Marvel Brings X-Men Storm Against One Of The Greatest Comic Book Villains Of All Time (Exclusive Preview)

Ororo Monroe, also known as Storm of the X-Men, has been a busy woman lately. Storm recently joined the Avengersand her current solo series The Storm (written by Murewa Ayodele, drawn by Lucas Werneck) has already been eventful with only three issues to date.

In summary: Storm saved Tulsa from nuclear meltdown, which was actually a mutant child experiencing energy exposure. This inspired him to build the “Storm Sanctuary” for mutants, but it also resulted in radiation poisoning. After being sent to Brother Voodoo for some magical treatment, her life is saved, but she is unable to use her mutant powers for a week. So in the movie “Storm” No. 3, Ororo visited Rogue's Uncanny X-Men in Louisiana and bonded with Wolverine. At the end of the issue, he was summoned by Doctor Doom, who since the 2024 crossover “Blood Hunt” is Earth's new Sorcerer Supreme.

“Storm” #4 will begin with Ororo arriving in Doom's domain in Latvia, and Marvel has shared an exclusive preview with /Film. The problem summary reads:

“FLAME IN THE WIND! DOCTOR DOOM is SURCERER SUPREME. He has special plans for Earth's mutants. He'd like to discuss them with the beautiful STORM over fine cuisine and expensive wines. What could go wrong? The epic saga continues—with this new installment featuring a battle that Latvia will never forget.”

The issue appears to be related to the upcoming crossover,”One world under doom“, where the Doctor/Dignified God Emperor will use his new magical power to take control of Earth.

Mateus Manhanini's cover for Storm #4 can be seen below:

Marvel Comics

The comic opens with a summary page showing Brother Voodoo healing Storm and explaining to new readers the terms of her magical contract. She arrives in Latvia on the back of Doom's giant raven and met Viktor for dinner in a green dress (Doom's favorite color, of course). Storm says she feels almost flattered, but her master claims: Doom never flatters.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

These two sitting down to dinner will be familiar site to longtime X-Men fans. Back in X-Men #145-147 (by Chris Claremont and Dave Cockrum), the mutant heroes and Doom battled for the first time. Storm was tasked with “distracting” the Doctor by acting as his guest, and the two became more genuinely in love with each other than expected. Claremont was very much into the Storm, so all the men he wrote under his pen, including Doom, were like that too.

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Admittedly, John Byrne (then the writer of “Fantastic Four”) turned the doom that appeared in X-Men into a Doombot impersonating its creator. Many years later, in SWORD #7 (by Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli), Storm led Doom to dinner on the planet Arraco (aka Mars, built with the power of mutant gifts). They remembered their last dinner date when Doom justified his bad behavior as a robot, “The real Doom would never respect a goddess.” At the same time, Storm warns Doom not to stoop to flirting.

Marvel Comics

“Storm” #1 even included a cover (drawn by the wonderful Marco Cecchetto) that looks like a lovers' dance. Is this comic going to make Vētra the queen of Latvia? I wouldn't bet on it.

Marvel Comics

There's a bit of mutual interest between Storm and Doom, but it's never going to come to fruition. Destiny is above fruitless habits like schoolboy crushes, and he would never let his attraction to Ororo compromise his vision. Ororo would never be ready to accept Doom's world-conquering ambitions either, and even if her feelings grow from simple intrigue to affection, she's not naive or insecure enough to follow Doom as a lovelorn girl desperate to change the bad boy. However, Doom sees in Ororo a rare woman: strong and worthy enough to be Queen of Doom.

However, this meeting could be more than a social visit. The synopsis for the issue mentions that Doom has “plans” for mutants in his new world order. Back in last year's “X-Men” #35, Latvian agents stole a piece Krakoa's Living Island, the now-conquered homeland of mutants. Does Doom intend to win Storm over to his side by offering her a restored Krako?

Storm #4 is scheduled for print and digital release on January 15, 2025.