Doomed #1 Review

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Javier Fernandez and Ulises Arreola
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 17, 2015

He's Got Radioactive Blood

It's funny, but for a book that is just starting, I've already gone through a range of emotions about Doomed.  I wasn't a huge fan of the Superman Doomed Story, so when this book was first announced, I was not looking forward to it at all.  Then I read the sneak peek last month and I was so impressed that it suddenly jumped to the top of my "most anticipated" list.  Now that it's here, do I have yet another emotion to add to the list?  Let's find out...




If you read the sneak peek for this book, you may have come away with the same thought as I did...this could be DC's answer to Spiderman.  I am not saying that with anything but joy in my heart because while I'm not necessarily a Spiderman fan, the idea of a fun, action packed book with a young protagonist is always okay with me.  If writer Scott Lobdell isn't thinking the same thing, he could have fooled me.

The book opens with our new hero already in his Doomed transformation.  It is a tad confusing (especially if you haven't read the sneak peek), but it works here because he is just as confused as the reader.  It may be an odd choice , but it pays off as Scott Lobdell starts showing us what lead up to it.

I liked Reiser from the get go.  He's a got energy to burn and Lobdell does a great job making him likable the moment he jumps off the Metropolis subway and heads to his internship at S.T.A.R. Labs.  His first assignment is late night cleaning duty and while that doesn't seem too exciting, it may just be the most important thing that ever happened to Reiser in his life...and the worst.

This issue was a good primer of what Scott Lobdell has in store for readers.  It is a fish out of water story that doesn't take itself too seriously.  The dialogue is lite and some of the situations are strictly for laughs.  While I liked the more serious moments (I loved seeing Reiser help his Aunt Belle, for instance), it's nice that Lobdell is having fun with the story as well.

As far as the Doomed part of the story, Lobdell leaves it up in the air how exactly it all happened.  The safe bet is on a very poor decision during that late night cleaning, but there was also a very cool guest star that may be the root of the problem.  Heck, it could be something else entirely, but by the end of the book, the reader gets to see the Doomed transformation again and it is such bad timing for Reiser.

I enjoyed so much about this book.  I like Reiser and am looking forward to unraveling the mystery of what caused his predicament.  Having him intern at S.T.A.R. Labs opens the book up to so much and I can't wait to see what Lobdell does with it.  After all that, however, I can't really recommend it. Why?  Because not much happens.  I know that a first issue is going to be mostly setup, but most of this doesn't even feel like that.  It's a day in the life story that felt odd for a first issue.  I have a lot of faith in Lobdell and this story so I am looking forward to the book going forward, but if you are on the fence, I'd say to hold tight.

Javier Fernandez's art was fine.  Nothing really wowed me, but everything looked good.  He may get more of a chance to shine when the story picks up a bit because I liked the Doomed parts of this issue.

Bits and Pieces:

I really liked what Scott Lobdell lays out here, I just wish we got a bit more.  The story starts off slow and deliberate and while I'm sure that will pay off in the next couple of issues, it didn't get me pumped for the book right now. The art didn't help or hinder that feeling and in the end, I am hoping the promise of this issue pays off down the line.

7.0/10