Just when I think I’m out… Ryan North’s Fantastic Four pulls me back in! I wasn’t planning on falling headfirst for a Marvel event outside the Ultimate 2niverse in 2025, but North’s Fantastic Four has been so good (it’s one of my favorite comics of 2024!), and I’m such a lil’ Doom boi, I’m completely excited for 2025’s One World Under Doom!
To hear Marvel tell it, Doom’s conquest will play more as an era, a la Dark Reign, than as an “event” (see: last year’s Blood Hunt), meaning the Marvel Universe will continue onwards throughout most of 2025, but with Doom as World Emperor and Sorcerer Supreme.
Wait… Sorcerer Supreme? World Emperor? How’d Doctor Doom do it?! I’ll talk through the road to setting up One World Under Doom with this very guide so you’re as caught up as possible. It’s worth noting early on that Doom’s history with magic goes back to his earliest origins upon discovering his (deceased) mother’s entanglements with dark sorcery. This is best defined early in 1971’s Astonishing Tales #8, where Gerry Conway and Gene Colan establish Doom’s annual (failed) attempts to rescue his mother from hell.
Beyond that, you’ll find the full reading order for One World Under Doom below, updated as issues are released, announced, and read by yours truly. Enjoy the comics!
The Road to One World Under Doom
Prior Worlds Under Doom
Emperor Doom
I don’t expect you’ll actually need to read this 1987 Marvel graphic novel from David Michelinie and Bob Hall, but it’s easily the first comic that came to mind. Emperor Doom isn’t exactly the first time Doom wields some sort of hold on a global scale (what’s up that time Doctor Doom stole the Silver Surfer’s power cosmic in Fantastic Four #57), but it commits the most wholly to, well, one world under Doom. The premise is simple, effective, and the work’s greatest strength: Doctor Doom weaponizes the Purple Man – he literally traps his creepy ass in a giant crystal – and exerts his willpower to prevent everyone on Earth from inherently fighting back against Doom’s grand vision.
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Upon a reread, Emperor Doom really only gestures at the philosophical dilemma of a fascist demagogue doing GOOD for the world (Doom ends Apartheid in South Africa and war in Afghanistan. These things are undone when the Avengers see through his manipulations.). Simply put, it’s a work more interested in Wonder Man (huge strike against literally any comic) and the West Coast Avengers than the genuinely interesting ethical questions at its core. In the grand Marvel tradition, there are some dope Doom moments like an unmasked Doom staring down the Purple Man face to face unaffected by sheer force of his will. Even with a lot of meat left on the bone, Emperor Doom is a successful template for a world where “the bad guys” win, and has influenced the likes of House of M. It gives me hope for all the ways One World Under Doom could improve upon the concepts.
President Doom (2099)
Speaking of times Doom ruled the world, in Doom 2099 the future Doom came close by conquering America. In this series from Warren Ellis and Pat Broderick, the rad as hell 90’s Doom 2099 rips off lines like “The greatest threat to this world is America. I will save the world by saving America itself.” For my money, it’s the highpoint of Marvel 2099, but mostly for our purposes, it’s a good example of the history of Doom’s grandest conquests.
Secret Wars (2015)
Did somebody say grandest conquests? What’s an emperor or a president to a God Emperor? Doom’s role in Jonathan Hickman’s Fantastic Four, Avengers, and build to 2015’s Secret Wars event is an evergreen recommendation for fans of the best in Marvel. It’s also the best modern example of Doom’s eternal quest for power and immortality in the name of benevolent rule. Doom saved everything, but of course did it all in his own name, with his own eternal grievances shaping his decisions (taking Sue Storm as his wife, turning Johnny Storm into the Sun, making Ben Grimm The Wall). To date, it’s my favorite example of a story exploring what Doom would do with all the power of the god of the Marvel multiverse.
Sorcerer Doompreme
Blood Hunt
The 2024 Vampire invasion event from Jed MacKay and Pepe Larraz is the most essential piece of continuity shaping the road to One World Under Doom. In a last gasp effort to turn the tide and free the world from all-out Darkhold fueled vampirism, Doctor Strange turns to Doctor Doom. Being Doom, he insists the only way to enact the magic Stephen requires is to grant Doom the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme until the world is saved. Doctor Strange agrees, and you’re not gonna believe it, but Doom keeps the power of the Sorcerer Supreme on the technicality that the world is still not saved as fully as it could be!
Enter One World Under Doom!
Tough to make a Doom-centric list without Roger Stern and Mike Mignola’s Triumph and Torment, and it’s the best read here to explain the longstanding relationship between Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom. If you’re especially interested in the magic-side of Doom, which is obviously at the forefront of his new role as Sorcerer Supreme, there’s no better read.
Ryan North’s Fantastic Four
The most crucial read heading into One World Under Doom is Fantastic Four, written by Ryan North since 2022, alongside a rotating bullpen of artists including Iban Coello, Carlos Gomez, and Ivan Fiorelli. Since North will be writing the core issues of One World Under Doom, it’s the best clue into what’s to come. Fortunately, Fantastic Four is also the best ongoing comic book in Marvel’s Earth-616 (not to be confused with the Ultimate 2niverse).
Doom has been seen sparingly throughout the run, but issues starring the Latverian ruler have excelled, with North striking a delicate balance between modern nobility and classic Silver Age supervillain charm. If you’re fast-tracking through Doom, you’ll want to check out Fantastic Four #7, Fantastic Four #13-#14 (Tyrannosaurus DOOM), and then any issues of Fantastic Four starting with issue #28 which will lead-in to the 2025 event.
In addition to writing my favorite Fantastic Four run since Jonathan Hickman, Ryan North published the non-fiction guide novel How to Take Over the World in 2022, and it is nothing if not a manifesto for how Doctor Doom is going to rule in the upcoming event! Here’s an excerpt:
“A supervillain should be as far beyond our understanding of villainy as we are above a villainous ant, which means a supervillain should be able to do things regular villains can’t. Like making the world a better place… The modern villain is relatable. They do what they do with motivations anyone can understand, and they strive to take over the world for reasons that you ahve likely mulled ov er while reading the news… reasons that boil down to the simple fact that you could do it better.”
If that doesn’t sound like One World Under Doom, I don’t know what does!
Avengers #19
Doom comes out of his Sorcerer Supreme meditation to test the Avengers and see if they haven’t changed the world through cowardice or inability.
Amazing Spider-Man #61
Doctor Doom outsources the Sorcerer Supreme’s role of painfully dying in fights to the death with 8 supernatural trials to… Spider-Man!
One World Under Doom Reading Order Checklist
Fantastic Four #28
One World Under Doom #1
Storm #5
X-Factor #7
Doom Academy #1
Thunderbolts: Doomstrike #1
Weapon X-Men #1
Fantastic Four #29
Red Hulk #1
One World Under Doom #2
One World Under Doom #3
One World Under Doom #4
One World Under Doom #5
One World Under Doom #6
One World Under Doom #7
One World Under Doom #8
One World Under Doom #9
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