In this review of One World Under Doom #4, as the title suggests, it’s an all-out magic-infused boss battle between Doctor Doom and the Dread Dormammu.
ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #4
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: R.B. Silva
Main Cover: Ben Harvey
Variant Covers: CORY SMITH, ADI GRANOV, R.B. SILVA, FEDERICO VICENTINI, ALEX ROSS
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: May 14, 2025
This review contains spoilers
One World Under Doom #4 begins in the aftermath of the Dread Dormammu magically whisking away the Marvel heroes to a pocket dimension, leaving Von Doom as Earth’s sole protector. The megalomaniacs exchange volleys of dark magic and petty epithets, as each attempts to achieve the upper hand. In the heat of battle, Dormammu taunts Von Doom with the truth.
Dormammu presses the advantage afforded him by his helper demons (who steal the Eye of Agamotto), and tears away more of Von Doom’s defenses with each strike. Stripped of his armor, his body racked with pain, a hobbled but indignant Von Doom finds himself helpless before Dormammu, as he deploys the second (of three) magic spells of last resort.
One World Under Doom #4 ends with the Marvel heroes returning to Earth (thanks to spell number three) and following Von Doom into battle against Dormammu (what an awkward team-up this will be).
Analysis
One World Under Doom #4 is a solid, self-contained story, with a tight focus and high stakes, (if only these monsters could remain locked in infinite battle on some other plane of existence and allow us to return to normal). Props to artist R.B. Silva for making Dormammu look happy, (honestly how often does the infamous ruler of the Dark Dimension find the opportunity to crack a smile?)
Writer Jed Mackay (Moon Knight) piles on the hurt as the powerful, but still mortal Victor Von Doom endures agonizing attacks (and public humiliation) from his extra-dimensional nemesis. Von Doom knows he left New Latveria vulnerable to attack by ignoring his obligation to protect against such incursions. (Yet, Von Doom still somehow believes that he is a superior sorcerer supreme to Stephen Strange).
It is a testament to Von Doom’s indomitable will that he suffers such a savage attack, but soldiers on well past his ravaged body’s breaking point. Von Doom’s arrogance is typically his downfall, but readers spend much of One World Under Doom #4 inside Von Doom’s head as he recognizes he is fighting a losing battle. If Von Doom isn’t accepting responsibility for his failures, he is at least in the vicinity.
This one-on-one boss battle is a refreshing change from the typical cycle of One World Under Doom, where the Marvel heroes continually follow the classic playbook and end up losing time after time. In One World Under Doom #4, Von Doom is forced to admit that he is outmatched by a superior foe, but as usual, Von Doom always plans ahead.
R.B. Silva’s art maintains its high quality (ably assisted by colorist David Curiel), showcasing the massive scope of the supernatural showdown, and its debilitating effects on both combatants. Case in point: Von Doom laying the smackdown on Dormammu with a pair of gigantic magic hammers (right out of a Green Lantern comic), or the legions of demons descending on Von Doom from above.
David Curiel’s colors help set the mood in One World Under Doom #4, with incandescent purple demons, crackling green magical fire, the limited black-and-red palette for Von Doom’s “optic blasts” attack, plus the striking silhouettes of Dormammu and Von Doom framed by raging, hellish flames.
The combination of Silva’s layouts, composition and figure work, along with Curiel’s colors and computer effects heighten the impact of this hell on earth battle between warring warlocks.
Final Thoughts
One World Under Doom #4 succeeds by narrowing its focus to the title character and a worthy adversary, delivering an epic, high stakes supernatural slugfest that advances the plot, all of it rendered in dazzling art and color.
