NERD INITIATIVE

The Dungeons of Doom are open and everyone is seeking to claim a piece. The U.S Government led by Thunderbolt “Red Hulk” Ross, Umbra the Wakandan, Hydra, and even Latverian Freedom Fighters seek to claim a piece of what hides below. What was Doom keeping from the world? What was Doom protecting the world from? Join Megan and me as we team up and jump into the depths with Dungeons of Doom #2.

Need to catch up? Check out our joint review for Dungeons of Doom #1!

Creative Team

Writers: Phillip Kennedy Johnson & Benjamin Percy
Artists: Justin Mason, Robert Gill, Carlos Magno, George Jeanty, & Karl Story
Color Artist: Guru-eFX
Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham

Writing

Megan: So much happens in Dungeons of Doom #2, and it perfectly matches the intensity of the first issue. Phillip Kennedy Johnson ad Benjamin Percy bring a continuation of Doom’s death that’s wrapped in a horror energy that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The different teams who want to lay claim on what Doom left behind are stuck inside of the former World Emperor’s most forbidden dungeons. It’s very clear that no one other than Doom can handle what’s inside these dungeons.

From seeing a dungeon that’s looks like a ritual spot for Khonshu to a brand new piece of Wakanda lore from Umbra, there’s so much uncovered in this comic. All that we see in Dungeons of Doom #2 puts it into perspective exactly how secretive and powerful Doom was, but also how unhinged his mind must have been.

Shawn: Whenever you have multiple writers and artists working on one project, there tends to be some complexity and often confusion. That is not the case with Dungeons of Doom. Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Benjamin Percy do a great job utilizing the chapter format to tell compelling stories. I love that the chapter format creates a story within a story. Each chapter feels unique and distinct both in writing and art.

In using the chapter format, Johnson and Percy effectively channel some of the old-time radio dramas for me. I can almost hear the “tune in next week to find out” in my head as I reach the end of each chapter. I find myself wanting more each time I reach the end of a chapter and start a new one. I loved the introduction of a new piece of Wakandan lore as well.

Art

Megan: The artists do an incredible job and sending a shiver up your spin while keeping you entranced in the artwork of the comic. With such a stacked creative team filled with extraordinary artists, it’s no surprise that the art is fantastic.

In Dungeons of Doom #2, the artists were able to capture the horror aspects of the story as well as the goriness. All panels are drawn and colored beautifully, even if their subject matter is dark. I really enjoyed how Guru-eFX was still able to bring vibrancy to the comic, even with the characters being in a dark dungeon. Alongside that, the artists go out of their way to ensure that each panel is very detailed, providing a clear look at all the evil to take place in Doom’s dungeons.

Shawn: How is it that every single chapter of the Dungeons of Doom series has distinct styles and all of them work? I think the art teams on Dungeons of Doom is part of why the style and narrative work so well. Each chapter feels unique despite all being set in the same dungeons.

When you’re dealing with a dimly lit dungeon, you are really kinda limited in what you can do color-wise. Still, the color artists do a great job making each faction we encounter easily identifiable, even with the limited palette created by the setting. Travis Lanham particularly shines with lettering work in the Whisper Man chapter. The art team combines to give us some pretty cool flashback featuring fan favorite characters.

Final Thoughts

Megan: Dungeons of Doom is absolutely not what I expected it to be, in the best way possible. Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Benjamin Percy brings a story that nightmares are made of inside Doom’s most secret dungeons. Dungeons of Doom #2 continues the excitement the surprises at every turn.

Shawn: You know how you feel when you finish reading a comic, and you’re waiting not so patiently for the next issue so you can see what happens? It’s one of the best feelings in comics, and it lets you know that you’ve got in your hands a well-done comic. With Dungeons of Doom #2, I got that feeling four separate times. Each time I made it to the end of the chapter, I was desperate for more. I want to know what happens to each team and where they go from here. The writing is top-notch, and the team of Johnson and Percy hit their stride even more than in the first issue, and it’s really starting to get to the point that every page of this comic is a page turner.

Overall Grade:

Megan: 9/10

Shawn: 10/10

What did you think of Dungeons of Doom #2? Let us know in the comments.