Why Return To The Heroes Reborn Universe?

That question is probably on the minds of a lot of comic's readers. This November, "Heroes Reborn: Doomsday" is set to occur over a three week span. The series will serve to reintroduce Dr. Doom to the mainstream Marvel Universe. Marvel's track record, as far as creating new comic's lines, has been hit or miss. Heroes Reborn was definitely a success sales wise, but the ill-fated 2099 line and the moderately successful MC2 line haven't raked in the money for Marvel. Do readers' really want to revisit the Heroes Reborn Universe, and if so, what is it they want to see?

There's no doubt that Dr. Doom is one of Marvel's most significant villains. That being said, his absence has been a fairly lengthy one. Aside from an appearance in a recent Thor Annual, Doom hasn't been seen since issue #4 of the Heroes Reborn: The Return mini series. While the exact events of Doomsday won't be known for many months to come, Doomsday editor Tom Brevoort has commented on what he aims to accomplish with the three-week event. The following are exerpts from his conversation with Newsarama's Michael Doran.

"I'm more interested in telling a bunch of fun stories that couldn't easily have been fit into the MU than I am in launching a whole new line. Though, if this thing goes over well, we'll doubtless revisit the concept. The other differences are that this setting, this pocket Earth, already exists, and exists in a specific place with relation to the Marvel Universe. 2099, the New Universe and MC2 were all, by design, totally separate from the main MU. I see the HR-Earth as more of a locale, like the Great Refuge or Wakanda or the home of the Eternals of Titan. And in the course of Doomsday, readers will get to learn exactly where the HR-Earth fits into the scheme of things, what its ongoing status quo is, and why it should, in all likelihood, become a fairly regular stomping ground for stories."

So, it would seem as though Doomsday will be more than just an event to reintroduce Dr. Doom to the main Marvel Universe. The one thing Brevoort fails to mention is why we should all care. If all the Heroes Reborn Universe is going to be is a place to do outlandish things with characters that couldn't be done in the main Marvel Universe, I don't see it as being anything more than another gimmick. I also wonder, with the exception of the reintroduction of Doom, whether or not any events that take place in the Heroes Reborn Universe will affect continuity in the main Marvel Universe. I would certainly hope not, but you never know with Marvel.

Two creators have already been pegged to work on the event. Fabian Nicieza, currently writing Gambit and soon to be writing Thunderbolts, will write a title called The Young Allies. Nicieza likens it to a combination of his New Universe title Psi-Force and his cult hit New Warriors. Joe Casey will be writing Masters of Evil, starring Black Knight, the Melter, Whirlwind, Radioactive Man, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo and Krang, amongst others. The details of how The Young Allies, Masters of Evil, or any forthcoming Doomsday related title will tie into the events of Doomsday are still unknown. I think both Nicieza and Casey are solid writers and are definitely a good start. Hopefully, Brevoort can land some other excellent talent to work on the event.

It seems clear to me that Doomsday has the potential to be successful, but will have to overcome some significant obstacles. I think many people had their fill of Heroes Reborn the first time around and getting folks interested in revisiting the Heroes Reborn Universe won't be an easy task. The questions of getting good talent to work on the project and whether or not the events that take place in the Heroes Reborn Universe will affect continuity in the main Marvel Universe will also have to be addressed. Brevoort seems to me to be a capable editor, so come November we'll all see if he can make Doomsday fly with readers.