Day 16 of Jack Kirby Tribute Month 2025, focused on the Fantastic Four and related characters. We’ve moved from allies and supporting characters into the rogues’ gallery. And the first prompt is none other than Dr. Doom!
He’s arguably the FF’s archnemesis. Victor Von Doom has a personal history with Reed Richards, going back to when they met in college when Doom was there as an exchange student. His mind rivals Reed’s (though in his arrogance, Doom would be insulted if it was suggested in his presence that anyone even came close to being his equal!). He is a megalomaniac and perfectionist, who cannot tolerate the slightest flaw. This is part of why he stays masked almost all the time.
The FF had a number of adventures during Jack and Stan’s run where they went up against Doom. And over time, Kirby gave himself more artistic license to get expressive with Doom’s iron mask in showing his emotions. At times, the imagery could get quite chilling!
I drew Dr. Doom for last year’s Jack Kirby Tribute Month too, and if you like, you can check that out here.
That’s our first villain! Tune in tomorrow to see who comes next!
The hand of Doom touches the Earth. No doubt to perpetrate an injustice of some wild sort and for some self-serving reason. Your take on the Doomster this year is even more flauntingly imperious than ever, particularly since his hand covers a portion of mother Earth. I can see the next panel image of Doom squeezing the Earth as that area turns into dust, as his eyes reveal his pleasure in doing so. Wow. I don’t want to be near that scene. Thanks Mark.
It’s great that my one image could create that narrative moment in your head. Really, that’s what comic art is about. Even when doing a single image like a cover, ideally most of the time, an artist depicts a moment that has a narrative feel to it, getting the reader to fill in the blanks in their own mind, and compelling them to snap up a copy and buy it off the spinner rack (back in the days when comics were everywhere).