Bring On The Bad Guys: Dormammu #1 - Marvel Comics

BRING ON THE BAD GUYS: DORMAMMU No. 1, October 2025

On paper pitting a mere mortal against the regent of the Dark Dimension probably seemed like a bit of a tall order for Alex Paknadel, especially when it soon becomes clear that Lord James Ravenglass is certainly no great sorcerer. But despite so great of disparity between this comic’s two leading characters when it comes to their magical abilities, Issue One of “Bring On The Bad Guys: Dormammu” must still have provided its audience with plenty of entertainment and a genuinely surprising conclusion; “My name is Sister Sorrow. And I’m here for your soul.”

To begin with, there’s an almost palpable sadness to the supposed lead protagonist, which may cause the odd bibliophile to momentarily forget the arrogant Englishman’s willingness to cold-heartedly sacrifice all the members of his Hermetic Order of the Peacock Quill, and actually make them feel a little sorry for him as his spirit is savagely stolen by Mephisto’s Latverian-born servant. Indeed, having been tricked into believing his ‘true love’ Agnes was still alive and desperately attempting to save him from Dormammu’s clutches, only to then crushingly realise it was the murderous Sorana in disguise, some onlookers might even forgive the Lord of Cumberland for having the life mercilessly sucked out of his girlfriend in the first place.

Furthermore, this twenty-page-periodical’s ultimate plot-twist is perfectly delivered and should catch a fair few readers completely off-guard. In fact, the notion that the Eater of Souls has been both toying with Ravenglass’ emotions and torturing his physical form the entire time is truly a terrifying prospect – particularly when upon his release from the alternate realm Ravenglass immediately succumbs to Sister Sorrow’s demonic blade whilst quite literally breathing out a sigh of relief.

Of course, a congratulatory clap should also be given to this book’s artist Javier Pina, who does a first-rate job of pencilling all these “arcane horrors of the Dark Dimension”. The Spanish illustrator’s early panels really manage to capture all the theatrical flamboyance of Jimmy’s performance as First Frater of the Hermetic Order of the Peacock Quill, and then later quite beautifully depicts all the pain and trauma of a man who believes he's witnessed his wife and infant son burn to death at the catastrophic end of the R101’s maiden voyage.

The regular cover art of "BRING ON THE BAD GUYS: DORMAMMU" #1 by Lee Bermejo