Comic book crossovers are massive, universe-altering events, but sometimes they create headaches for writers trying to maintain continuity in their regular series. One prime example is how Doctor Doom appeared in the monumental “Secret Wars” crossover event, despite seemingly meeting his end in the pages of “Fantastic Four” just months prior. Let’s delve into this peculiar situation.
In 1983’s “Fantastic Four” #260, by the legendary John Byrne, we witness Doctor Doom in a dire predicament. Engaged in a fierce battle with Terrax, a herald of Galactus, Doom finds himself frozen in place mid-fight.
Unfortunately for Doom, this was a terrible time to be immobile. The Silver Surfer intervened in the conflict, and Terrax, channeling the Power Cosmic, unleashed a devastating blast that seemingly obliterated Doom’s physical form.
The Fantastic Four, witnessing this display of cosmic power, understandably presumed Doctor Doom to be deceased. After all, his body was seemingly annihilated.
However, astute comic readers knew the classic Doctor Doom trick – body swapping! It was heavily implied Doom had transferred his consciousness into another person’s body in the same issue. Yet, to the wider Marvel Universe, and especially to the characters in “Fantastic Four,” Doctor Doom was dead, or at least his body was destroyed.
Fast forward a few months to the groundbreaking “Secret Wars” event in 1984. Jim Shooter, the writer of this crossover, aimed to include all the major heroes and villains of the Marvel Universe. Despite Doom’s recent “death” in “Fantastic Four,” he prominently appeared in “Secret Wars” #1, penned by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck and John Beatty.
“Secret Wars” saw Doctor Doom at his most ambitious and powerful. Famously, he managed to steal the Beyonder’s immense power, becoming arguably the most powerful being in the Marvel Multiverse for a brief period.
But, as with most cosmic power grabs, it didn’t last. When the Beyonder reclaimed his power at the climax of “Secret Wars,” Doctor Doom was seemingly destroyed once again.
So, how could Doctor Doom be alive and kicking in “Secret Wars” after his apparent death in “Fantastic Four,” and how did he survive the events of “Secret Wars” itself? John Byrne, ever the meticulous writer, addressed this continuity puzzle in “Fantastic Four” #288, which ironically was released during the “Secret Wars II” event, while the Beyonder was again causing havoc on Earth.
Byrne first confirmed what readers suspected: Doom had indeed switched bodies back in “Fantastic Four” #260.
Then, Byrne cleverly retconned the “Secret Wars” situation using time travel. He revealed that Doom, anticipating his defeat against the Beyonder, had sent his consciousness back in time, specifically to before the final confrontation in “Secret Wars” #12.
This time-displaced Doom was then sent to the end of “Secret Wars” #12, neatly explaining his reappearance after his seeming destruction. It was a clever, if slightly convoluted, way to smooth over the continuity wrinkles caused by the large-scale crossover event.
This Doctor Doom “Secret Wars” saga stands as a humorous example of how comic book writers sometimes have to bend over backward to reconcile character deaths and appearances across different titles, especially when major crossovers come into play. The ever-resourceful Doom, even in the face of continuity challenges, always finds a way back.
