Warning: contains potential spoilers for Doom #1!
Doctor Doom has a new quest: to kill Galactus, and he is giving himself a cosmic upgrade ahead of his fight with the planet eater. In a first look at Doom #1, an alternate timeline, Doom embarks on a cosmic journey, one that will see him meet the Celestials as well as fight the mighty Galactus while the fate of the Earth hangs in the balance.
Marvel shared a special first look at Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene’s Doom #1 with Comic Book Resources. The unlettered preview pages, shared below, show Doctor Doom preparing for…something. After a two-page spread showing Greene’s take on nearly the entire Marvel Universe, fans see Doctor Doom fight Galactus. While the preview does not make it clear, the fight does not go well for Doom. The Celestials make an appearance in the preview as well, hovering above Galactus.
Finally, Doom can be seen giving himself an upgrade, presumably to even the score with Galactus.
Over the years, Galactus’ Power Cosmic has proven irresistible to Doctor Doom, who has tried stealing it in the past. Galactus is one of Marvel’s most powerful characters, and a fundamental force in their universe. By devouring planets, Galactus ensures balance exists in the universe. However, according to Marvel’s solicitation for Doom #1, something happens to Galactus. Now seeking to destroy the entire universe, Doom must step in to stop him. While these two titans have squared off before, the stakes are even higher. Not only is one world hanging in the balance, but the entire universe.
Marvel’s preview shows Doom working with Valeria Richards, his goddaughter. Every bit a genius like her father, Reed Richards, Valeria is helping Doctor Doom with some sort of upgrade. Doom’s first fight with Galactus, as seen in the preview, hurts him badly. While the preview does not make it clear if any other Marvel heroes will survive Galactus’ onslaught, it appears this fight is Doom’s and Doom’s alone. There is precedence for Doom playing the hero, however. In Doom’s last solo series, he accidentally opened a wormhole near Earth, and took it upon himself to fix it.
Now, Doctor Doom finds himself in a similar position. A switch has flipped with Galactus, one that makes him deadlier than ever, and only Doom can stop him. The Celestials, seen in the preview, will also play a role in Doom #1. While what role they will play in the one shot remains to be seen, it appears Galactus is confronting them in the preview. The Celestials are his equal in power, and if he is able to overpower them, then Doctor Doom will need all the cosmic upgrades he can get if he wishes to kill Galactus.
Source: Comic Book Resources
Doom #1 is on sale May 15 from Marvel Comics!