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The Harrowing of Doom: A Marvel Untold Novel

(Marvel Novels)

David Annandale (Goodreads Author)

really liked it 4.00 · Rating details · 20 ratings · 14 reviews

An infamous supervillain risks body and soul for an ignoble cause, in this astounding untold chapter in the life of Marvel’s Doctor Doom

Every year Victor von Doom fights to rescue the soul of his mother from Hell. Every year he fails, but now plans to turn the tables. Blending super-science and sorcery, Victor focuses on creating a singular device, the Harrower, which will ...more

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Paperback, 352 pages

Published December 1st 2020 by Aconyte

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Dec 19, 2020 Chris rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Fun time, hanging out with a super villain. I needed a break from the serious stuff, OK? Reminded me a bit of Soon I Will Be Invincible. Recommended to anybody wanting some fun & escapism. ...more

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Dec 27, 2020 Michael Botterill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Marvel Untold novel The Harrowing of Doom by David Annadale, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.

So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.

I am also friends with David on Facebook,

...more

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Dec 02, 2020 Amy Walker - Trans-Scribe Reviews rated it really liked it

Whilst I'm not a huge comics reader, and haven't kept up to date with many of the happenings in the current Marvel Universe, I have experienced a number of stories that have featured the character of Doctor Doom over the years, and have come to enjoy the character somewhat. He's the ruler of a country, is able to leverage that to gain diplomatic immunity much of the time, is a genius level scientist and creates amazing technology, and he's a sorcerer able to go toe to toe with some of the most p Whilst I'm not a huge comics reader, and haven't kept up to date with many of the happenings in the current Marvel Universe, I have experienced a number of stories that have featured the character of Doctor Doom over the years, and have come to enjoy the character somewhat. He's the ruler of a country, is able to leverage that to gain diplomatic immunity much of the time, is a genius level scientist and creates amazing technology, and he's a sorcerer able to go toe to toe with some of the most powerful magical users in the Marvel Universe. What's not to love about that?

The Harrowing of Doom presented one of the first real opportunities for me to actually get to know spend time with the character in a scenario where he's not an antagonist, however, and I found this change to be a fascinating one. It's easy to make Doom into an arch villain, just look at his name, but to make him a character that you can understand, whose actions you can agree with, and who you can actually see as a hero, that's not something I think many writers would be able to achieve. It's a level of moral grey that is hard to capture, yet David Annandale not only did that, he made me a major fan of the character.

The story focuses on one of the biggest driving forces in Doom's life, his desire to free his mother from the forces of Hell. Having made a deal with the extra-dimensional demon Mephisto, Cynthia von Doom gained the power to try and give her people a home free from tyranny, but fell in battle and her soul was sent into the bowels of Hell. Now, every year Doom has one chance to free his mother, where every summer solstice night a champion of Hell is sent to challenge him in single combat. If Doom can beat this champion, his mother will be freed. Doom know this will never happen, however, that he will never be able to beat Hell in this contest, so hatches a plan of his own, one that will bring the fight to Hell itself.

Recruiting a number of allies to his cause, including the powerful sorceress and former friend of his mother, Maria von Helm; and Zargo, a priest who used to study the occult and the nature of lay lines, yet harbours a hidden power even unknown to himself that Doom needs. Using all of the forces at his command, Doom spends an entire year building a device of mystical and technological perfection named The Harrower, which he intends to use to storm Hell and free his mothers soul. Not only is this a risky plan, one that will push Doom to his limits, but he also has to contend with Prince Rudolfo Fortunov, the son of the former king of Latveria, who wants to take his kingdom back from Doom with a guerrilla war.

The Harrowing of Doom really does focus on its lead character a lot, and I don't think I've ever spent more time with him. Not only does the book give you a great deal of insight into him, into what drives a man of such power, but also how he fits into the larger Marvel Universe, especially in regards to Latveria. I honestly don't know if many comics have gone into the details of Latveria, at least none I've read have, but I know that he's a character that's supposed to be loved a great deal by the populace. This book really shines a light onto why.

There's a passage in the book where a character is questioning why people would follow Doom, and they're given a pretty convincing response. Latveria has free healthcare for all citizens, free education to any level a person could want, they have more than enough food and power and resources to make life comfortable for all. Homelessness and petty crime are non-existent. It's a country where people have been given a chance at the best in life, and after coming out of a fairly brutal dictatorship under the former king too.

There was a moment in the book that really took me back, it was when we learnt that the leader of Doom's forces, his right hand woman, was married to another woman. I thought, cool, Latveria is pretty good for queer people. Then it's revealed that her wife is also trans, and that she had to flee Latveria because of this under the former king, and it was only Doom's rule that allowed her to return and live her life openly and without fear. This absolutely floored me. Doom is seen as a villain in the Marvel comics, yet his country is a safe and fair country where trans people can not only live without fear of prejudice but also excel in their fields. Fuck yeah. I want to move to Latveria now. Doctor Dooms says Trans Rights!

There are so many moments in this book where readers get to see how much of a good, and fair ruler Doom is. He cares about his nation, and the people in it, and this love for his people shows through more than once; and even results in an amazingly selfless moment towards the end of the book. I went into this story expecting to come out liking Doctor Doom a little more, I never expected to end up seeing him as a hero.

The story has a lot of twists and turns in it, especially in relation to the story involving Prince Rudolfo and his mission to overthrow Doom, which means that you never have a chance to get bored or think that the story isn't moving fast enough. Yes, it takes Doom a year to build his machine, but there's so much that goes on during that time, so many characters that get to take the spotlight and to develop that the book never feels like it's not doing something interesting.

The Harrowing of Doom not only sheds light onto the character of Doctor Doom, but the nation of Latveria as a whole, and gives readers valuable insight into one of the more interesting corners of the Marvel Universe, one that I can't help but feel is often misunderstood. ...more

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Dec 07, 2020 Liz (Quirky Cat) rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-reads

I received a copy of The Harrowing of Doom in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Harrowing of Doom is the latest Marvel Untold Novel, written by David Annandale. I'll admit that it's almost odd seeing Annandale in this franchise, as I've gotten so used to seeing him write for Black Library. Still, it's a refreshing change.

Fans know the story well. Doom lost his mother to Hell. Not figuratively, but literally. Ever since, he has fought to gain back her soul, and her freedom. Even whil ...more

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Nov 27, 2020 Shelleyreviews rated it really liked it · review of another edition

“An astonishing saga of revenge, sorcery, malice and darkness where Dr. Doom battles hell to rescue his mother’s soul and to end years of humiliation and agony.”

Victor von Doom: A Supervillain or A Superhero?

Summary

The Harrowing of Doom is the story of Marvel Supervillain Victor von Doom who is haunted by years of humiliation and defeat in Midsummer night duel with hell trying to rescue his mother Cynthia’s soul from hell. His burning soul finds some solace in the form of a device named ‘Harrowe “An astonishing saga of revenge, sorcery, malice and darkness where Dr. Doom battles hell to rescue his mother’s soul and to end years of humiliation and agony.”

Victor von Doom: A Supervillain or A Superhero?

Summary

The Harrowing of Doom is the story of Marvel Supervillain Victor von Doom who is haunted by years of humiliation and defeat in Midsummer night duel with hell trying to rescue his mother Cynthia’s soul from hell. His burning soul finds some solace in the form of a device named ‘Harrower’ created by fusing science and sorcery with the aid of Maria von helm, a sage bearing the agony and guilt of the past, and Zargo, a priest whose conscience and destiny are in conflict to save him from his worst fears. Conspiracy, revenge and foul play creep in the soul of those who once swore allegiance to Doom through the dark tunnels of Latveria. Time will test doom and he will test his people. Doom is preparing to take down hell this time, but his triumph is preceded by his worst fear in the heart. Will he succeed in freeing his mother’s soul from the curse? or will his attempt end up unleashing hell on Latveria and his people.

Structure of the story and Elements

The story is a sci-fi & fantasy novel written by New York times bestselling author David Annandale. The first in line in the series of new tales of Marvel's Superheroes and Supervillains, the novel is an attempt to explore the character and life of Dr. Doom, one of the Marvel’s Supervillain who is known for his authoritative, arrogant and vengeful persona. David’s rich imagination is reflected in the depth of details with which both sorcery and science have been used in the story. Darkness, witchcraft, monstrous creatures, agony, revenge and fear fill the atmosphere of the story. Each of the characters and elements are conceived and portrayed with much thought and precision in the novel. Every character has a story which may change Doom's fate and lead the story in a new direction. Not to forget the amazing cinematic experience the story gives to the reader. It is a script fit for a movie.

Story Development and Writing

The author is well versed in the art of storytelling, the smooth change between the scenes never lets the story to be monotonous or loose the focus of readers. However, for the new sci-fi readers the writing may not be easy to digest

Who should read the book?

It will be a good read for every Marvel fan and sci-fi enthusiast.

Recommendation

Stan Lee once said in an interview that the he wants to clear the misunderstanding about Dr Doom that he is an evil character. This novel may serve the purpose to some extent where we get to see Dr. Doom as a miserable son, who is desperate to move the earth and sky to rescue his mother’s soul. Doom is a ruler, his majestic presence fills the entire space, but this novel offers us to take a peek into his other shades as well. It is an interesting and intriguing read to find if Doom is an evil Supervillain or somebody else. The highlight of the novel is David Annandale’s storytelling, which is fascinating and gripping. ...more

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Jan 05, 2021 Jordan Barnes rated it really liked it

The Harrowing of Doom is pretty much everything that I could have wanted from a Doctor Doom novel. The big draw is that it may offer the definitive version of Victor Von Doom himself, against which all others will be judged. David Annadale is walking on a razor's edge, making Doom a compelling protagonist without sanding off his villainy and menace. Doom has the sympathetic motivation of wanting to rescue his mom and he's being put up against the forces of hell, so Annandale knows that we'll sti The Harrowing of Doom is pretty much everything that I could have wanted from a Doctor Doom novel. The big draw is that it may offer the definitive version of Victor Von Doom himself, against which all others will be judged. David Annadale is walking on a razor's edge, making Doom a compelling protagonist without sanding off his villainy and menace. Doom has the sympathetic motivation of wanting to rescue his mom and he's being put up against the forces of hell, so Annandale knows that we'll stick with the good doctor even as he makes life difficult for the book's sympathetic supporting characters. It's a great grey area for the story to be operating in and it works really well throughout. Also, the coolest thing about Doctor Doom's aesthetic and power set, especially when it comes to action, is that they are equally oriented towards technology and magic and this book really gets that appeal. Doom is muttering incantations just as much as he is using the robust features of his armor and it really nails that Iron Man meets Lord Voldemort vibe that makes Doom so cool.

It's not just about Doom though! Latveria has a true sense of place and it's populated by complex and interesting supporting characters. If I have one complaint it is that we don't see enough of the fiercely loyal Captain Verlak and her wife Elsa Orloff. It feels like their narrative ends a little too abruptly when the political intrigue starts to give way to the big finale (and wow, what a big finale it is!) That said, this is only really a complaint because these characters are so awesome in the first place. I would love to see them - any many other elements of this book - make their way into comic book canon.

If I can gush about one more thing, it is the truly epic scale that The Harrowing of Doom is operating on. There are so many cool monsters and "I can't believe they went there" moments that it's hard to believe they are all stuffed into one relatively lean novel. I don't want to spoil anything for the final act but I truly believed that anything could happen and that nothing was off the table, which is not always a feeling that tie-in fiction is able to produce.

I've always been a huge fan of Doom in terms of aesthetic and concept but I feel like I've always been waiting for a story that showed me a version of him that was as compelling as the one that I had cooked up in my head. David Annandale has created that version and it was definitely worth the wait. ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Cat Treadwell rated it it was amazing

I wasn’t quite sure what to think going into this. I love comic books, and have read some of the most poignant and memorable tales within their pages – but my experience with prose versions of the very colourful and vivid characters has been mixed. Somehow words alone haven’t been able to do justice to what is usually a very visual experience.

Within a few pages, I knew I needn’t have worried. I find myself deep in Latveria, home and domain of scientist and magician Dr Victor von Doom, witnessing I wasn’t quite sure what to think going into this. I love comic books, and have read some of the most poignant and memorable tales within their pages – but my experience with prose versions of the very colourful and vivid characters has been mixed. Somehow words alone haven’t been able to do justice to what is usually a very visual experience.

Within a few pages, I knew I needn’t have worried. I find myself deep in Latveria, home and domain of scientist and magician Dr Victor von Doom, witnessing his quest to rescue the spirit of his mother from Hell. Almost like a damned soul himself, it’s a battle he (literally) fights every year, only to lose over and over. But this time will be different…

I was absolutely captivated by this book. I knew the author from some of his Warhammer fiction, but reading his little note stating his love for one of comics’ greatest villains, I can only agree – he’s more than done justice to what could well have been a pretty two-dimensional character.

The outline of the base plot is above, but threads run swiftly through the pages to depict a busy, thriving country ruled by a benevolent dictator, with everyone fighting their own battles much as we all do. From the lowest to the highest, this book expertly balances magic and science, contemporary and medieval, superstition and fact, love and duty. In a way, it reminded me of the cleverness of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’, which confused and awed many critics with its skilful mix of real-world and comic-book.

No previous knowledge is really needed, and it doesn’t take much to suspend your disbelief. If someone were to point out Latveria on a map now, I think I’d just want to know more about it as a place and culture!

This story absolutely left me wanting more. I read it at increasing speed, with moments of calm thoughtfulness slowly ramping up to a crescendo of action – all beautifully described, so I never felt lost.

This is the Doom we have never seen in the movies. I love how his tale has caught the imaginations of many through the years, and I’m absolutely looking forward to future prose versions of his fantastic peers.

Definitely recommended.

Available from January 7th in paperback and electronic format. With thanks to Aconyte Books for kindly providing the review ARC. ...more

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Oct 29, 2020 Samantha- The Paperback Collector rated it liked it

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When villainous Doctor Victor von Doom set his mind on something, he doesn’t give up easily. Teaming up with the wise Maria von Helm to create the Harrower, a device that will rescue his long-gone mother from the depths of Hell, Doom sets himself on a course that seems destined for destruction. It’s a many-step plan with a great deal of working parts. And when a rebellion begins to rise to knock D ...more

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Nov 01, 2020 Helliondeadwoman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.

Victor Von Doom is one of my favorite characters in the all of Marvel Comics, so when I saw a novel based solely on him I knew I had to read it. David Annandale does a fantastic job of writing Doctor Doom in my opinion, keeping you guessing every step of the way as to just what Victor is up to and why.

This novel sees Doom working to save his mother from hell itself, with the help of Maria Von Helm, however a poorly timed uprising will soon caus ...more

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Dec 08, 2020 Christopher Owens rated it it was amazing

A Marvel Untold novel

I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first of a new series of prose novels taking place in the Marvel Comics universe and featuring characters that might not always be in the spotlight. The Harrowing of Doom centers on Victor Von Doom and his quest to rescue his mother from her imprisonment in Hell while holding off a challenger to his status as ruler of Latveria.

While Doctor Doom made f ...more

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Nov 27, 2020 Dawn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

#Marvel #MarvelEnt #Aconytebooks #review

I'm not a reader of comics, so the world and characters in "The Harrowing of Doom" were completely new to me. I really enjoyed this book - probably even more than I thought I would. It's a gripping story that's a lot of fun. The characters are well-built and interesting. What really carries it off is the writing - it's so smooth you'll find yourself halfway through the book before you know it!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review ...more

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Dec 31, 2020 Ross Thompson rated it really liked it

As I am currently wading my way through the early 90s Infinity Gauntlet/War saga and all the crossover issues of comics, I was intrigued at the sometime villain, complex character that is Victor Von Doom. This book seemed to be the perfect chance to put some meat on the bones of this intriguing powerful character.
The book starts on Walpurgis night, as Doom looks towards the coming midsummer and his annual battle with Mephisto's forces of Hell as he tries to reclaim his mother's soul. Beaten once ...more

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Dec 24, 2020 Michael Dodd rated it really liked it

For his first Marvel novel, part of the Marvel: Untold range from Aconyte Books, David Annandale tells a tale of iron will and fierce obsession as Doctor Doom sets out to turn the tables on Hell itself. Each year at midsummer, Doom must battle a champion of Hell to try and free his mother’s soul, an impossible task that he’s fated to lose every time. Setting out to change the terms of the duel and weigh things in his favour at last, Doom enlists the help of the sorceress Maria von Helm and a rel ...more

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Nov 30, 2020 Kristine rated it it was ok

The Harrowing of Doom by David Annandale is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in mid-November.

It's all very majestic with a heavy use of the works of Byron and noble European swaggery in its description, when I really think it's trying hard to be dark, Gothic, and foreboding. Doom designs himself to be a charismatic benefactor, inviting people to be near him, among him, while unwittingly treating them like peons, then fighting against comparative evil to 'save' them and to protect the world fro ...more

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