Overlooked Gems: “Doom Service”

Today we will be taking a look at Doom Service by David Micheline and Erik Larsen in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN vol. 1 #349-350 from 1991.

If Spider-Man is the one superhero that has teamed up with literally every other hero in Marvel’s vast catalogue, then Doctor Doom is the one supervillain that has fought against every single hero in that very same catalogue.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Victor von Doom made his first appearance in THE FANTASTIC FOUR vol. 1 #5 in 1961. An instant hit with readers, the dreaded doctor quickly rose to the top of Marvel’s villainous pantheon. To this day, comic book aficionados widely regard him as one of the greatest antagonists in the entire medium (which is pretty impressive when you consider that the films have bungled his character time and time again), ranked alongside the likes of The Joker, Lex Luthor, Magneto, Loki etc.

As I previously alluded to, Doom’s popularity has allowed him to transcend from merely being the Fantastic Four’s arch nemesis and brought him into conflict with just about every Marvel hero imaginable. From The Hulk to Iron Man to Daredevil to the X-Men to Black Panther to Luke Cage and even Squirrel Girl (yes, look it up if you don’t believe me), Doom has seen everything the Marvel-verse has to offer. So naturally, Marvel’s most popular villain has had more than a few run-ins with its most popular hero.

While Spidey’s most well-known encounter with the malevolent monarch is typically his very first one in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN vol. 1 #5, I would say their very best one came much later. Despite being a part of David Micheline and Erik Larsen’s largely celebrated tenure on the title, I rarely see Doom Service get brought up very often. But hey, that’s what Overlooked Gems is for!

Our tale begins with the master jewel thief known as the Black Fox (who has actually appeared in previous issues for those unaware) doing what master jewel thieves do best:

 

Soon enough, the elderly criminal locates his prize.

But where exactly is our hero during this heist? Stopping criminals of course…just not the featured one.

 

After subduing the hoodlum, the webbed wonder heads home where his reward for a good day’s work awaits him.

Jumping ahead, The Black Fox is planning his next caper at none other than the Trask Center.

However, our web-head is in the vicinity this time and promptly cuts off the Fox’s escape.

But instead of bringing the criminally codger in as he should, our hero appears to have an odd burst of sympathy for the man and lets him go.

Not one to be played for a sap (at least not when written well), the wall-crawler uses his spider-tracer to locate the Fox trading in the real diamond.

Seeking to correct his previous error in judgement, Spidey leaps into the fray and easily dispatches the thugs in his typical witty fashion.

Knowing he stands no chance against the do-gooder, the Black Fox flees the scene of the crime. Not one to let the same criminal escape him twice, Spidey pursues the felon.

However, both men end up biting off a bit more than they can chew when an unexpected third party arrives on the scene.

You knew he was going to appear at some point, right? It turns out that the ruler of Latveria has a very personal stake in the Black Fox’s latest caper. The altruistic arachnid rushes to the old man’s defense, but Doctor Doom isn’t exactly known for being a pushover.

Turning his attention to the thieving elder, Doom demands to know the whereabouts of the diamond that the Fox pilfered. He is less than pleased with the answer provided.

As Spidey battles Doom, the Black Fox makes a hasty retreat.

With his target having escaped him, a less-than-pleased Doom turns his full, undivided attention towards a rather unfortunate arachnid.

Spidey goes on the offensive, but it would seem our protagonist is more than a little outmatched by his armor-clad opponent.

On the ropes, our hapless hero flees from the diabolical doctor, but is soon cornered on the docks.

But before Doom can deliver the killing stroke, a desperate Spider-Man manages to strike an uneasy bargain.

Will Spider-Man be able to keep his end of the deal and locate the Black Fox before his time expires? Will Doctor Doom actually keep his word and spare our hero? Will you go out and read this unsung classic for yourself? I won’t answer the first two questions, but the last one had better be a resounding “yes”!

Despite not showing up until later in the story, Victor von Doom has rarely been as imposing as he is here. For all of Spider-Man’s might, he is simply no match for the dastardly dictator and receives one of the biggest beat-downs of his crime-fighting career as a result (which is saying something). Doom almost feels like a horror movie monster here as he shrugs off everything Spidey throws at him and gains the upper hand with minimal effort. Even when Doom agrees to the bargain, his presence still looms large as Spider-Man desperately tries to locate the Black Fox before his time expires.

And without giving too much away, Doom Service also takes an intriguing dive into Peter Parker’s character as he comes to realize why he tends to go so easy on the Black Fox and not turn him into the authorities like he should. The answers are surprising but very in-character for Peter, making his resolve at the end all the more satisfying.

Even in a sea of great Doctor Doom tales, Doom Service stands tall among them and is an excellent read for fans of his.