Книги Дума

Books of Doom (2005) #1-6

by Ed Brubaker (Writer), Эд Брубейкер (Сценарист), Pablo Raimondi (Artist)

Пятикратный номинант на премию Айснера, сценарист Эд Брубейкер, вместе с блестящим художником Пабло Раймонди запечатлели жизнь Дума с самых ранних моментов до восхождения на трон Латверии. Новый взгляд на старую легенду, «Книги Дума» – это масштабная эпопея о трагедии, безумии и коварной судьбе!

Летопись жизни величайшего диктатора вселенной Marvel – Доктора Дума: от босоногого цыганского мальчишки до закованного в сталь правителя Латверии. Узнайте самые сокровенные тайны злого гения в железной маске и несгибаемой волей!

От первых экспериментов до научных триумфов и трагедии, способной сломить любого. Это история скитаний и поисков, которые сформировали человека, ставшего царём. Эпичная трагедия, непохожая ни на одну историю о Думе, которую вы когда-либо видели.

В издание вошли выпуски комикса «Книги Дума» #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Comic Book, Superheroes, Fantasy

144 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2006

About the author

Ed Brubaker (born November 17, 1966) is an Eisner Award-winning American cartoonist and writer. He was born at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.

Brubaker is best known for his work as a comic book writer on such titles as Batman, Daredevil, Captain America, Iron Fist, Catwoman, Gotham Central and Uncanny X-Men. In more recent years, he has focused solely on creator-owned titles for Image Comics, such as Fatale, Criminal, Velvet and Kill or Be Killed.

In 2016, Brubaker ventured into television, joining the writing staff of the HBO series Westworld.

Reviews

[Benji's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic origin, not weighed down by a bunch of unnecessary cameos and fan-service. This is a Doom story, first and foremost. I'm a simple man. I see the Brubaker name attached to something, I read it.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Brubaker brings his considerable writing talents to colour in the past of one of Marvel's more mysterious characters - Dr Doom. We get to see Victor as a young man, innocent and in love, travelling with his roaming family in an Eastern European-esque country before things go sour. "The Baron" is an evil noble who forces Victor and his family to go on the run, ultimately ending in tragedy, while Victor's mother dabbles in the black arts leading to more tragedy. It leads to Victor's escape to America where he first encounters Reed Richards before he returns to Latveria to wreak his revenge on the Baron and secure his country's future.

All highly dramatic stuff, "The Books of Doom" is a good read with a lot going for it. Victor even comes across as a sometimes sympathetic character though oftentimes the coldness of his character that comes from suffering so much so young makes his actions more difficult to forgive. And for long-time fans of the Fantastic Four, we get to see how their greatest nemesis gets into the Darth Vader-type suit and finally goes from Victor von Doom to Dr Doom.

Brubaker's writing is top notch as always and I enjoyed the artwork of Pablo Raimondi which suited the colourful landscapes that Victor's journey took him on. It's a fascinating read as all Origin stories should be, it's just a shame that it's fallen out of print in the UK. For fans of superheroes, as well as those of Ed Brubaker, it's a must-read.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was pretty great, definitely not a Fantastic Four book though aside from some cameos and mentions of Reed and Ben pre-metamorphosis.


*Needle Scratch* "But how did I wind up becoming the human equivalent of a metal gargoyle? There's more to the story than maybe you've heard..."

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ed Brubaker puts his talent at the service of Doom and, as expected, he does it well. He’d better anyway.

From his birth to his takeover of Latveria, Brubaker paints a brilliant portrait of one of Marvel's best villains. It's done in a very serious, almost analytical way, while perfectly respecting the hubris of our dear Victor, and the author knows how to show the flaws that make up his personality.

The plot is impeccable and respects Marvel's history, and the dialogue is perfect. My only regret is the abominably banal and unrelieved drawing, which doesn't live up to expectations for a book like this.

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a 241 special...FF and Evil Villain.

Ed Brubaker does a solid job giving us an origin story of our favourite Latverian megalomaniac. The art is decent, and definitely focuses on Victor and his transformation to Doctor (funny enough, he never actually earned that degree, because he was booted after the experiment which left his face (and psyche) scarred).
Victor encounters a lot of tragedy in his early years, his mother dabbled in the dark arts, and it cost her her life and soul; his father died saving Victor while they were on the run from the evil Baron in Latveria.

Then, he ends up in the US, at the same school as Reed Richards and Ben Grimm, and also works as a weapon/tech guy for the military. Funny enough, he thinks Reed sabotaged his work, much like Reed thinks Victor sabotaged his own work in Ulitmate FF. That being said, FF doesn't feature in this at all.

There's Doom's love for his mother, and his obsession with saving her from Hell, but the only other thing approaching love is for Valeria, another girl who grew up with him. Even that ends up in heartbreak...and makes me wonder why Reed and Sue's daughter shares her name with Doom's only love....? (If anyone knows, clue me in!)

So there's the inevitable building of the suit to keep himself safe from the power of the Devil's touch (which is what scarred his face apparently) and the robots, and so forth...there's more about his conquering people, working tirelessly, and learning to master all.

Eventually we get to how he takes Latveria and becomes ruler, and there's a twist at the end, as the narration has all been to a reporter who wants to profile him, but the revelation leaves us to wonder...was that the real story? Or just another decoy?

It was solid, 3.5, but I just didn't connect with it enough to rank it higher than that, and the art didn't blow me away...but the writing was good, though you can see how Brubaker has grown since nearly 10 yrs ago on this...

[Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the most in-depth origin of Victor Von Doom you can get. It really represents his ego as a scientist and saviour. His need to validate his existence, but he has no one to validate his existence to. He's incredibly isolated, and the veneer of intelligence hides this fact to himself and the reader.

Perhaps more importantly, it shows in all its glory, an aspect of Doom so often forgotten. He is European, not American. He is a Romani traveller, not some billionaire magnate. The Romani aspect is so often overlooked, but this really creates a sense of anti-monarchy and anti-imperialist justice in Doom's rise to the top.

Of course, he goes on to become a Monarch and an imperialist, but that's part of Doom's flawed character. He sees himself as the exception to the rule because he is just so far removed from humanity. It's a shame we won't see this version of Doom on the big screen any time soon.

Art was serviceable, and definitely of the time. But the strength of this book is definitely in the writing. This should be considered the defacto Doom origin in a similar vein to Batman Year One and Perez's Wonder Woman reinvention.

[Pranay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doctor Doom is a fascinating character. This volume collects all 6 single issues beautifully showcased by Ed and Pablo.

Ed Brubaker captures his life right from the aloof gypsy boy to the awkward teenager in love to the angry orphan oppressed by the rich and greedy to the young arrogant genius on American campus to a disllusioned broken young man about to give up every thing to the knowledge thirsty obsessed man who conquers magic and science to the revolutionary who wants to free his homeland with his unique and powerful creations to the King of Latveria who has made a deal with the devil for a chance to fight for his mother's soul.

Highly recommended

[Will Robinson Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

DOOM BOWS TO NO ONE!!! Doctor Doom is arguably one of thee greatest super villains ever created. I mean he has inspired so many villains in fiction. One of which George Lucas admits is a Doom rip-off, Darth Vader. Written by Ed Brubaker with art by Raimondi & Farmer this collected volume tells the mysterious and incredibly intriguing origin of Doctor Doom. Brubaker does a great job with Doom narrating his rise to king of the kingdom of Latveria & the dark magic and science he learns to wield. Victor Von Doom is portrayed sympathetic enough that you understand his motives for power but he is still so much of a dark character. I really enjoyed all the impactful moments from Doom's childhood and the history of his country of Latveria which is a key character in this tale as well. We also get a brief intro to Victor's future rival Reed Richards who from his perspective is one of the people that left such a mark on the tyrants life. Ultimately it is Victor's fears and nightmares from his past that push him down the dark path he chooses to walk. Colorist Brian Reber does a great job aiding in the mood and haunting quality to the story. Doom is a larger than life character and yet Brubaker manages to tell a small scale story with incredible weight. I thought the surprise ending was brilliant and is so in character for Dr. Doom. I am hoping some day we will get a real well done film version of the character and hopefully the film makers will take inspiration from this well told origin.

[Práxedes Rivera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Dr. Doom's biography is a fascinatingly sinister experience. Doom's childhood account was marred by death and suffering from the start. Horror and grief intertwine to define a character equal parts madman, genius, and zealot --and one of the most complex and memorable villains in graphic novel history. Short but sweet, this six-part series documents Doom's rise from wandering Gypsy to ruler of Latveria and arch-enemy of Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic.

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The life story of Doctor Doom, from his own perspective...kind of. Across six issues, Ed Brubaker and Pablo Raimondi bring the infamous story of the Marvel Universe's greatest villain (depending on who you ask) to life.

We get all the greatest hits, from his time with the travelling clans of Latveria to his meeting with Reed Richards, his trip to hell to try and save his mother's soul, and onwards to his takeover of Latveria. I think I might have liked a few more continuity drops, a la Avengers Forever, weaving in and out of the raindrops, but I guess that's not really what this was about. It's a solid story, and I can see why people point to it as a definitive origin for Doom (although the ultimate ending calls that into question).

Raimondi's artwork is grand throughout, very Mike McKone, slick and solid, with a lot of weight behind it. There are a few subtleties that I appreciated in the backgrounds every now and then as well.

I can see why Marvel chose to reprint this now - it's a good choice. We'll see how much of it makes it onto the big screen.

[Highland G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing, can’t believe this book doesn’t get more praise. Such a great retelling of how VVD becomes Doctor Doom. My only gripe is that I now want to know how the family curse started out as well as it bugged me that we never really learn the origins of his mother’s demon.
Anyway, loved it overall and would love to see it in an nice oversized format some day.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Great origin story.

[Jordan Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, entertaining origin story that demystifies a lot of Doom’s history without taking away its appeal. While I’d have liked a bit more action involving Doom himself, I liked that the ending cleverly planted a seed of doubt over the story, giving him a final victory over the reader.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it's okay. I can't help but wonder how much better this might be if the Ed Brubaker of now were the writer, and had a bit more free rein to tell the story...

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Doctor Doom is pretty new to me, but I do love Brubaker's work. This didn't feel as gritty as his usual but certainly offered a more fleshed out origin. It does a solid job of going behind the scenes and expanding what was told in the original Fantastic Four Annual #2. If you want a story of misguided passion, arrogance, and obsession, well this is it. Only wish it had been longer!

[Sergio Pe Ese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un villano clásico. Hombre roto por injusticias se regodea en su miseria y decide que todos tienen la culpa. Al menos es más interesante que Kang, hay magia de por medio y la obsesión que tiene es más entendible. A ver qué hacen en las pelis.

Por cierto, el estilo este de los cómics de superhéroes de los 2000 no me convence ni patrás.

[Brent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This well-crafted biographic tale is about as much Doom as you can expect to enjoy, outside of Lee and Kirby: a well-crafted origin for a keystone villain of the Marvel universe. Artist Paolo Raimondi has great appeal. And, Brubaker brings to life the familiar tale, with a twist.

[Pat of Rocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to follow backstory. Enjoyed this more than most comics, as this one was a cohesive story that didn't overcomplicate plot or rely heavily on having read dozens of other related comics.

[JW · Rating 2 out of 5]

RICHARDS!!!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor Doom dictates his autobiography and it's essentially what you'd expect: childhood trauma leading to great scientific breakthroughs leading to adult trauma leading to mystical learnings leading to conquering Latveria.

Books of Doom starts slow as young Victor Von Doom experiences the many woes of being young and poor in a backwards nation. The plot picks up as Doom heads to America to research weapons for the Army (and have some bad encounters with Reed Richards and women). The rest of the book is much more of a breeze as we're getting into traditional Doom territory: goals first, humans second.

Ed Brubaker does a great job with the storytelling, keeping each chapter pretty compelling, even as it rarely surprises. Especially appreciated: Brubaker shows Doom's many facets and allows for plenty of character growth, giving us reason to (kinda) root for the man even when we know he's a supervillain. The artwork is solid too, though Doom's costume in the later issues is clunky as hell. A classic for a reason, well worth a perusal.

[Sumit Singla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book deals with the origin of the character who I think is surely one of the most badass villains in Marvel history. (Some people might debate that, but please blame it on my limited exposure, if you disagree with me.)

I liked the layers in the story, and the artwork as well. The atrocities of the Baron, the death of Von Doom's mother, his relationship with Valeria - all explored very well.

However, why exactly does he hate Dr. Reed? Just because the guy is a doctor? Just because he was looking through von Doom's papers? For me, that was a massive weak link. The story could have done with some more fleshing out of this part.

I did like the little twist at the end, which I am of course not writing about here, since it would be a massive spoiler. Overall, I think this is a good one to read if you are a Fantastic Four fan, but if you skip it, you are not really missing much either.

[Ryan McNie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably one of the best graphic novels that I have read. Really strong character focused narrative. I was disappointed when it ended. An interesting insight into one of Marvel's greatest villains.

[Nicholas Dehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

DOOM’s story is an excellent one- Brubaker’s telling focuses purely on the character’s rise from oppressed gypsy boy to scientific genius to ruler of Latveria. I feel that some of my favorite nuances of Dooms character are missed or brushed past in this story in favor of other elements, but the story of Doom’s troubles and triumphs shine.

[Akshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

👑 IRON WILL, GYPSY BLOOD, AND MONARCHIC TRAGEDY: THE DEFINITIVE ORIGIN 👑


Forget the cackling, theatrical villain of Silver Age Saturday mornings. In Books of Doom, Ed Brubaker and Pablo Raimondi construct an operatic, deeply tragic psychological biography that elevates Victor von Doom from a comic book antagonist into a Shakespearian force of pure, uncompromising intellect.

“I am not a monster, nor a tyrant. I am Doom. And I will burn heaven and challenge hell itself before I allow this world to fail.”



If the historical weight and aristocratic ruthlessness of The Godfather collided with the dark, mystical tragedy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, all seen through the cold, unyielding realpolitik of Niccolò Machiavelli's The Prince, you would get Books of Doom. It is grounded, grandiose, and utterly compelling.



📖 The Deep-Dive:
Framed as a personal confession dictated by an aging, sovereign Victor von Doom to an increasingly terrified journalist in Castle Doom, this six-issue limited series systematically deconstructs the rise of Marvel’s greatest mind.


Brubaker takes the fragmented pieces of Doom's comic origins—established by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby—and stitches them into a seamless, deeply grounded historical epic:


The Romani Roots & The Baron's Tyranny: We witness Victor's childhood among the persecuted Zefiro Romani clan in Latveria, watching his mother Cynthia lose her soul to Mephisto and his father Werner freeze to death on the run, instilling an absolute hatred for systemic oppression and fate.
The Collegiate Rivalry: His scholarship to State University in New York, where his brilliant arrogance clashes with the insufferable, casual genius of Reed Richards, culminating in the fateful interdimensional machine accident that scars his face and shatters his academic standing.
The Mystic Synthesis: His trek across the Himalayas to the order of monks who forge his iconic titanium armor, where science is permanently married to forbidden sorcery, ending with Victor leading an armed peasant revolution to overthrow the Latverian monarchy.



The narrative genius lies in the framing: Doom is an unapologetic, reliable narrator of his own legend. Every act of cruelty, arrogance, and ambition is framed not as evil, but as absolute, mathematical necessity to save a broken world from itself.




🔥 Why This Book Stands as Doom's High-Water Mark:


Brubaker’s Shakespearian Character Voice: Brubaker writes Victor not as a madman, but as an intellectual titan driven by profound filial piety, unresolved grief, and wounded pride. You understand why he views Reed Richards as an arrogant dilettante and why he believes only his iron fist can protect Latveria.
Pablo Raimondi & Mark Farmer’s Grounded Realism: The artwork strips away neon superhero aesthetics, opting for textured, European gothic historical realism. The frozen mountain passes, cobblestone Latverian streets, and smoking Tibetan forges give Victor’s evolution tangible, physical weight.
Harmonizing Magic and Machinery: Many writers struggle with Doom's hybrid nature as both a tech-genius and a master sorcerer. Brubaker bridges this gap effortlessly, showing magic as simply another complex branch of science that Reed Richards was too close-minded to investigate.




⚠️ A Note for the Castle:


Subjective Retelling Mechanics: Because the entire story is told from Doom's personal perspective to an intimidated biographer, certain events—especially the exact cause of his laboratory explosion—are colored by Victor's monumental ego and refusal to admit human error.
Minimal Superhero Clashes: If you are picking this up expecting explosive, panel-shattering battles between Doom and the Fantastic Four or the Avengers, be aware that this is strictly a character study and political origin chronicle. Traditional superhero brawls are virtually nonexistent.





⭐️ THE VERDICT:

Doctor Doom: Books of Doom is the gold standard of villain origin stories, standing proudly alongside modern classics like Magneto: Testament and Alan Moore’s The Killing Joke. Ed Brubaker delivers a masterclass in psychological character rehabilitation, reminding us why Victor von Doom remains the most complex, formidable, and fascinating monarch in sequential fiction. An absolute masterpiece.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars - The Definitive Doom Chronicle)

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

So probably my favorite run on a comic ever was John Byrne's run on The Fantastic Four in the 1980s. I was a tween during Byrne's run on the book, but repeated readings into my adulthood have indicated that this was one of the truly great runs in comic history and it lasted a very long time (Byrne was on the book for something like six years before moving to DC's Superman reboot.) Since Byrne was on the book so long, he effectively also became the steward of the FF's main adversary, Doctor Doom. One of the stories I remember from Byrne's time on the book was that the reason that Doom wore his iron mask was because he was hideously scarred under it. However, Byrne set it up that Von Doom is minorly scarred in a lab accident (that he blames Reed Richards for) and then totally mangles his face by putting a red-hot version of his mask on his face before it has time to cool.

Why am I bringing this up? Because Ed Brubaker brings it up in an interview that appears at the end of the Captain America: The Red Menace trade paperback. When Brubaker made the jump from DC to Marvel in addition to Captain America, Brubaker was given a chance to do a "definitive" Doctor Doom origin story. However, when giants like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and John Byrne have already had their say on the matter, one has to wonder if one can write a "definitive" version of Doom's origin. With his work on Captain America it is obvious that Brubaker tries to be deferential to those who have come before him, which is why he brings up Byrne in the interview--to explain from a writer's perspective why his take may not be the same as those who came before him.

In Tim O' Brien's short story collection The Things They Carried there is a short story called "Good Form" that visits on the nature of truth in storytelling. Effectively, in "Good Form" even if a story is untrue, it becomes true in its telling. If someone can imagine that something is one way, it is, even if it isn't. Brubaker's take on Doom's origin is true in its telling. There are two twists at the end that make it so Brubaker can give himself an out if need be, and if a reader would prefer Byrne or an earlier writer's take on Doom, they can have it. But while in its telling Brubaker's story becomes a "true" origin for Doom, I don't know if it is really necessary. I don't really feel like the elements here are Brubaker's...it seems like he borrows a lot from the Byrne run and the Roger Stern graphic novel where Doom and Doctor Strange try to rescue Doom's mother's soul from a demon. That's fine and good, but considering what Brubaker was doing on Captain America while this mini-series was being released, the end result is a little disappointing.

[Alia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books of Doom is such a fascinating look into what made Victor von Doom the man he became.
Dr. Doom is one of the best villains I’ve ever known. His origin story, the traumas he had to go through, what shaped him, his intelligence, his ego, how deadly he is, everything about him was incredible. The story was so fascinating, and honestly, I feel so sad for him. I can’t wait to see him in Avengers: Doomsday after knowing his background story and motives. What makes Doom so compelling is that you can understand where his cruelty and ego come from without ever excusing them.

[Eli Shuster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed Brubaker and Pablo Raimondi created a masterpiece.

This is the ideal book to learn about Doom and holy shit, what an origin story. This was an amazing read, I was captivated the entire time, the story was amazing, the art was beautiful, and learning about one of the biggest characters backstory’s was so fun.

Doctor Doom has one of the saddest origins, Valeria was supposed to be his peace in the world, but being the son of his mother and being cursed with the knowledge he had, it was inevitable that he became Doom.

I loved this read, a very easy 5 star in my opinion.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew very little about Doctor Doom, but with Avengers Doomsday being announced I wanted to learn about him. This was a nice collection that goes from childhood to him taking over Latveria. Having this full picture makes his ultimate goal of toppling a government that oppressed him his entire life kinda relatable. You see a tiny moment with Reed Richards, but it’s really there so Doom can complain and boost his ego😂The artwork was also well done, especially at the ending when he takes off his mask. Definitely didn’t expect that reveal!

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed seeing an ascent to power. And what a great character to follow. I nearly empathized with Von Doom until I was constantly reminded how cold and unfeeling he was. At times I do think the story contradicts his characterization with either him caring about his people, and straight up not. Perhaps that's the paradox of power. If one man is in control how much empathy can he possibly have?

Incredible last chapter. Ended in a cold fashion.

The art was a little too realistic for my taste initially, but I grew to love it. This is. A dark story on par with Magneto Testament and Killing Joke. As such, realism ended up fitting very well with the themes explored.

[Kenny Jarnagin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Goodreads score should be way higher, I would consider this a near masterpiece with the complex and intricate character work combined with detailed and gorgeous illustrations, all while telling a fascinating story that wouldn’t allow me to put it down.