I saw this comic mentioned a lot when I looked online for more Doom related stories, though it wasn't the first story I jumped into, it actually ended up being the third, but from a quick glance through it I knew precisely why so many were speaking about it with such praise. At first I wasn't actually sure I could stomach this, particularly due to my annoyingly high standards and preference in comic book art. I have to admit, it's a problem! I really struggle to stick with a comic if I feel the art just doesn't speak to me, though I feel that is a common theme throughout the world of comics, for those deeply into them and those who are somewhat newer to them. Books of Doom was released way back in 2005 and ended in 2006, but the art style doesn't come from the fact that this is an old (personally, I don't think it's actually old but it's most certainly a bit beyond by now) comic at this point. Though the year is important given the world of comics back then, and the significantly more niche audience it had compared to today. I say this because the Books of Doom story immediately felt serious, significantly more dark in its appearance and narrative. And that was something I feel came from that era. I can make a few comparisons across other media here regarding that.
Well, it starts with the technology back then. Digital art tablets and screens still not having the best colour density and thus more darker palettes were utilised. I think at this point many comics were already starting to push into the digital realm for the inking side of things. But the more important thing to consider here is that the era itself liked darker things. This was the upcoming era of Gears of War and the boom of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Where video games and films alike were thriving on darker colour palettes. Some of the largest pieces of media from then relied on brown tones, from games to films. The era itself loving the visuals of darker, grittier stories and worlds. Where things felt more serious as a result, more cinematic and moving beyond the colourful aesthetics of the decades before which themselves thrived on doing quite the opposite. It was a cultural shift, so to speak. And it's highly evident in this first volume of Books of Doom. Every panel feels like it's taking place on the gloomiest day of autumn, where the grey of the sky blocks out any actual colour from the sunlight above them. I also must admit this is quite fitting for a title such as 'Books of Doom', though! It also really suits the themes within this first volume.
This is an origin story, a backstory that speaks on the upbringing and earlier days of Doom. Doom before Doom. Starting with the introduction of his mother, a witch that dove deep into the dark arts. Doom mentioning he could never understand why his mother's hands were of such an icy cold at all times. She was possessed with a demon on and off, often under its control and performing horrific acts. Doom speaks of how he believes he has memories of life before even being born, as if he could experience the same things his pregnant mother did in the moment. His mother under the control of a demon totally massacring a village, including its children. To which she was hunted down and killed; this was something that took place after Doom was born. There was no saving his mother after those acts. And with them, the gypsy group his family had lived and traveled with had cast them aside, no longer interested in being associated with them after those acts. Assuming the worst that they too would be blamed and attacked if seen. Already do we see the story of Doom's early life, and it is one of great doom. A depressing story that surrounds itself in misery and death, a life of isolation. Doom's father taking him into a life into the wild, trying to avoid the men that hunted them down for the mother's acts. The freezing cold taking his father's life, and leaving Doom on the brink of death himself.
Though younger Doom in his teen years wasn't plagued with the horrors of his past originally. He had found a greater life with others in the natural world. Finding a young love that he spent most of his time with; the woman he told himself one day he would marry. But it's here that Doom is already showing signs of being similar to his mother. An independent child that is ready for a fight. Even cursing the townspeople by stating that if they did cast him and his father out, he would never forgive them, and he would find them later on in life. I found this touch really interesting, the way that Doom even as a child was already starting to hate the world and show some aggression towards people. Prepared to fight against them, seeing the wrongdoing and the lack of trust one can have in even those closest to him. Albeit him performing the same acts even as he then distances himself from the love of his life for no real reason. Through these panels you can really see how the younger Doom lived a troubled life, had found happiness, but still couldn't escape the struggles that came with being his mother's son. Almost as if she had passed something down to him that could not be escaped. A fate that he was unaware of, but certainly would not want anything to do with.
I really liked that the volume was told to us directly from Doom's perspective. Very little dialogue for the most part. Where we see his thoughts, his own reflection upon his actions of the past. The first time he killed. The loss of love. The turn to dark arts in attempt to find a way to return his mother to life. And the desperation that pushed him beyond magic and into the world of science for the same reason. Thus mastering both of them from a young age, turning him into something far more dangerous due to his desperation, anger, and skills. This was such a solid read for a first volume, and even though the art style is quite ugly, I easily put that aside and continued reading on, wanting to see how the birth of Doom would take place. The constant progression of his youthful character into a monster.