𝐷𝑜𝑜𝑚 𝑟𝑖𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑦, 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑔𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑆𝑝𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑛.

𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑚𝑦 𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑠!

𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑!

◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ ◈

Spider-Man was swinging through the streets of New York, when he sensed a sudden surge of energy from the Empire State Building.

He quickly made his way there, only to find 
a chaotic scene of destruction. A dark being, cloaked in a black hood, metal mask and garments was standing on the roof. He was holding a device that looked like a giant laser cannon.

He was laughing maniacally as he fired rays of red lasers at the embattled city, causing loud, major explosions and fires everywhere.

Spider-Man knew immediately it was Dr. Doom, a notorious villain who had fought and clashed with the mighty Fantastic Four and other heroes before.

He wondered what he was doing here, what his plan was. and had decided to confront him. Hoping to stop his mass destruction before he caused any further damage.

"Hey, Doom! What's the big idea? You know you can't just go around blasting things with your fancy new toy, right?" Spider-Man shouted as he landed on the roof.

"Spider-Man!" Doom shouted, how nice of you to join me! I was hoping you would show up. You see, this is not just a toy. This is a weapon of mass destruction, powered by the cosmic energy I stole from Galactus himself.

Doom: (glares at his foe)
"Ha!" Spider-Man,
with this weapon, I can destroy anything and anyone I desire, including you and all your pathetic

friends!"

"Galactus, the world
eater?" You stole his power? Are you insane? Do you have any idea what you're messing with? Spider-Man asked, feeling a chill run down his spine.

"Of course I do. I'm not insane, I'm brilliant. And I'm about to show you how brilliant I am, by wiping out this city and everyone in it."

Then I'll move on to the rest of the world, until I'm the only intelligent one left standing. And then I'll rule the universe as its supreme lord! Doom declared, raising his device again.

Spider-Man: (said, trying to stall him)
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold on there, buddy! That's not how things work! You can't kill everyone and expect to rule anything!

That's not ruling, that's being a jerk!

"And besides, you're not the only one with friends here. I have some too, and they're on their way!"

Doom: (firing another thunderclap blast at Spider-Man.)
Oh really? And who are these friends of yours? The Avengers? The Justice League? The X-Men? The Teen

Titans?

The Powerpuff Girls?

Ha! They're no match for me and my cosmic power! Bring them on! I'll destroy them all!"

[Spider-Man dodged the beam, but it hit a nearby helicopter, causing it to crash into a building. Spider-Man gasped, feeling guilty for not being able to save the people inside. He realized he couldn't handle this alone. He needed help. He reached for his communicator, hoping it still worked.]

Spiderman: (calls for back up) "Spider-Man to Avengers Tower. Come in, Avengers Tower. Do you copy?"

"This is Iron Man. What's up, Spidey?" A voice answered.

"Iron Man!" Thank goodness! Listen, we have a situation here.

Dr. Doom is on top of the Empire State Building with a cosmic-powered laser cannon. He's trying to destroy the city and the world. I need backup!" Spider-Man yelled...

"Dr. Doom? Cosmic power? That sounds kinda bad. Don't you worry, Spidey. We're on our way Iron Man said.

"Thanks, Iron Man. Hurry!" Spider-Man said.

He looked up at Doom, who was still firing at random targets. He knew he had to keep him busy until the Avengers arrived. He webbed up and fired a burst at Doom's face!

"Hey, Doom! How about you pick on someone your own size?" He taunted.

Doom ripped off the webbing and glared at Spider-Man.

What? You want some of this Spidey?

"You insolent, lowly insect! Thou dare to interfere with my evil plans? You'll pay for that he roared!

He charged at Spider-Man with his metal fists clenched.

Spider-Man dodged his punches and kicked him in the face.

Doom: Ow! That hurt!

Spiderman: You know what else hurts? This!" He said, shooting his webbing into Doom's eyes.

Doom screamed and tried to wipe off the webbing.

"Get this off me! You'll regret this, Spider-Man!" He shouted.

Spider-Man smirked and prepared to deliver another blow, when he heard a loud boom from above. He looked up and saw a red and blue blur zooming towards them.

"Is that a bird? Is that a plane? No, it's, it's Superman!" He hollared.

Superman landed on the roof, followed by Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Cyborg. They were the Justice League, the world's greatest heroes.

"Spider-Man, are you okay?" Superman asked.

Spiderman: (agitated)
"I'm fine, thanks. But we have a problem here. Dr. Doom has a cosmic powered laser cannon and he's trying to destroy the world with it!

"We know. We heard your distress call. We're here to help." Superman said.

"Great! The more the merrier!" Spider-Man said.

He turned to Doom, who had recovered from the webbing and was staring at the newcomers with rage.

"Doom, I'd like you to meet some of my pals, the Justice League. Justice League, meet Doom. He's a real jerk and a pain in the ass!"

"Doom does not care for your pointless, silly introductions. He only cares for your band of gypsies destruction!" Doom yelled.

"Say hello to my little friend!"

He fired his device at the heroes, but Superman intercepted it with his heat vision, deflecting it back at him. Doom dodged it, but it hit his mask, cracking it open. Doom gasped and covered his face with his hands.

"My mask! You ruined my mask! You'll pay for that!" He screamed.

He threw his device at Superman, hoping to hit him with it. But quickly, Superman caught it and crushed it in his hands.

"Sorry, Doom. Your toy is broken." Superman said.

Doom growled and lunged at Superman, trying to claw his face with his metal fingers. But Superman grabbed his wrist and twisted it, making him drop to his knees in pain.

"Give up, Doom. It's over." Superman said.

"Never! Doom never gives up! Doom never surrenders! Doom will fight to the end!" Doom shouted.

He reached for a button on his belt, hoping to activate a hidden self-destruct mechanism that would take them all with him. But before he could press it, he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

He looked down and saw an arrow sticking out of his heart. He looked up and seen Hawkeye standing on the edge of the roof, holding a bow and arrow.

"Sorry, Doom. But I don't like loose ends." Hawkeye said.

Doom gasped and fell to the ground, dead.

Spider-Man stared at Hawkeye in shock.

"Hawkeye? You killed him?" He asked.

Hawkeye shrugged.

"What? He was going to blow us to hell and back! Anyway. I just saved us some time."

Spider-Man shook his head in disbelief.

"That's not how we do things here. We don't kill our enemies. We capture them and bring them to justice." He said.

Hawkeye rolled his eyes.

"Oh please. Don't give me that moral lecture. You know as well as I do that some villains are well beyond any redemption. They're better off dead." He said.

Spider-Man frowned and was just about to argue with him, when he heard another loud boom from above. He looked up and saw a jet flying towards them.

It was the Quinjet, the Avengers' vehicle.

It landed on the roof and opened its doors, revealing Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Ant-Man, Wasp, Black Panther, Vision, Scarlet Witch, Falcon and War Machine. They were the Avengers, Earth's mightiest heroes.

"Hey guys! Sorry we're late! We had some traffic issues." Iron Man said.

Spider-Man smiled and waved at them.

"Hey guys! Thanks for coming! We could use some help here." He said.

Iron Man looked around and saw the dead body of Doom and the now destroyed device.

"Wow. Looks like you guys handled things pretty well without us." He said.

Spider-Man pointed at Hawkeye.

"Well, actually he did most of the work." He said.

Iron Man looked at Hawkeye and raised an eyebrow.

"Hawkeye? You killed Doom?" He asked.

Hawkeye nodded proudly.

"Yup. I did." He said.

Iron Man shook his head in disapproval.

"Hawkeye... You know we don't kill our enemies." He said.

Hawkeye sighed and repeated what he had told Spider-Man earlier.

"Oh please. Don't give me that moral lecture shit!" He said.

Iron Man: Hawkeye, I'm serious. Killing is not our way.

Hawkeye: Well maybe it should be.

Iron Man: Hawkeye, it shouldn't. Killing is wrong. It's against the law. It's against our code of honor.

Hawkeye: Code of honor? What code of honor? We're not knights in shining armor. We're soldiers. And soldiers kill their enemies.

Iron Man: We're not soldiers, Hawkeye. We're heroes. And heroes don't kill.

Hawkeye: Heroes don't kill? Tell that to the people who died because of Doom. Tell that to the people who die every day because of villains like him.

Tell that to the people who will die tomorrow because of villains we let live today.

Iron Man: Hawkeye, you're not making any sense. Killing Doom won't bring back the dead. It won't stop the evil. It will only make us like them.

Hawkeye: No, it will make us better than them. It will make us stronger. It will make us feared. It will make us respected.

Iron Man: Feared? Respected? Is that really what you want, Hawkeye? To be only feared and respected? To be a killer?

Hawkeye: Yes, Iron Man. That's exactly what I want. And you should want it too. Because that's the only way we can win this war.

Iron Man: War? What war? There is no war, Hawkeye. There is only peace. And we're here to protect it.

Hawkeye: Peace? There is no peace, Iron Man. There is only chaos. And we're here to end it.

Iron Man: Hawkeye, you've lost your mind. You've gone too far  and crossed a hero's line  that will be difficult to uncross.

Hawkeye: "No, Iron Man!" I've opened my eyes. I've gone far enough. I've crossed a superhero's line you can't cross.

The two heroes glare at each other, their eyes filled with anger and distrust...

Spider-Man: Guys, guys! Calm down! This is not the time or the place for this! We have bigger problems to deal with!

Superman: He's right, guys. This is not the time or the place for this! There are bigger problems and issues to deal with!

Ironman: "Yeah, and here it comes."

The three heroes pointed at the dark sky, where a huge shadow was looming over them.

Spider-Man: Look! Up in the sky!

Batman: Oh, no it can't be, not again!

Galactus, the wantom, malevolent world-eater, had once again, arrived on the planet Earth, looking for his stolen power.

Galactus: Who dares to steal from Galactus? Who dares to defy Galactus? Who dares to face Galactus?

The heroes looked at each other in wonder and awe.

Spider-Man: Uh-oh.

Batman: Oh crap!

Galactus raised his hand and prepared to unleash his cosmic wrath on the planet.

Galactus: Prepare to die, Earthlings!

The superheroes braced themselves for a battle to the end.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed in front of them.

Galactus: What is this?

A portal opened in the air, and a figure stepped out of it.

Figure: Greetings, Earthlings!

The heroes recognized him as Doctor Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme.

Doctor Strange: I'm here to help!

Galactus recognized him as well.

Galactus: You! You are the one who stole my power!

Doctor Strange: Yes!

Galactus: I am Galactus, why did you do it? What did you want with it?

Doctor Strange: I did it to save the world, Galactus. I did it to stop you.

Galactus: Stop me? How dare you try to stop me? You are nothing but a speck of dust in my eyes!

Doctor Strange: Maybe so, Galactus. But even a speck of dust can cause irritation.

Doctor Strange raised his hands and chanted a spell.

Doctor Strange: By the hoary hosts of Hoggoth! By the crimson bands of Cyttorak! By the flames of Faltine! By the power of Vishanti! I command you to leave this world alone!

A blast of powerful, mystical energy strikes Galactus making him stagger back in pain.

Galactus: Aargh! You insolent worm! You think you can hurt me with your puny little magic? You think you can defy me with your feeble will?

You think you can banish me with your dumb, pitiful words? You are sadly mistaken, Doctor Strange.

You are doomed, Doctor Strange. You are dead!

Galactus raised his hand and prepared to unleash his cosmic wrath on Doctor Strange.

Galactus: Prepare to die, Sorcerer!

Doctor Strange braced himself for the blow.

Suddenly, a loud roar echoed in the air.

Galactus: What is that?

A giant green fist suddenly smashed into Galactus' body making him stagger backwards.

Galactus: Who dares to strike me?

The heroes looked up and saw Hulk standing on top of a building, holding a car in his hand.

Hulk: Hulk dares! Hulk smash!

Hulk threw the car at Galactus, hitting him in the chest.

Galactus: You annoying, dense toad ! You think you can hurt me with your brute strength? Don't think you can defy me with your savage rage?

Avengers, do you think you can smash me with your primitive, weak weapons? You are sadly mistaken, all of you are doomed.

"You are dead, Hulk!"

Galactus raised his hand and prepared to unleash his cosmic wrath on Hulk.

Galactus: Prepare to die, Monster!

Hulk roars and charged at Galactus.

Suddenly, a loud crackle of thunder resounded in the air.

A bolt of lightning struck Galactus in the head, making him stagger once again.

Galactus: Who tries to shock me?





© Charles Kemp