Marvel Pits X-Men Storm Against One Of Comic Book’s Greatest Villains (Exclusive Preview)

Orora Monroe, aka Storm from the X-Men, has been a busy woman lately. Storm recently joined the Avengersand her long-running solo series Storm (written by Murewa Ayodele, drawn by Lukas Werneck) has already been eventful with only three issues to go.

To recap: Storm saved Tulsa from a nuclear disaster, which was essentially a mutant child experiencing a seizure of power. This inspired her to build a hovering “Thunder Sanctuary” for mutants, but it also resulted in radiation poisoning. After being sent to Brother Voodoo for magical healing, her life is saved, but she is unable to use her mutant powers for one week. So in “Storm” #3, Orora visited Rogue’s Uncanny X-Men in Louisiana and met Wolverine. At the end of the issue, she was summoned by Doctor Doom, who after the 2024 Blood Hunt crossover is the new Sorcerer Supreme of Earth.

The Storm #4 will begin with Ororo arriving in Latveria, and Marvel shared an exclusive preview with /Film. The release synopsis reads:

“FLAME IN THE WIND! DOCTOR DOOM IS THE SUPREME WIZARD. He has special plans for Earth mutants. He would like to discuss them with the beautiful STORM over fine cuisine and expensive wines. What can go wrong? The epic saga continues — with this new installment, which features a battle Latveria will never forget.”

The issue seems to lead to a future crossover,”One world under destruction” where the God-seeking Doctor/Emperor will use his newfound magical power to seize control of Earth.

The cover art for Storm #4, drawn by Matteus Manchanini, can be seen below:

Marvel Comics

The comic begins with a summary page showing Brother Voodoo healing Storm and explaining the terms of her magical contract to new readers. She flew to Latveria on the back of a giant raven, Doom, and met Victor at dinner wearing a green dress (Doom’s favorite color, naturally). Storm says she feels almost flattered, but her master states: Doom never flatters.

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Comics

These two sitting down to dinner will be familiar to longtime X-Men fans. Back in X-Men #145-147 (By Chris Claremont & Dave Cockrum), the mutant heroes and Doom first battled. Storm was tasked with “retracting” the Doctor by acting as his guest, and they both found themselves more in love with each other than they expected. Clairmont was in love with Storm, so all the people he wrote under his pen—including Doom—were also in love.

Marvel Comics

True, John Byrne (then the author of “Fantastic Four”) turned Doom, who appeared in “X-Men”, into Dumbot, who embodies his creator. Years later, in SWORDS #7 (Al Ewing and Stefano Caselli), Storm treated Doom to dinner on the planet Arako (aka Mars, terraformed by the power of mutant gifts). They thought back to their last dinner date, when Doom was justifying some of his bad behavior to the robot, “A real Doom would never disrespect a goddess.” At the same time, Storm warns Doom not to stoop to flirting.

Marvel Comics

“Storm” #1 even included a variant cover (drawn by the wonderful Mark Checkett) in what looks like a lovers’ dance. Is this comic going to make Storm the Queen of Latveria? I wouldn’t bet on it.

Marvel Comics

There is a slight mutual interest between Storm and Doom, but it never goes any further. Doom is above such childish habits as falling in love with a schoolboy, and he would never allow his attraction to Oror to compromise his vision. Nor will Orora ever want to accept Doom’s world-conquering ambitions, and even though her feelings have turned from mere intrigue to affection, she’s not naive or insecure enough to follow Doom as a lovelorn girl desperate to change a bad guy. However, Doom sees Ororo as a rare woman: strong and worthy enough to be Queen of Doom.

However, this meeting may be more than a secular 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 Living Island, now the defeated home of mutants. Could Doom be planning to win Storm over by offering her a restored Krakoa?

“Storm” #4 is scheduled for January 15, 2025.