As N.A.S.A. prepares to launch a
space platform containing a canon created by Dr. Doom, there is an accident
with a liquid nitrogen leak, trapping some gantry workers. Spidey quickly
intervenes and saves both the workers, and the rocket, little realizing that
he has ensured that Dr. Doom's final master plan can go ahead. Doom watches
the rocket's launch from his new castle, unaware of Johan and his comrade's
escape from the dungeons. Doom takes control of the rocket using his satellite
tracking station, and help from Dr. Zoltan at N.A.S.A. Doom uses the laser
canon on board the space platform to ignite all the volcanoes around the
Pacific rim of fire. The resulting simultaneous eruptions move the Earth from
its orbit, sending it away from the Sun and plunging it into a new ice age.
Spidey discovers that the only opportunity to return the Earth to its original
orbit it at midnight, when the volcanoes are on the other side of the Earth,
facing away from the Sun. Doom issues his final ultimatum to the U.N., and
with no choice, they declare him absolute ruler of the world. Spidey
meanwhile, has hitched a lift to Latveria thanks to the French ambassador, and
meets up with Johan's resistance. With Doom now master of the world, he sends
out robot duplicates of himself to take their place at the head of all the
world's governments, and dissolves the U.N. As Spider-Man and the Latverian
resistance converge on Dr. Doom's castle, the stage is set for the final
battle to save the Earth.
xx
Follows on from "The
Doom Report", and is the conclusion of the Doctor Doom story arc.