Comic of the Week: “One World Under Doom” #1

It’s time for Marvel’s latest crossover event, where the world’s heroes have to band together to take on a threat so large it spills over into every other book. Following the events of “Blood Hunt,” Victor Von Doom is now the Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme, and he’s finally putting his plans into motion. So let’s see how it plays out in “One World Under Doom,” written by Ryan North, illustrated by R.B. Silva, and colored by David Curiel.

In any other comic event, the heroes would be busy trying to stop Doom from conquering the world, like when they had to save the world from the King in Black and his symbiote dragons, or Malekith’s army from across the realms, or a vampire uprising. In this case, however, writer Ryan North takes us for a turn by kicking off the comic with Doom’s conquest complete.

Yes, Doctor Doom is now the ruler of Earth, as the comic begins with his announcement that every nation in the world has surrendered to him. Obviously, something is afoot, but what? That’s something the Earth’s heroes will have to figure out and resolve by the end of this event. And so, we’re given a team-up of the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, and of course, Squirrel Girl, who has defeated Doctor Doom nearly as often as the Fantastic Four have.

Given that Ryan North is currently writing the “Fantastic Four” comics, it makes sense that he’d take the helm for this event. His take on Marvel’s first family has been exceedingly enjoyable, and he’s got a great grasp of the characters and what makes them endearing, as well as the grandiosity that is Doom.

This also means North gets to write Squirrel Girl again, several years after his incredible run on “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl,” which still stands as one of my favorite comics (and the “Unbeatable Radio Show” podcast, which is also worth a listen). That alone makes this a must-read. Squirrel Girl’s college roommate/BFF Nancy Whitehead and villainous-turned-heroic brain-in-a-jar Brain Drain also return from the “Unbeatable” comics, and while their roles are minor, they’re still most welcome. (It’s no big stretch to imagine that Squirrel Girl would ask to bring them along to the secret hero meeting.)

Of course, with as large a cast as “One World Under Doom,” it will take more than four and a squirrel to make the dialogue across the comic land. Fortunately, North doesn’t let us down. We get an amusing bit of banter between Spider-Man and Johnny Storm, Tony Stark getting some witty one-liners, and generally some solid teamwork between each of the characters as they bounce ideas and plans off each other.

However, what makes “One World Under Doom” work is, well, Doctor Doom himself. The heroes can only react to the plans and machinations that Doom has already put into motion, and seeing them play out is immensely engaging. From Doom’s first address, where he claims his only decrees are to outlaw war, provide universal health care, and make education available to all, we as readers are left to wonder if a world under Doom would really be that bad. Then we’re reminded that he does tend to rule with a literally iron fist as he dispatches of resistances mid-speech.

To say any more would be a spoiler, and it’s best to go into the comic not knowing what Doom has in store. But it’s worth it to see it play out.

Oh, and he’s accompanied by a tyrannosaurus rex Doom, which is objectively awesome.

So from a writing perspective, “One World Under Doom” is off to a great start. But artwork can make or break a comic as well, so how do illustrator R.B. Silva and colorist David Curiel manage?

Thankfully, the two are more than up to the task. R.B. Silva is one of Marvel’s best, displaying an excellent sense of panel composition, framing, lighting, and action. Each panel is packed with detail and characters, drawn with natural details and proportions while still maintaining a comic book style. This gives us some stunning scenes, from the gathering of heroes to the silhouette of Invisible Woman’s forcefield plane illuminated in the rain.

When the action picks up, Silva’s artwork matches, packing in tons of heroes and villains throwing attacks and debris around in a single panel. It’s high-energy, intense, and makes great use of lighting and character outlines to keep each panel engaging.

Speaking of the panels themselves, Silva primarily uses square and rectangular panels throughout the comic, but the adjusts the size and width of each to carry the reader’s eyes across the page and through the action, as well as add impact to the most dramatic scenes. On occasion, characters or action will pop out of the panels, adding even more impact to the moment.

David Curiel’s color work is perfectly suited to Silva’s style, bringing out the details and amplifying the intensity. While the comic starts with bright but clear colors, Curiel knows just when to amplify the brightness and fill in the background with specific shades for added effect. This blends nicely with Silva’s use of shadows, making the light sources and displays glow off the page.

The most impressive use of Curiel’s colors comes as the sun begins to set, and the sky is cast in shades of yellow and orange that illuminate the scene. This leads to a battle scene where the night sky is filled with shades of reds, greens, and yellows that pop off the page and make each panel stand out.

Although the year is young, “One World Under Doom” is shaping up to be the must-read Marvel event of 2025. Ryan North, R.B. Silva, and David Curiel are all at the top of their game, creating a story that’s narratively engaging and visually stunning.

(And I’ll never say no to a comic where North gets to write for Squirrel Girl again, especially if there’s a dinosaur Doctor Doom.)