Synopsis/Review by Walking Salad:

Story: Alex Ross and Jim Krueger
Script: Jim Krueger
Pencils: Doug Braithwaite Inks: Bill Reinhold
Colors:
Letters:
Summary: Summary: Kyle and Aaron are talking on the moon. Kyle brings up the discussion of why the Baxter Building is about to be the focal point of the appearance of several beings from the Negative Zone. Kyle also says that Reed is too busy to go to the Baxter Building himself, thinking about the new death and all, so he'll send a surrogate. Aaron asks whom, and Kyle responds that if it were he, he would send Doom. And why is the simple sentence: “Because Victor Von Doom would be incapable of failure.”

Kyle explains that Doom was born, then, soon after, his mother died after a pact with Satan. His dad died of exposure. He then went to college, where he met Ben and Reed. He fused science with magic to try to get to hell. But, it blew up in his face. He went to Tibet to conceal his face, even though it was never REALLY scarred. He then overthrew the dictator of Latveria. He then made a deal with the Devil to learn the secrets of time travel. He then sent several heroes through time to learn how to pin point exact times. Then, he used Dr. Strange to help free his soul from Mephisto, only tot find that he could never tell her of his love for her. The reason Sue, Doom, and Johnny died was he needed a sacrifice to remove the curse on him, the curse that his mother sold her soul for. He planned on using Reed, but it backfired. His mom sold her soul to the devil so that Doom would always succeed. He never had a choice as to whether or not he could give up. That's why Doom hated Reed so much. Reed succeeded as much on his own decisions.

In the Realm of the Dead, Rodgers shows up to The Skull's house, and has a conversation with The Skull's dad. The Skull's real name is Benny. Benny's dad used to be Comet Man. Benny's dad thinks that the Government gave Benny his powers, and he doesn't want Cap there to remind Benny of his powers. So, Cap left to go see Frank Castle.

Castle's family left him. He knows he is dead, too. Cap invites Castle to come to Paradise with him, but he won't come without his family. Cap says that they can come when they realized they were dead, by means of experiencing what should kill them, but Castle didn't want to put them in harms way. The rest of the angels show up to take Cap away, and Castle wonders why he couldn't just be sent to hell.

The angels realize that Mar-Vell can't hear their thoughts in the Realm of the Dead or The Negative Zone like he can on Earth or in Paradise (a version of Mar-Vell exists on both realms, but can't talk to each other), so they are in the Realm to design a mutancy. Meanwhile, Murdock sees something down below and has Doom drop him (Murdock has no wings, but can see things that even Mar-Vell can't).

Murdock, in Daredevil guise, shows up in Fisk Tower. Fisk asks Murdock to join him, use the law to his favor, but he points out that law is useless here, and that he is no longer a lawyer, he's Fisk's judge.

Back on the moon, Kyle keeps goading at Aaron as to he's not learning from the knowledge that he has, but just collecting it. The reason is that Uatu is dying, and when he dies, Aaron won't be able to be Watchman anymore, and Kyle wants to make sure that Aaron is ready for that.

Back in Latveria, Richards has contacted Wyatt Wingfoot (Redwing) to go to the Baxter Building and see what exactly is the dealio. They all get ready to meet a man named Smithers (Charley, I don't know who this is, if you do, fill that in, make it look like I do). Reed admits that they do have the greatest minds in the room, once Ben Grimm gets there.

In England, the royal court is rushing to the courtyard where Excalibur has just been un-stoneified. Brian is very happy about this, being as his wife is Meggan from Excalibur, but Medusa is a bit sad, cause she's now not married to him. Lots of people stand around talking about stuff, when Captain UK and a Grey Gargoyle merge, turning into a big dragon thing (?) that flies away.

In New Jersey, Thor and Loki are hiding from Odin, who is very, very pissed, and looking for the two, who took away everything that was his.

Review: What the hell? Ok, so many problems with this issue. Let's see:

1. Doom's stuff. A.) He wasn't scarred? What kind of crap is that? He was scarred a little, and then put the red-hot mask on and scarred his face to mummy-like proportions. Everyone knows that. 2.) He succeeds only because of a curse? Okay, sure. That makes since and doesn't at all detract from his character. Oh, wait, it does.
2. Why were Captain UK and Grey Gargoyle connected like that? What was that? And they turned into a Brood-looking dragon thing? Oh, and there were two pairs of them. That made little to no since.

   All in all, not a hell of a good issue.

   And if Smithers is the Plantman, Alex Ross must have gone mad!!!!