Dungeons of Doom #1: Fighting for a Piece of Doom

Doctor Doom has fallen and with him the order and organization of Latveria. Now everyone wants a piece of what Doom has, or at least what they think Doom has. Peasants, the U.S. Military, and even Hydra can’t wait to get their hands on all that was Doom’s. What horrors await those brave enough to enter the depth Castle Doom? Will Doom’s darkest secrets and most prized possessions be revealed to those foolish enough to seek them? Who will survive the shadows?

Creative Team

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Benjamin Percy
Artists: Justin Mason, Robert Gill, Carlos Magno, Georges Jeanty, and Karl Story
Color Artist: Guru-eFX
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Cover Artists: Leinil Francis Yu and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Published by Marvel Comics

Writing

Shawn: I love that Dungeons of Doom ties into the greater One World Under Doom storyline,, in some cases, serving as part of the epilogue. More than that, I really love that Benjamin Percy and Phillip Kennedy Johnson are giving readers something that still feels different from the rest of what we’ve seen in the other 80+ issues of One World Under Doom. Dungeons of Doom #1 sees the writing team shift to a chapter-based, almost episodic style. Each chapter gives us a tiny glimpse into the lives and in some cases the motivation of one of the groups protecting, attacking, or invading Castle Doom.

Megan: Dungeons of Doom #1 is a perfect addition to the One World Under Doom storyline, as it continues the wild story. Seeing what’s left of Doctor Doom being picked apart by the militaries of the world makes a lot of sense when you consider all the valuables and weaponry he must have stored in Latveria.

What I really enjoyed was getting a look inside the castle and seeing the creepiness from within. There’s some valuables of Doom’s that are a complete mystery, and some that are just plain dark. Throughout the story, you have no idea what’s going to happen next. With it being Doom’s lair, you won’t be able to guess what’s behind the next corner. I’m very excited to see where this story goes, as Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Benjamin Percy knocked it out of the park with this first issue.

Art

Shawn: I’m not sure whose idea the chapter-based story was, but it really sets up a treat for readers in the art. Each chapter feels distinct. The artists create a distinct visual identify for each chapter while each chapter is still undeniably set in Castle Doom. The art team works together to create a story where each chapter showcases a different aesthetic while still sharing the same DNA.

Megan: The artwork of Dungeons of Doom #1 has a looming feeling of darkness, which keeps you on your toes. The artists perfectly illustrated the darkness of the storyline, and give it a nice horror energy. The artists certainly didn’t shy away from the creepiness of the story, which I really appreciated. In a dark story like this, you’d expect the colors of the comic to be dark and moody, but Guru-eFX went with a more vibrant look that absolutely paid off. With the juxtaposition of the darker and more muted tones with the vibrancy, each page has focal points that practically jump off the page.

Final Thoughts

Shawn: 10/10. I’m in. Marvel, you’ve got me hooked for the rest of the Dungeons of Doom series. I found myself getting to the big reveal on the last page and being honestly disappointed to come to the fan mail section. I went back and forth, saying to myself, “No, no. This can’t be the end of the issue, I need more. As someone who has followed the One World Under Doom event since the beginning, I’m really excited about what this creative team has the opportunity to do with this limited run on Dungeons of Doom.

Megan: 10/10. Dungeons of Doom #1 was perfectly executed but what can you expect when you have such a killer creative team behind it? There’s action, there’s horror, there’s chaos. It’s everything you’d want it to be, and we get to see even more in the next issue!

Overall Grade – 10/10

Still catching up on One World Under Doom? Check out Megan and Shawn’s review of Will of Doom!

Dungeons of Doom piqued your interest in One World Under Doom, but you’re not sure where to start. Check out The Latverian Standard, Shawn’s article ranking the One World Under Doom tie-in issues so you can see where you might want to jump in.

If you enjoyed this review, you can check out more reviews from Megan or Shawn, or you can let us know in the comments below!