Issue(s): Avengers #25
Cover Date: Feb 66
Title: "Enter... Dr. Doom!"
Credits:
Stan Lee - Writer
Don Heck - Penciler
Dick Ayers - Inker

Review/plot: Dr. Doom figures he can rattle the FF by defeating another super-powered team. He picks the Avengers and lures them to Latveria by writing a phony letter pretending to be relatives of Wanda and Pietro. The Avengers fight for their lives...

...but in the end they are able to escape. Doom thinks to himself that they are "as difficult to defeat as the Fantastic Four themselves".

I was disappointed in Doom's showing this issue. These aren't exactly the Avenger's heavy hitters and his dialogue and thought bubbles leave no room for doubt that he was actually having trouble fighting them.

The good news is that all the Avengers managed to do was escape, not defeat Doom.

Hawkeye continues to be a dick...

...but in this issue we get to see an internal monologue where he knows he's being a dick but can't seem to stop himself.

Also, Cap continues to soul search about his place in the modern world. He's fine as Captain America, but who is he as Steve Rogers? This is character development of which there should have been a lot more.

Doom's subjects are shown to admire their monarch, and they seem genuine about it, but at least one citizen thinks he is an evil despot.

Cameo by the FF, who rush to help the Avengers once they learn they've been trapped, but the US government asks the FF to stay because they don't want to cause an international incident - Latveria is a friendly nation.

Reed, always one to follow government orders, agrees to not interfere.

Sometimes Wanda runs around in a bra and panties over her pink pantyhose (see Avengers #17, for example), and sometimes she wears a corset that covers her belly. I guess it depends on the weather. This issue she wears the corset. And yes, i study the Scarlet Witch's outfit very carefully.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 3

Chronological Placement Considerations: This is the second time Doom has crossed paths with the Avengers, but none of the Avengers in issue #1.5 are members at this time. There is nothing specific about Doom or the FF's appearances to force a placement.

References:

• Dr. Doom still isn't sure if he's related to Kang, a reference to Fantastic Four annual #2 (although he's obviously done some research, since when he met the guy he was going by Ranma-Tut, not Kang)(also note that he secretly considers Reed Richards his equal).
  

• Lest you think a man with a bow and arrow is no match for Doom, Stan reminds us that Hawkeye was originally an Iron Man villain and has arrows that can melt armor. Stan doesn't remember which issue that happened in, but it was Tales Of Suspense #57.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: Marvel Triple Action #19

This is what the Avengers were doing when Galactus was in New York. This is the first time Wanda Maximoff meets her future boyfriend Dr. Doom.

According to the sequence in Marvels #3, the flood caused by Attuma in Avengers #26-27 happens before the coming of Galactus (and even before the FF's fight with Dragon Man in FF #44-45, which i just realized and had to make an adjustment for). So at least based on that, the Avengers weren't fighting Dr. Doom when Galactus arrived.

On the cover, the Avengers appear to be really excited to be meeting Dr. Doom. Doom appears to be unimpressed by them.

I agree that Doom should have had a better showing than this but then he is my favorite supervillain of all time.

The avengers make some real mistakes in this issue. Not considering the letter is false, or checking whos ruling latveria. I mean, thats just plain stupid.

I've always thought Dr. Doom was more interesting a villain when the citizens of Latveria sincerely loved him, as opposed to faking it because they live in fear. It adds a very interesting layer to a villain character.