Marvel's Wastelanders: Doom

Marvel's Wastelanders #5

by Mark Waid, James Tae Kim

After thirty years of imprisonment, Doctor Doom has freed himself and seeks revenge on the former allies who betrayed him on The Day The Villains Won. To achieve this, he teams up with Valeria Richards, the daughter of his most hated enemy, Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four – but whose side is she really on?

Marvel's Wastelanders: Doom is the fifth installment in the “Marvel's Wastelanders” audio epic. Starring Dylan Baker as Doctor Doom and featuring performances by Danny Burstein (Hulk), Keith David (Kingpin), John Hawkes (Klaw), Kristen Johnston (She-Hulk), Elijah Jones (Johnny), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Valeria Richards), Hamish Linklater (Sandman), and Nadine Malouf (Cora). Directed by Jade King Carroll. Original sound design and music by Mark Henry Phillips. Story by Mark Waid. Written by Mark Waid and James Tae Kim.

Genres: Marvel, Audiobook, Comics

Audiobook

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Hayley Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been the best of the Wastelanders series so far.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This podcast is the fifth of a new series that takes place in an apocalyptic world, 30 years after the fall of the Avengers and X-Men heroes. This series began with Star-Lord, then moved on to Hawkeye, Black Widow, and Wolverine- and now we get the perspective of the anti-hero Doctor Doom.

Finally, the podcasts are starting to come together with an introduction that directly links a petulant Doctor Doom to the first Wastelanders podcast about Star-Lord! Doom has to reluctantly align with Valeria, the daughter of Doom's nemesis Reed and Sue Richards of the Fantastic Four. But Valeria is hiding her own secrets (of course) and the two get mixed up with the mutant Hulk family and try to harness the powers of the Cosmic Cube. With only one season remaining, I am anxious to find out how everyone finds one another, and if they will be able to work together for the greater good.

For a longer review, episode by episode, read my blog review at: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2022/11/1...

[Özge Yildiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die fünfte Staffel, die vor einigen Tagen erschienen ist, war wieder richtig spannend. Hab es echt gerne gehört und konnte nicht aufhören. Es war fesselnd und spannend. In die Figuren kann man sich sehr gut hineinversetzen. Auch die Sprecherinnen und Sprecher haben ihre Arbeit sehr großartig gemacht.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely not the best installment in the overall series. It was a little all over the place, and just when I thought I was connecting to the characters, the plot would shift and throw all of that away. It had some really great moments, even some really funny ones, but it just didn't hit overall.

[Algert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun chapter all in all. Doom is well designed, and the recorder is quite fitting as a partner. The same can not be said for Valeria, who does not manage to be interesting. I found the pace on this one to be slightly slower but somehow balanced by the introduction of many Marvel concepts/characters/locations.

The ending is sooooo cliché that I am not sure if I should praise Marvel for the consistency or be angry for the lack of originality.

Recommended to people who want to see the good side in Doom despite him not having one in the canonic Marvel universe.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story was somehow convoluted, but again: great audio design & mix production! Actors did a tremendous job also.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doom is back, and just as haughty and egomaniacal as ever, seeking vengeance on Hulk for putting the beat-down on him 30 years ago (for what Doom did to him, natch). Ah, good ol' Victor. He's seen better days. All he wants is what is rightfully his. And yet, what is he really after? And what is this soft spot he has for his goddaughter Valeria, child of his lifelong enemy Reed Richards, whose heart-rending demise, along with the entire Fantastic Four, he orchestrated way back then?

While I enjoyed Dylan Baker's put-upon, grumpy Old Man Doom (especially drunk Doom) to no end, the writing in this penultimate installment of the storied Wastelanders series fell flat for me, and I almost rage quit in the ninth episode. Unimaginative boss fights, predictable escalations, so many senseless deaths, and missed opportunities. In particular, so much more could've been done with Jennifer Walters; what Waid did with She-Hulk is an insult to her history.

Other misses: The whole subplot with Johnny goes nowhere, changes nothing. Valeria's tortured rationalizations for continuing to help Doom are cringeworthy. Even Cora's arc, which you knew was going to set up the final season, suffers from an inexplicable, unmotivated, apocalyptic finale, which again accomplishes nothing. And gone is Doom's evil genius: all he seems to have left are a few cantrips, monologues, and betrayals. "How far the mighty have fallen" doesn't begin to describe it.

Looking forward to the last season, when our heroes assemble, and fix this timeline. Or not. This season had its moments, but was a disappointment.

[Bernard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dylan Baker as Doom--perfect. He channeled his inner Willem Dafoe perfectly for the role of the obsessed Victor von Doom. Not that he needed to, but I just couldn't get over how similar their voices are! This was another brilliant installment of the Wastelanders series although apparently I listened to it out of order (as clued in by a reference to something that presumably happened in Wastelanders: Wolverine that of course I hadn't known yet, doh). The cast here was all good, and the plot a bit tighter that some previous Marvel's Wastelanders installments. Well done!

[Christian Umami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Habe via Audible alle 10 Teile (a 30 Minuten) gehört.
Ein gut gemachtes Hörspiel mit tollen Sprechern.

Leider ist die Action sehr limitiert, verglichen mit Comics und deren Effekten.
An sich fand ich die Story echt interessant, schwächelt leider hier und da etwas.

[Jimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dylan Baker as Doom was great. Again great casting for this series. Much better story and pacing vs Wolverine.

Spoilers
The last episode was not on par with the other nine. Valeria's story was pretty transparent throughout but nice little twist at the end.

[Vinayak Naicker · Rating 3 out of 5]

What solid disappointment. I was so hyped up for Ashish Vidyarthi. Though Ashish Vidyarthi did a wonderful job but felt flat with storytelling. Nothing exciting.