'One World Under Doom'

DOOM ACADEMY #1-2

The only Doom appearance so far was the first page of the first issue, where he says, "You belong to Doom!" Then follows with, "... for the semester."

So this isn't directly tied into One Wolrd Under Doom — it's a coming-of-age story about the main characters from Strange Academy (Zoe, Doyle, Shayle, Zelma), plus some new characters (Scoop, Marta, Greta). I'm not usually a fan of this sort of thing, but the setting means we have a little genre-bending. They are in a castle, after all, so there aree the traditional whispering voices, hidden tunnels in the walls, portraits with eyes that move, Dungeons & Dragson in an actual dungeon, etc. I've enjoyed the first two issues. It's tempting me to read the back issues of Strange Academy, so I can understand more of the references. (Apparently Doyle Dormammu's ex-girlfriend tried to kill them all. I can relate.)

DOCTOR STRANGE OF ASGARD #1-3

I have really enjoyed this series. Of course, I’m a longtime Doctor Strange fan — he was one of the few superheroes of my youth I could actually imagine myself becoming — which influences my opinion.

But I have the same problem with magic-based characters as many other fans, in that their powers are ill-defined and lend themselves to lazy writer’s fiat. Strange is less prone to this than most, but he still had his moments of deus ex magicka.

Not in this series, though.

Strange wants to become the Sorcerer Supreme of Asgard, since Doom stole his title back on Earth. Impressively, and amusingly, everybody he tells this to gives him a hard time about it. “Why not go fight for what’s yours instead of crawling here and begging for a job?” seems to be the general Asgardian attitude, which makes sense given their warrior culture. Even Thor, who gives his buddy the OK but won't give him any help. It's Viking culture. You're not supposed to NEED help.

Also, there never has been a Sorcerer Supreme of the Asgardian plane because, as everyone tells him, “We’ve never needed one.”

This general condescension to Strange's job search — and Strange himself, with most Asgardians remarking on how physically small he is — is a constant source of chuckles as Strange goes about getting what he wants.

And you and I know he wants the job so that he CAN go and fight Doom. He hasn’t said it, so a reader who wants nothing to do with the crossover (or is completely unaware of it) doesn’t receive information he doesn’t want. IOW, this miniseries can stand completely alone, outside the crossover, if one so chooses. But the subtext is there if you DO want it. Nicely done.

There is one reference that I don’t know about, though, and that’s about the skalds. Apparently they were important in the magical infrastructure of Asgard, and Loki mucked that up recently in some title I’m not reading. But several people angrily remark on it — Loki is even less popular in Asgard currently than usual.

Strange isn’t completely powerless, but his magic really doesn’t come into play much. He needs to cast a certain kind of spell in order to channel Asgardian magic, which starts with getting a job, an apartment, and then the ingredients. All of which is funny in a fish-out-of-water way. Strange is NOT having a good time, especially when he has to get the wishbone of a duck the skull of a dark troll. Hi-jinks, and also some mindless slaughter, ensue. Hey, it’s Asgard. Mindless slaughter is a common occurence.

But there’s another complication, in that Strange is present for a murder, which he can’t tell anybody about without sabotaging himself. That means he has to cover it up from King Thor, and worse, all-seeing Sif. His allies are Loki and Clea, and the former means Strange is up to his eyeballs in dirty tricks, and is putting himself in danger of a possible public execution.

Two issues to go. Recommended.

Replies

Captain Comics May 16, 2025 at 1:33pm

DOOM ACADEMY #1-2

The only Doom appearance so far was the first page of the first issue, where he says, "You belong to Doom!" Then follows with, "... for the semester."

So this isn't directly tied into One Wolrd Under Doom — it's a coming-of-age story about the main characters from Strange Academy (Zoe, Doyle, Shayle, Zelma), plus some new characters (Scoop, Marta, Greta). I'm not usually a fan of this sort of thing, but the setting means we have a little genre-bending. They are in a castle, after all, so there aree the traditional whispering voices, hidden tunnels in the walls, portraits with eyes that move, Dungeons & Dragson in an actual dungeon, etc. I've enjoyed the first two issues. It's tempting me to read the back issues of Strange Academy, so I can understand more of the references. (Apparently Doyle Dormammu's ex-girlfriend tried to kill them all. I can relate.)
Captain Comics June 1, 2025 at 3:42pm

DOCTOR STRANGE OF ASGARD #1-3

I have really enjoyed this series. Of course, I’m a longtime Doctor Strange fan — he was one of the few superheroes of my youth I could actually imagine myself becoming — which influences my opinion.

But I have the same problem with magic-based characters as many other fans, in that their powers are ill-defined and lend themselves to lazy writer’s fiat. Strange is less prone to this than most, but he still had his moments of deus ex magicka.

Not in this series, though.

Strange wants to become the Sorcerer Supreme of Asgard, since Doom stole his title back on Earth. Impressively, and amusingly, everybody he tells this to gives him a hard time about it. “Why not go fight for what’s yours instead of crawling here and begging for a job?” seems to be the general Asgardian attitude, which makes sense given their warrior culture. Even Thor, who gives his buddy the OK but won't give him any help. It's Viking culture. You're not supposed to NEED help.

Also, there never has been a Sorcerer Supreme of the Asgardian plane because, as everyone tells him, “We’ve never needed one.”

This general condescension to Strange's job search — and Strange himself, with most Asgardians remarking on how physically small he is — is a constant source of chuckles as Strange goes about getting what he wants.

And you and I know he wants the job so that he CAN go and fight Doom. He hasn’t said it, so a reader who wants nothing to do with the crossover (or is completely unaware of it) doesn’t receive information he doesn’t want. IOW, this miniseries can stand completely alone, outside the crossover, if one so chooses. But the subtext is there if you DO want it. Nicely done.

There is one reference that I don’t know about, though, and that’s about the skalds. Apparently they were important in the magical infrastructure of Asgard, and Loki mucked that up recently in some title I’m not reading. But several people angrily remark on it — Loki is even less popular in Asgard currently than usual.

Strange isn’t completely powerless, but his magic really doesn’t come into play much. He needs to cast a certain kind of spell in order to channel Asgardian magic, which starts with getting a job, an apartment, and then the ingredients. All of which is funny in a fish-out-of-water way. Strange is NOT having a good time, especially when he has to get the wishbone of a duck the skull of a dark troll. Hi-jinks, and also some mindless slaughter, ensue. Hey, it’s Asgard. Mindless slaughter is a common occurence.

But there’s another complication, in that Strange is present for a murder, which he can’t tell anybody about without sabotaging himself. That means he has to cover it up from King Thor, and worse, all-seeing Sif. His allies are Loki and Clea, and the former means Strange is up to his eyeballs in dirty tricks, and is putting himself in danger of a possible public execution.

Two issues to go. Recommended.
Richard Willis June 1, 2025 at 6:26pm

Strange is NOT having a good time, especially when he has to get the wishbone of a duck the skull of a dark troll.

Hopefully, not of a duck named Howard.
- Captain Comics > Richard Willis June 1, 2025 at 7:50pm
  
  I would be perfectly happy if it was Howard. The character started as a mildly entertaining satire, but after the movie and Bill Mantlo's version, he's just an embarrassment. If he joined Mopee in the memory hole, I wouldn't mind. Better still if his wishbone had some use!

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