic book thoughts on a daily basis. Today, let's talk about my favorite comic book character: Doctor Doom!

For those of you who didn't know, Doctor Doom, eponymous foe of...everyone in Marvel comics, has had his own comic book series several times. He's just too interesting of a character for writers to avoid. I've been reading some of his early adventures by the likes of Roy Thomas, Wally Wood, Larry Lieber, Gerry Conway, and others.  

Here are some random observations I've made: 

1. It's perfectly hilarious how Doctor Doom is in an on-again, off-again friendship with Namor. First, Namor wants to be friends with Doom, and Doom turns him down. Then, like an issue later, Doom becomes the one pursuing best friend status with the ruler of Atlantis. It's like they're lovers in a rom-com. Peter Parker never had as much relationship tension as these two. They fight, kiss, and make up on alternating issues repeatedly. 

Doom is still waiting on Namor to accept his friend request.

2. The more I read them, the more I realize that these old comic stories were almost terrified to commit o moving the narrative forward. Story after story results in a reset of status quo. Doom never actually wins anything worth anything, but he never really loses that much either. Reminds me of all the times that Spider-Man would experience setbacks that never really let him progress in his life. The bulk effect of these comics is like trying to start an engine that keeps sputtering but doesn't turn over. 

3. On a final note, one particular story involving Black Panther seems directly parallel to a much later event called Doomwar. In both stories, Black Panther basically is put in a position where he must potentially sacrifice his country for the sake of the precious metal Vibranium. There really isn't anything new under the sun.