Comic Review: One World Under Doom #2 – “Doom Gives, Doom Takes”

 

The second issue of One World Under Doom only confirms that Ryan North and R.B. Silva are playing a much more complex game with the reader than a standard Marvel event where heroes simply fight another “unstoppable” villain. Here, everything unfolds in the realm of ideas, politics, and morality. Yes, there are battles, flashy showdowns, and cliffhangers but the central question is: is the world under Doom’s rule really that bad?

Doom vs. the World – is he actually right?

At the heart of this issue are two conversations: Doom with Valeria Richards and Doom with the rest of the world. Their narrative weight is immense. Valeria, long written as one of Marvel’s most intelligent children, asks her godfather directly: why are you doing this? Doom answers—not for humanity, not for peace, but for his own glory.

The paradox is that his actions really do bring benefits to the people. Hospitals, schools, open borders, universal health care all of this is becoming reality. Doom isn’t just talking he’s acting. And doing it more effectively than all the world’s leaders combined.

So the question arises: by opposing him, aren’t the heroes imposing their own vision of the world on humanity? That question echoes through the whole comic.

The Fantastic Four vs. Reality

Reed, Sue, Johnny, and Ben refuse to accept Doom’s rule. Their desperate attempt to confront him at the UN, however, shows that they’re playing chess with someone who’s always three moves ahead. Their entrance ends in humiliation Doom uses ordinary people as human shields, and the FF, unwilling to hurt them, are paralyzed.

The climax, however, comes when Doom without asking, without consent restores Ben Grimm to human form. On the surface, he fulfills a dream once thought impossible, but at the same time strips Ben of agency, embarrasses Reed, and turns the whole situation into political theater. It’s a perfect example of how Doom “gives,” but always in a way that ensures everyone remembers that only he has the power to do so.

Valeria and the Moral Core of the Story

The strongest point of this issue is the debate between Valeria and Doom. One line, in particular, lingers:

“Why then, if you reject anarchy at the level of the individual, do you accept it at the level of nations?”

Doom admits openly yes, I’m a narcissist, I want glory. But if his glory means a better world, can one truly oppose him? That question reverberates in conversations, media, and within readers themselves.

Valeria, however, isn’t easily swayed. She points out that the lack of consent and freedom makes even the best reforms toxic. It’s a subtle but crucial counterpoint that reveals the true conflict of this series isn’t in fists, but in ideas.

The Avengers and Carol Danvers’ Desperation

While the FF wrestle with their dilemmas, the Avengers observe Doom’s rising support. Carol Danvers makes a controversial choice allying with… Marvel’s greatest villains. M.O.D.O.K, Doctor Octopus, Mysterio, Goblin Queen the list is long and shocking.

It’s a risky move that could backfire, but it brilliantly raises the stakes and shows that the world really does stand on the brink of a new order.

R.B. Silva – a Visual Spectacle with Caveats

The second issue is visually even more spectacular than the first. Scenes at the UN and Doom’s speeches are monumental, full of energy and grandeur. But there’s still the problem of oversaturation explosions of color, overloaded panels, and digital effects that sometimes overwhelm instead of enhancing.

Still, Silva delivers images that linger in memory especially the “cure” of Ben Grimm, where the characters’ emotions are clear even amid the grand political spectacle.

Final Thoughts

One World Under Doom #2 is a strong, multi-layered issue that deepens the moral ambiguity of the story. Doom emerges as a tyrant, but one whose arguments are hard to dismiss. The Fantastic Four and Avengers are increasingly powerless, while humanity begins to see him as a savior.

Is this the prelude to true catastrophe? Will Doom prove to be a monster after all, or will Marvel dare to tell a story where its greatest villain becomes the only savior? We don’t know yet but already it’s safe to say: this is one of Marvel’s most compelling events in years.

Final Score: 8/10

Pros:

+Fascinating moral conflict between Valeria and Doom

+Brilliantly written political/philosophical dialogue

+Spectacular moments (Ben’s “cure,” the UN scene)

+Bold choices by Carol Danvers raising the stakes

+Doom as a charismatic, morally ambiguous leader

Cons:

-Overuse of visual effects leading to chaotic panels

-Avengers and FF often feel passive against Doom’s schemes

-Heavy spoilers (like Ben’s cure) revealed on covers

-Repetition in the heroes’ approach (constant frontal attacks that always fail)