Issue - 200
Writer - Peter David
Art - Bing Cansino with Marco Santucci
Summary:
Valeria and Franklin Richards hire the X-Factor team to find their mother, the Invisible Woman, who has vanished. Using a bobby pin found in the Fantasti-Car, Long Shot is able to visualize her last movements. He sees that she was trapped in the Fantasti-Car which took her to Latveria. There Long Shot's vision is interrupted by Layla Miller who begins to speak to him.
Notes:
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No appearance
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Collected in X-Factor: Invisible Woman Has Vanished
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Issue was released with two variant covers:
Issue - 201
Writer - Peter David
Art - Bing Cansino
Summary:
Doom communicates with Reed Richards, warning him that X-Factor will pose a problem to his plans. Meanwhile, the X-Factor team travel to Latveria along with the Thing. The team splits into two groups. One group heads for Doom's castle intent on barging in and looking for the Invisible Woman. The other group, led by Madrox, follow a clue left by Layla. The clue leads them to a cemetery and a recently dug grave. After digging up a coffin, the team is surprised to find Reed Richards inside.
Notes:
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Cameo only
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Collected in X-Factor: Invisible Woman Has Vanished
Issue - 202
Writer - Peter David
Art - Bing Cansino
Summary:
Reed Richards explains that the Reed who they have been dealing with is in fact the Victor von Doom of another dimension. The alternate Doom took possession of that dimension's Reed Richards' body during his college years. He was eventually drawn to this dimension when the Marquis of Death unleashed an army of alternate versions of the Fantastic Four against them in a recent adventure. Reed, Madrox and co. speed to Doom's castle to regroup with the others. Having rescued Invisible Woman, who Doom kept locked in a virtual fantasy world, they come across Doom seemingly at ease painting a portrait of Layla Miller. He explainsto them that he kidnapped the Invisible Woman in order to save her from his other dimensional counter-part. He knew that although they agreed to be allies, his other self would betray him. The team return to New York via Shatterstar's portal in time to find Strong Guy in battle with the other dimensional Doom. With the portal still open, Strong Guy punches the fake Reed sending his head stretching into the portal. At that same moment, Layla Miller distracts Shatterstar thus closing the portal. The portal effectively severs the fake Reed's head. Layla stays behind in Latveria with Doom.
Notes:
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Cameo only
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Collected in X-Factor: Invisible Woman Has Vanished
Comments:
Though Doom is mostly absent, he gets two great cover appearances and what time he is present is excellent. This also makes for, to date, the only reference to the Mark Millar Master of Doom storyline that I know of. Though I'm not particularly a fan of that story, I do appreciate that Peter David managed to spin off a story from Millar's. Its something that I think used to happen more often in the old days. Stories building on stories. My favorite part of this story is that Doom ultimately isn't the bad guy (at least our Doom).
My only minor quibble is that his appearance in #202 resembles his Ultimate Doom appearance. Other than that, this is another short but strong appearance. Bottom Line: Cameo, N/A