Tomes of Costumed Adventurers: Doom's Day Book Three--Wreckage

Tomes of Costumed Adventurers

Welcome to the land of "reality", where scientific experiments, accidents, genetic heritage, and alien influences affect the lives of ordinary mortals. Join me as I observe the superhumans of planet earth and their struggles against equally powerful foes.

W A R N I N G !

This review does not represent the opinions of the general public. It reflects my personal thoughts and opinions on the book.

That said, on to the review!

Title: Doom's Day Book Three--Wreckage
Author: Eric Fein & Pierce Askegren
Publisher: Boulevard Books
Format: Paperback
Copyright Date: 1997

Victor von Doom waited and watched in relative silence as the two terrorist organizations, Hydra and A.I.M., struggled for dominance and possession of the Infinity Engine, a device capable of harnessing the energies of subspace. Now Dr. Doom has finished with waiting. He has the schematics of "failed" experiments like the Gamma Sieve and Gamma Amplifier, and the technical readouts of Tony Stark's "failed" Infinity Engine. He also has various other devices beyond the comprehension of any but the greatest minds on Earth. What he needs, though, are expendable servants to assist him in "jump-starting" his plans for world domination. To that end he recruits Otto Octavius, better known to the world as Doctor Octopus, to assist him in access the unfathomable energies of the Negative Zone. But where Doctor Octopus goes, Spider-Man is sure to follow. And where Doctor Doom appears, you can bet the world-famous Fantastic Four will pop up to oppose him. Now the question is whether the team of Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, the Thing, and Spider-Man can stand against two "doctors" who--though of different levels of accomplishment and ability--hold the fate of the world in their dangerous hands!

Well, you asked for it and you got it: Dr. Doom! This time around he is definitely a major player. In Rampage and Sabotage he was content to first observe, then pull the strings from the darkness. This time he emerged to make his own bid for world dominance. And I'm sure you'll agree with me that it was well worth waiting for. After all, you couldn't expect anyone else to possess the technical know-how and absolute dominion to pull off what A.I.M. and its competitive chain-of-command or the megalomania of Baron Strucker's Hydra couldn't.

What I found interesting about this book was the inclusion of Doctor Octopus in the plot. Spidey has run afoul of Doom before, so we hardly needed "Doc Ock" in this book. And I really don't think that the history between Mister Fantastic and Doctor Octopus justifies the Doctor's inclusion. However, I found Doom's reasons for turning to Doc Ock realistic and understandable. After all, no one can deny that the Doctor's psychic connection to his robotic arms is unique and exactly what Doom needs to complete the device he's working on. Otherwise you know Doom wouldn't have anything to do with Octopus, right? I mean, can you honestly see the two of them working together peacably?

Doom's Day Book Three--Wreckage concludes a fantastic trilogy whose culmination is exactly the kind of thing long-time Marvel fans expect: a super-villain like Dr. Doom coming perilously close to succeeding in his goals! And of course, there has to be something that will bring about his downfall external to the super-heroes opposing him!

Rating: Thumbs up! Can five non-mutant superheroes prevent a power-hungry monarch from achieving total domination?

Buy this book in paperback or visit the Cosmic Tomes Bazaar for other titles.

Looking for something that's no longer here? Check in the Archive to search for it.

Comments? Suggestions? Just click here to send me e-mail. Also, if this review prompted you to read the book, then let me know. I appreciate knowing I made a difference in somebody's life.

You are the

th visitor to this page since November 16, 1999.

Back Home Back to Starfire Reviews

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page