Everyone stood silent and showed respect as he passed. His very presence commanded attention, even if he hadn't been the monarch of the country. Dressing in his armor, face mask, and cloak, he stood out among the simple folk of Latveria. The simple folk who both feared his wrath and worshiped him as the man who brought prosperity and modern technology to Latveria. Everyone hailed the king as he past through the town with his entourage. Finally, Victor Von Doom, the armored lord of the land went back into his castle.

Inside Castle Doom, the artwork was some of the most valuable in the world and the decorations were of the highest style. Everything was fit for a king. Doom went into his study where his servants brought him an expertly cooked meal along with the finest wine. They dared do no less. Doom didn't like to be displeased, and someone suffered when he was displeased. Boris, Doom's most loyal subject, saw to the details of Doom's needs. He made sure everything was perfect. After the food was served, Boris dismissed his servants, and with a bow to his master, left the room, closing the door behind him. He did this so Doom could take off his mask to eat. No one was ever allowed to look at the face of Victor Von Doom.

Once, years ago, Doom had been very handsome. But ever since the accident, his face was deformed and ruined forever. No surgery could repair it. Now he was forced to hide inside this metal shell.

Doom accidently got a look at his reflection in the silver tray. He brought his metal-gloved fist down and shattered the tray. He leaned back in his chair, thinking back to the days of his youth, when he was handsome. His mind drifted back to even earlier than that. To his childhood. Back to the days when the great Victor Von Doom was no more than one of the simple peasants who now worshiped him.

Latveria was a third world country, ravaged by poverty. Technology had hardly touched it. The fascist regime who ruled the country had no interest in the welfare of the population. Most of the food was eaten by the government and the imperial guard. Life was a nightmare for a poor person. Doom's family was poor! His father, Werner, was a thief. He wasn't a normally dishonest man but he needed to feed his family--his wife and little Victor. So he stole.

The local police superintendent had his men out searching for Werner Von Doom, so the family had to lead a transient existence, staying one step ahead of the law. Werner's wife, Greta, was a practicing witch. She made and sold simple potions to the people she met. Greta was loyal to Werner and young Victor but her heart was weak. The stress of being on the run grew too much for her. She died of a coronary.

Several months later, while Werner was staying with an old friend named Boris, the authorities caught up with him. As they dragged him off, Werner made Boris promise to care for young Victor. Werner was taken to the hangman. Boris told Victor not to go, but Victor snuck away to see. Victor Von Doom was only eight years old when he saw his father executed in public. Victor Von Doom vowed to avenge his parents against the Burgomeister and his regime.

Despite Boris's pleas for Victor to take some time to grieve, Victor immediately started to learn the secrets of his mothers craft. By the time he was 15, he was a talented warlock. Boris could see the hate in Victor and knew that he could potentially become even more of a monster than the Burgomeister. As Victor got older and more powerful, Boris became more afraid of what he would do. And yet, Boris remained loyal to his oath. He would always be there for Victor, no matter what.

The first person Doom got revenge on was the police superintendent. Doom used his magic to enter the superintendent's dreams and torment him night after night. Eventually, the official had a nervous breakdown and killed himself. One by one, Doom killed the entire security force who had arrested his father, as well as the hangman.

Doom was seen in the area of each of the deaths. Rumors started to circulate that he was the one responsible. Government troops hunted him, but Doom had great cunning, as well as magic. Also, the locals hid him. Doom had become a hero to the people for defying their oppressors. Even at a young age, he had a charisma and strength of personality that was rare. The Latverian peasants had faith in his abilities. They were only too glad to give him shelter.

Having taken care of the people directly responsible for killing his family, Doom next set his sights on the corrupt government itself. They starved the population while they rode in limousines. This must end! The government that allowed brutal policemen to kill his father would soon pay for their misdeeds. But Doom knew that his magic wasn't enough. He would need other weapons. Weapons he couldn't get in the impoverished areas of Latveria. He would have to leave his home in order to save it. He promised the poor people of Latveria that he would someday return and overthrow the evil Burgomeister! At age 16, he left his homeland and sought his destiny!

For a year he traveled around Europe, looking for the one thing that would enable him to get his revenge. It didn't take long for him to realize that he had an affinity for technology. Working as an apprentice for a French mechanic showed him how easily he could repair or rebuild anything they put in front of him. Latveria had been such a backwards, low-tech country that Doom hadn't thought of using modern technology as his weapon. But now he knew what he was looking for. He'd stumbled on his destiny.

Working as an apprentice technician in a German laboratory, Doom realized that science was as easy for him to master as tinkering was. Science and technology--the weapons of the intelligent! The weapons of Doom!

It was while working in that lab that Doom's second fortunate discovery was made. Well, not so much as a discovery, but more of a chance meeting. A meeting with a man called Maximilian Moloch. The international gangster named Boss Man had created a breakaway faction of the maggia called the Fist. But the Fist was being run out of business by the mother Maggia organization, who don't like Boss Man's disloyalty. To build up his struggling organization, Boss Man became part owner in this lab and was using it as a drug laboratory.

Doom was 17 when he met Boss Man. Doom was brought to Boss Man's attention in 1982 when Maggia hitmen burst into the lab looking to kill him. Doom hid Boss Man and managed to cleverly convince the agents that they were on the wrong track. Not that Doom cared about Boss Man's safety, but he knew which side his bread was buttered on. After they left, Boss Man thanked Doom. Boss Man took an interest in Doom after that. He was told that Doom was quite intelligent and adaptable. Boss Man had been looking for someone young to groom as his protege. He took Doom under his wing. In no time, Doom became the Boss' counselor, both in science and strategy. Although Doom saw Boss Man as an inferior fellow, he played along. He manipulated Boss Man easily enough. And meanwhile, he was learning science from the professors in the science Lab.

In 1984, the Maggia men finally succeeded in their task and killed Boss Man. Doom, as he had planned, found himself the heir to Boss Man's fortune. Doom, now 19, used the money to put himself through school. Bribery got him into the finest science universities in the world. It was in Empire State University, in New York, that Doom met an aged professor. This professor was an expert in almost every field and had become a legend. His name was Dr. Clark Savage Jr., usually just called Doc Savage. Even though he was now in his mid-80's, he was still in good shape, and seemed much younger. He was as sharp and charismatic and ever. Doom both envied and respected this man. He swore he would surpass Doc Savage one day.

However, their relationship soon took an unfortunate turn. Doom began doing dangerous experiments. Bribery allowed him to get a private lab where he could act unwatched. Doc Savage spoke to the young genius and tried to discourage him. But Doom took great offense at Savage's insinuation that Doom was meddling in things beyond his control. Doom couldn't conceive that anything was beyond his ability. He rationalized that Savage was jealous of his blossoming genius and was afraid of the competition. Doom refused to listen to Savage's advise and continued his bizarre experiments.

One such experiment was an attempt to contact the afterlife. Doom wanted to talk to his parents and tell them that he had partly avenged them and that he soon would overthrow the monstrous Burgomeister in their names. Doom converted a VR simulation machine into a device that would allow the person using it to bypass normal, physical space and view the spirit world. The preparations were almost finished. Doom left the room for a minute. Just then, Doc Savage came in, intending to try to talk to Doom again. He saw the altered VR simulator, and, out of curiosity, looked at the schematics. He shook his head, concerned. When Doom returned, he was furious that Savage had invaded his privacy. Savage tried to point out that some of Doom's equations were off by a few decimal points. This made Doom furious! How dare this old fool, this relic suggest that Doom was incompetent. Doom had complete faith in his calculations. He put the helmet on and activated the machine.

An explosion occurred. Doc Savage had been correct. Doom calculations were slightly off, and that was enough to cause a disaster. The machine blew up. Doom was spared any major injures, except to his face. His once handsome face as now hopelessly disfigured. As Doom lay in the hospital recovering, he blamed the explosion on Doc Savage. He was certain that Savage had sabotaged the machine while Doom was out of the room. Doom felt that Savage had always been jealous of him, afraid that he would one day outshine Savage's genius. That day, he added Doc Savage to the list of people he would get revenge against.

Before he could return to school, Doom got a letter saying that he was expelled. Doom was irate! Those fools! They should be honored to have him! Well, if they didn't want him, it was their loss. They had nothing else to teach him anyway. He had passed beyond them. Besides, he refused to walk among common people with his face so badly deformed. He would not have them staring at him in disgust, or worse, in pity. From now on, where Doom walked, he walked alone!

Doom visited some of the greatest plastic surgeons in the world. But they all said the same thing--His face was beyond repair. Furious, Doom hoped that sorcery could succeed where medicine had failed. He traveled into the vast, snowy reaches of the highest Himalayan mountains, seeking the legendary mystic called the ancient one, the Sorcerer Supreme.

He never found the Ancient One. He collapsed after days of traveling over the freezing cold mountains. Luckily for Doom, he was found by a group of monks who had a temple nearby. They brought him to their home and nursed him back to health. Doom asked about the Ancient One but they played dumb. Doom was frustrated.

The monks wanted to do something to make him feel better. They noticed how he always tried to cover his face. He was ashamed of his deformity. That gave the monks an idea. These monks were blacksmiths and took pride in their art. They designed a mask for Doom. Doom wasn't sure how to take this act of kindness at first, but then an idea hit him. When he returned to Latveria, he would be like a knight, riding in to slay the evil dragons. He asked the monks to make him a suit of armor. They did so.

Donning his mask and armor, and adding a cloak and hood, Doom felt that his appearance was now imposing enough to leave this hiding place and resume his mission. He snuck out one night and returned to the outside world.

After reaching a city, Doom broke into an auto factory. It was closed for the weekend and it had plenty of tools and parts for Doom to use. Over the next forty-eight hours, he built some weapons into his armor. Among the improvements was a laser blaster in the gauntlets and a jet pack, among other things. Using some automotive petroleum to power his jet pack , he rocketed away on Monday morning, just before the factory opened up.

Years earlier, Doom had made the acquaintance of some international weapons dealers while he was working for Boss Man. He sought them out now. He was now calling himself Dr. Doom, even though he never received an official doctorate. He promised the weapons dealers that he could make them rich by producing new weapons for them to sell. He showed them some of his designs. They loved his ideas and agreed to give him financing, tools, and a place to work. Doom created a cache of powerful, high-tech weapons, including robots and disintegrator rays. The weapons dealers salivated with glee at the thought of the money they'd get by selling these weapons to some south American rebels. They never got the chance. Doom used the weapons against them and wiped the whole group out. Now the weapons were his to do with as he pleased. And he knew exactly what he wanted to do! It was time to return to Latveria!

Dr. Doom snuck back into Latveria unnoticed by the authorities, but he made his presence known to the poor population. The ever-loyal Boris was there to greet him. Soon word spread all across the land...Doom was back, and he was promising them their freedom! With his charismatic ability to speak, he managed to convince a large group of the oppressed Latverians to act as his army. They had faith in Doom. In the summer of 1996, the revolution began.

Dr. Doom led them first against the local police. The officers were no match for the powerfully armed revolutionaries. Soon troops were sent in. But Doom's strategic genius, combined with his advanced weapons of destruction and the fury of the rebel army, was an unstoppable force. They plowed through the Burgomeister's military. The revolution was over in a day. The fascist forces alternately fled, surrendered or were killed. Soon, the Burgomeister was alone, except for his elite castle guard and some advisors.

Doom rocketed into the castle. With his laser gauntlets and armored strength, he easily overcame the elite guard, and the Burgomeisters advisory council. All that was left was the Burgomeister. He found the Burgomeister hiding under the table in his war room with a pistol. He shot at Doom, but the bullet couldn't pierce the thick armor. Doom grabbed the Burgomeister by the throat.

"You've eaten well, Burgomeister," Doom said, "You've eaten the prosperity of your people. You've devoured their hope and spirit. But your biggest mistake came twenty-three years ago when you killed my parents. Today, all your sins will be punished!"

It took the Burgomeister almost a week to die. He died painfully. His head sat for weeks on a spike outside the castle . . . Which was now called Castle Doom! The populace gathered outside the castle cheering. They praised their new king and vowed to support him. He, in turn, planned big things for the impoverished country.

Dr. Doom was as good as his word. Over the next four years, Doom turned his country around. He brought technology and modern medicine to his people. He began to sell some of his technology to neighboring countries to bolster the economy. Doom redistributed the wealth and instituted a new financial system. He created new jobs. Latveria was experiencing the fastest economic growth of any country in the world. Also, Doom created a chemical which caused crops to grow faster and larger. Food was becoming plentiful. Dr. Doom had saved the country and his people loved him for it.

But they feared him too. Doom had learned some hard lessons in life. He believed in being cruel to be kind. He believed that sparing the rod spoiled the child. Doom would do anything--no matter how extreme or brutal--it maintain the integrity of his new kingdom. And if he had to punish one of his subjects for the good of the greater population than he would do so without hesitation. As a means of keeping crime under control, Doom could deal very harshly with criminals. His wrath became legendary and everyone in Latveria knew the horror that would await them if they dared to break the law of Doom! Because of this, Latveria has the lowest crime rate in the world.

Under the rule of Dr. Doom, Latveria was no longer a third world country. Everyone was taken care of. As long as they obeyed Doom without question.

And what he did for Latveria, he could do for the whole world, couldn't he? Yes, of course he could! The governments of the world had shown themselves to be woefully inadequate to the task of running this planet. They're so busy warring with each other and being corrupt that they can't deal with the real problems of the Earth.

What the world needs is one leader--One special man who could run the whole show in an intelligent and organized way. One man should be running the Earth. And obviously, that man is Doom! Who else has the intelligence, the will, the technology and the leadership skills necessary? No one else! Only Doom!

Right there and then, he decided. He would rule the world! It was the nearing the beginning of a new millennium, and that millennium should be--and would be--the age of Doom!

Of course, he knew the governments of the world wouldn't just give him the control he felt he so rightfully deserved. If he wanted the world he'd have to take it. He'd have to conquer it! It would be bloody and violent and many would end up dead, but he believed the ends justified the means. In the long run, he rationalized, the world would be better off under the rule of a superior man like himself. War and death were just a necessary stepping stone to the harmony and will one day come under his reign. He was convinced that he was completely justified in anything he did to gain rulership over the Earth.

"Boris!" Doom shouted.

The aging, and unflinchingly loyal Boris came in. "Your Lordship?"

"Prepare the media chamber for me, faithful one," Doom ordered. "I need to make a better study of the world situation. Knowledge is power!"

Boris bowed and set off to do as Doom had commanded. He didn't know what Doom was up to, but he knew that it did not bode well for the rest of the world. Inside, he felt sad...and afraid. But that wouldn't stop him from obeying. He would always be there for Doom.

As time went on, something began to nag at him. There was one small doubt . . . One possible obstacle!

The Super-Heroes!

These beings had powers that defied reason! They were many and their number seemed to be growing. And those goody-good boy scouts had a habit of saving the world. Aliens and other threats have tried to conquer the world, but the heroes have always had the power to stop them. As far back as the Justice Society and as recently as the Avengers League, super-heroes have set themselves up as protectors.

Obviously, the super beings would interfere in Doom's rightful conquest. Clearly, he'd have to deal with the protectors of the planet. But how to do it? They had incredible power and would not be easy to defeat. A foolproof strategy for eliminating them would have to be devised.

He thought long and hard. How do you defeat a super army...An Army?! The word hit him like a lightning strike. He needed his own super army. There were just as many super-villains as there were heroes. And they had equal power. Their problem was their approach. From his observations, they always had some foolish flaw in their schemes. But that wouldn't happen under Doom's leadership. With his supreme mind guiding a powerful army of super beings, no one--not the Avengers League or Captain America or anyone else--could possibly stop them!

Doom began to monitor the news about the activities of the villains of this world. He spent weeks forming dossiers on them. Because it wasn't enough to have super-powered villains. He needed good super-powered villains. His army had to be composed of the best of the worst. He needed the smartest, toughest and most ruthless, yet ones who he could deal with on a rational basis and control in some way. He would have to consider his recruits very carefully.

And once he narrowed down the possibilities, he needed to make doubly sure. He'd have to test them. He'd have to see for himself how they handled themselves.

He prepared his list and started plotting his tests. The next few weeks, he'd put the world's greatest villains through their paces. And if they passed, they'd get to help him conquer the world!