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Death In The Year Before Yesterday!
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This issue promises "Guest Stars Galore" and certainly delivers, with Moondragon joining Spider-man's previous guests Doctor Doom, The Scarlet Witch and The Vision. There's also a cameo from Iron Man in the first few pages, during which Moondragon discusses her weird dreams before being captured by a ball of light which transports her to historical Salem, where she disovers the superheroes unconscious and Doctor Doom trapped in some sort of force field by The Dark Rider.
The Rider gives his lackey, Cotton Mather, a mystic blade which he's meant to use to drain power from The Scarlet Witch. Before he can do that, however, Moondragon strikes, leading to a fight which wakes up Spider-Man, Vision and The Scarlet Witch.
Bill Mantlo manages to squeeze in a very quick explanation of how they all got here (Scarlet Witch summoned them... somehow, through time) and then Spider-man realises that the Rider is using the force field to drain Doom's powers. This leads to yet another fight, and a double page spread similar to the one we saw in the previous issue, this time showing the simultaneous physical and telepathic battles that are going on.
They eventually manage to free Doctor Doom, whose first question on waking are about the enemy they all face. This, plus the classic heroic struggle to get back and fight show that Doom is being used here as a hero rather than a villain.
Doom remains aloof and arrogant, but Bill Mantlo manages to balance his characteristics really well here. Sadly, there's not much Doom left in this issue, as once the heroes unite to beat The Dark Rider Doom leaves, using "the time-circuitry I have incorporated into my armour" (which he has never mentioned before and probably never will again). His last words are a great encapsulation of his character, stating that any alliance will only be temporary.
There's just time for Spidey to make a callback to the first time he met Doom, way back in Amazing Spider-man #5 before the story finishes with a frankly weird final image, which sees Spider-man upset that he didn't get away in time to change history and save the villagers, who have all been hanged.
As mentioned in other issues, this mixing in of actual historic events feels distinctly uneasy - these were, after all, real people who died. Apart from that though, "Fill In King" Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema tell a guest-packed story which really nails Doctor Doom's character as it is at this point in time, without actually telling us which point of time he comes from (time travel everybody!) and therefore not troubling the needs of continuity. We're right back in the thick of it for the next issue though, when The Fantastic Four return Doom's regular visits by showing up in is own series!
link to information about this issue
posted 17/7/2019 by Mark Hibbett
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