Appearing in "Chapter Two: The Free World"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Dinosaur Doctor Doom (Photo)
- World Health Organization (Mentioned)
- Bentley-23 (Mentioned)
- Future Foundation (Mentioned)
- Princess Masters-Grimm (Mentioned)
- Jo-Venn (Referenced)
- N'Kalla (Referenced)
- Nazis (Mentioned)
- Hydra (Referenced)
Races and Species:
- Humans
- Tyrannosaurus rex (Photo)
- Dogs (Mentioned)
- Vampires (Mentioned)
- Synthezoids
- Mutants
- Asgardians
Locations:
- Sol
- United Latveria
- North America
- Latveria (Mentioned)
- Buckingham Palace (Mentioned)
- Berlin Wall (Mentioned)
- Sun
- Impossible City
- United Latveria
Items:
Vehicles:
Synopsis for "Chapter Two: The Free World"
While arresting criminals in a high-speed chase, the Fantastic Four discuss their perplexity over Doom being a benevolent ruler of Earth. So far the general public are very receptive to Doom's altruistic policies of forcefully ending wars and granting universal healthcare and education. Reed had looked into the new schools and universities constructed by Doom and there is nothing nefarious about them, as they are just well-funded and well-founded public services to the point Reed admittingly finds it laudable. Susan furthermore adds that Doom is able to win the public's approval politically by claiming their trusts by building his own legend for himself. Regardless, the Four are certain that Doom has a hidden and insidious purpose. They plan to discredit Doom by confronting him and making him show his real personality whom they know in front of his global audience during another address at the United Nations the next day.
Meanwhile, Valeria half-lies to her parents that she is going to see Bentley-23 when in fact she is meeting Doom to know what he is really planning. Doom randomly takes himself and Valeria to Toronto City Hall to ask a question to his goddaughter: justify the concept of democracy. Valeria goes straight to the point by looking at the alternatives in which without governments, along with rules and organizations, people will be fighting for their self-interests and self-preservation. Doom agrees, stating it would be an anarchy of individuals where chaos reigns without "room for morality." But Doom also applies this to the level of nations as he sees Earth's nations competing and scheming for their own self-interests without any authority to bend their impulses to useful ends, and thus they are another definition of anarchy. But Valeria knows that is not how he justified his rule of Earth before demanding again to know what Doom is really after. Doom replies that he is seeking glory; he believes himself to be the most qualified person to bring his world to a peaceful and prosperous utopia where others had considered it to be impossible. Valeria is skeptical about his intentions in which Doom reassures her that he is currently working to prove his actions to everyone that he is doing out of his own sincerity.
The next day, Doom announces to the world that he declares all borders to all nations open so that humanity can work and live together in complete freedom. After delivering his address, the Fantastic Four launched their attack on Doom while fighting their way through deployed Doombots which acted as security. Doom is nonplussed by their arrival and he is then defended by civilian bodyguards who have freely joined to defend their ruler, even knowingly that if their weapons are destroyed, or taken from them, they would die by the weapons self-destructing. This causes the Four to stand down. With the confrontation being broadcast live, Doom frames the Four for making an unprovoked attack on his well-being before criticizing Reed's failures to revert Ben Grimm to his human form. Then without warning Doom uses his magical powers to turn Ben back to being human to prove that he is doing "what's best for everyone" even among his enemies. With that Doom ends his address before allowing the Four to leave as long they pay for the damages to the UN.
Thereafter, the public, including those who are not supportive of Doom, largely expressed their appreciation of Doom's actions.
The Avengers come to the realization that they are losing against Doom. They had previously assumed that Doom is using mind control on the world's leaders due to the speed and efficiency of Doom's overnight takeover but it is not. Because of this lack of knowledge, Captain Marvel proposes a two-prong attack to find out the cause for Doom’s takeover. The Scarlet Witch would lead a wing of magic users and espionage experts to infiltrate Earth's capitals and get close to the world's leaders to discover how Doom made them cooperate with his authority while hoping to cut off Doom's international support from under him. The other heroes will act as a distraction for Wanda's group by physically bringing the fight to Doom. Furthermore, Danvers is willingly to accept "unconventional" help from the Masters of Evil.
Solicit Synopsis
Doctor Doom has taken over the world, and Earth’s mightiest heroes have failed twice: first to stop him, and now to overthrow him. But the Fantastic Four know Doom better than anyone, which makes them ideally suited to take on Earth’s new Emperor…except for the fact that he knows THEM just as well. As Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, and Sue and Johnny Storm prepare to face down Doom at the United Nations, Doom pays a secret visit to speak to the only person on Earth who holds both his favor, his respect…and his love. But can Valeria Richards change her uncle’s mind? And if she fails, what will stop Doom from visiting a shocking fate on the Fantastic Four that not even he can undo?
And, as the Avengers reel from their losses, the course of the Marvel Universe will change – and Marvel’s First Family won’t be the same!Trivia
- This is the fourth time Ben Grimm loses his power and reverts to his human form. The previous times happened in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #12, Fantastic Four #167 and Marvel 2-In-One #8.