Today in Comics History, December 24, Christmas Eve: The Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of Doom

from "Hembeck's Page" in Marvel Age #121 (Marvel, February 1993), by Fred Hembeck

Today in Comics History, October 24, 20XX: If you follow this logic, Doom shoulda been ruling earth in 2002

from Doctor Doom #2 (Marvel, January 2020), script by Christopher Cantwell, pencils and inks by Salvador Larroca, colors by Guru-eFx, letters by Cory Petit

BatrocTober, Day 7: "BATROC HAS BEEN EATEN BY A GRUE"

from the side-scroller fighting video game (inhale) The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! (exhale), (1989, Paragon Software, designed by Mark E. Seremet)
"You see BATROC."
PUNCH BATROC
"That thing isn't here."
HIT BATROC
"That thing isn't here."
KICK BATROC
"'Alors!' Batroc declares, as he twirls his waxed mustache. 'A challainge!'"


In 1996, Computer Gaming World declared Spiderman/Captain America the 27th-worst computer game ever released. But hey, there was a manual with OHOTMU-type stats inside. Looking up these stats served as your copy-protection. Oh, I hate that.


Also included: a comic book setting up the plot of the game, featuring TWO whole panels of Batroc!



from Doctor Doom's Revenge one-shot (Marvel, 1989), script by Danny Fingeroth, pencils by Rich Buckler, inks by Tony DeZuniga, colors by Paul Becton, letters by Rick Parker
All this is just to say I want a real Batroc fighting game.

Today in Comics History, July 20, 1969: First Man on the Moon!

This is an expanded and updated version of a post originally published July 20, 2010.

On this date in 1969, we set our sights upon a strange and distant world and stepped forth into the future as we explored a land previously unreachable! Yes, today in 1969, Woodstock began! Wait, no, that's not right.


from Woodstock one-shot (Marvel, 1994), plot by Mort Todd; script by Charles Schneider; pencils, inks, and colors by Gene Fama, letters by Vicki William
Today's the day that the teddy bears had their picnic...on the moon! (oon oon oon oon) Around the world every nation was held in rapturous awe as Apollo 11 set down upon the lunar surface, then immediately opened a Starbucks.


from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #98 (Marvel, May 1970), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott, letters by Artie Simek

365 Days of Defiance, Day 317: Victor! Polo! Victor! Polo!

Panels from Secret Wars (2015 series) #7 (January 2016), script by Jonathan Hickman, pencils and inks by Esad Ribic, colors by Ive Svorcina, letters by Clayton Cowles

365 Days of Defiance, Day 174: But if you go carrying pictures of Doctor Doom / You ain't going to make it with anyone anywhom

Oh, whaddaya know: despite the fact that I said yesterday that Doctor Doom didn't care for protests at his ornate gates, here's a ragtag group of rebels roustering for Latverian freedom!


Splash page from "Doom Must Die!" in Astonishing Tales (1970 series) #3 (December 1970), script by Larry Lieber, pencils and inks by Wally Wood, colors by Tom Palmer (?), letters by Jean Izzo
I'm sure nothing could go wrong with this plan.

365 Days of Defiance, Day 168: Oh, I'm bein' followed by a doomshadow

In which only Wonder Woman...yes, Wonder Man!...has remained immune to the complete subjugation of the Earth by Doctor Doom, thanks to his ionized state, or incredible coolness, or possibly both.


Panels from Marvel Graphic Novel #27: Emperor Doom — Starring the Mighty Avengers graphic novel (1987), script by David Michelinie, pencils and inks by Bob Hall, colors by Bob Hall (?), letters by Bill Oakley
Why, it's almost as if Doom welcomes a challenge to his omnipotent status quo. Maybe he's just...bored?


Wonder Man becomes a one-man rebellion against the state! Can he stop Doctor Doom from ruling over the whole planet?



Why yes he can, because he's Wonder Man!


Wonder Ma-an!
Wonder Ma-an!
All the world is waiting for you
Ionic power you possess
In your safari jacket
Stopping Doc Doom's racket
Make him cringe and whine and grovel!

Wonder Ma-an!
Wonder Ma-an!

Doom's rule's really quite obscene
Just like in Secret Wars '15
Thinks he's the master race
Punch him right in the face
By the end of this here graphic novel!

Wonder Ma-an!
Get us out from under, Wonder Ma-an
You're a wonder, Wonder Ma-an!

365 Days of Defiance, Day 139: I Am Defiant (Blue)

Panels from "Doom Must Die!" in Astonishing Tales #3 (December 1970), script by Larry Lieber, pencils and inks by Wally Wood, colors by Tom Palmer (?), letters by Jean Izzo

Fun with Comics: Early Daredevil was a real jerk

365 Days of Defiance, Day 25: Nobody beats the Thing

If'n I could own just one page of original Jack Kirby art...it'd prob'bly be this one.


Panels from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #40 (July 1965), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Vince Colletta, colors by Stan Goldberg (?), letters by Artie Simek

366 Days with J. Jonah Jameson, Day 315: A Modern Parable

Panels from "The Day of Doom" in Spidey Super Stories #9 (June 1975), script by Jean Thomas, pencils by Win Mortimer, inks by Mike Esposito and Tony Mortellaro, letters by Artie Simek
So who was the scorpion and who was the frog after all?

The Belle Stars, "The Snake" (1983)

Today in Comics History, July 28, 1962: All Hail Lord Emperor Doom, Master of This Comics Blog

Heel, dogs! And kneel before the person of the Almighty and Ever-Powerful Doom, Master of the World, of your fate, and of this puny cow's comics blog! Most certainly you remember that upon July 20, 1962 — well before the arrival of the accursed Fantastic Four, Doom cares not what the cover date of their first comic says — Squirrel Girl arrived from the future year of 2016, followed thereafter by Doom himself and Squirrel Girl's sidekick (but everyone knew her as Nancy). It was therefore mere child's play for one like Doom to manipulate the time/space continuum to become the Emperor of the World! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Witness the charnges to the timeline that shall forever signal the Age of Doom!



from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (December 2015 series) #3 (February 2016), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Erica Henderson, color by Rico Renzi, letters by Travis Lanham
Witness the splendor of Planet Doom!



from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (December 2015 series) #4 (March 2016), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Erica Henderson, color by Rico Renzi, letters by Travis Lanham
Ah ha ha ha ha ha! Doom is triumphant! Doom shall forever reign! No one can defeat Doom, for no one is powerful enough to battle me! No enemy is


Oh, crap.

Today in Comics History, July 20, 1962: Squirrel Girl finally finds a way to write off her purchase of that Back to the Future DVD on her taxes

Squirrel Girl has disappeared! Her friend Nancy Whitehead (who is a redhead) is looking for her. And since she's not the Unfindable Squirrel Girl, there's an obvious clue right in front of Nancy's nose:


from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (December 2015 series) #2 (Marvel, January 2016), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Erica Henderson, color by Rico Renzi, letters by Clayton Cowles
Meanwhile Thenwhile, back on July 20, 1962, Squirrel Girl is hiding a secret message to the future! (uture uture uture)


Well, that was easy!

Not quite as easy: Nancy finding a way to go back in ti...oh, here's Dictor Doom and his patented Time Platform™. Well, that also was easy!


Panels from The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (December 2015 series) #3 (February 2016), script by Ryan North, pencils and inks by Erica Henderson, color by Rico Renzi, letters by Travis Lanham
You can pick up the story again on July 28th! Bring your nuts.

A Month of... Pancakes! Day 7: Doctor Doom is part of your complete breakfast

Panels from "Ladies Who Brunch" in Marvel: Now What?! one-shot (December 2013); script by Sara Benincasa and John DeVore, pencils and inks by Tana Del Rio, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, letters by Clayton Cowles
Ah yes, a nice little calming tale that features no more excitement than the She-Hulk eating pancakes. That's quyite a relief from the oh-so-usual comic book that pits hero against villain and turns into a big punchfest. Thank you, Marvel, for giving us this change-of-pace story with a gentle, quiet look at superheroes and


OH FOR PETE'S SAKE DOCTOR DOOM

Teniversary Countdown #23: And then, it happened!

Here's one of my favorite sequences from a comic book's issue #10, to celebrate my ever-closer-growing tenth anniversary of blogging! HEY STOP RIPPING OFF BATMAN '66 JACK


Panels from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #10 (January 1963), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dick Ayers, colors by Stan Goldberg, letters by Artie Simek
Followed by The World's Greatest Comic Caption:

365 Days of KirbyTech, Day 96: Doctor Doom's Widescreen TV

Doctor Doom bought this big-screen television to watch the season premiere of Game of Thrones...


Panel from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #84 (March 1969), co-plot and script by Stan Lee, co-plot and pencils by Jack Kirby, Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott, letters by Sam Rosen
...but he just wound up using it for spying on the accursed Richards. Like always.

365 Days of KirbyTech, Day 89: The Murder Chair of Franz Cadavus

Even Nazi supervillains like The Red Skull like to have a few pals over to shoot the breeze and watch the game! And here they are...the Exiles! Clockwise from top left: Sprawly Legsapart, Earth-3 Winston Churchill, Big Bear MacCaber, The 5,000 Hats of Jack Kirby Guy, Evil Mirror Universe Spock After a Shave, The Red Skull, and Moe "Professor H" Howard of the H-Men!


Page from Captain America (1968 series) #104 (August 1968), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Dan Adkins, letters by Artie Simek

365 Days of KirbyTech, Day 82: Doctor Doom's Gas Grenade

Doctor Doom stinks! And here's proof!:


Panel from Fantastic Four (1961 series) #84 (March 1969), co-plot and script by Stan Lee, co-plot and pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Joe Sinnott, letters by Artie Simek

365 Days of KirbyTech, Day 59: Doctor Doom's Device [Unidentified KirbyTech]

I dunno what this furschlugginer contraption Doomsie is pulling the switch on is, but you can bet it has something to do with destroying the accursed Richards! Or, it's a cookie-making machine. Either/or.


Pin-up from Fantastic Four Annual (1963 series) #1 (September 1963), script by Stan Lee, pencils by Jack Kirby, inks by Sol Brodsky, colors by Stan Goldberg, letters by Artie Simek
When this pin-up was reprinted in Giant Size Super-Stars #1, the inset picture was replaced with some trivia and, to then, a complete checklist of his appearances. Remember when Doom had appeared only 47 times? Me neither.


Pin-up from Giant-Size Super Stars #1 (May 1974)
These info-packed pin-up gallery pages were the forerunners of what would eventually become The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe!


"Doctor Doom" from Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (1983 series) #3 (March 1983), script by Mark Gruenwald and others, pencils by John Byrne, inks by Joe Rubinstein, colors by Andy Yanchus, typeset text

365 Days of KirbyTech, Day 57: Doctor Doom's Di-Lithium Thermal Mine

Panel from Super-Villain Team-Up #6 (June 1976), script by Steve Englehart, pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Jack Abel, colors by Janice Cohen, letters by Tom Orzechowski
"Its tactical advantages are enormous!" Probably because it's a freakin' Di-Lithium Thermal Mine.