Background

When Varnae, the first vampire, successfully possesses Blade and takes over the vampire cult, The Structure, he uses Atlantean magic to block out the sun with darkforce as the first step to world domination. Eventually Doctor Strange and Clea would come to Doctor Doom to ask for aid, specifically with clearing the sky of darkforce. Doom had a spell he could cast, but he needed the position of Sorcerer Supreme to do so. Strange reluctantly made a deal with Doom believing his word to be trusted. Strange would pass the title on to him, and Doom would return it as soon as the world was saved. When the crisis was over, Doom did not consider the world saved by his standards. Much was left to do, so Doom kept the title from Strange.

Impact & Consequences

• Nearly every world leader was convinced to give fealty unto him in exchange for a minimum standard of living for all citizens. (read Doom's Division to learn Vietnam's response)
• Spider-Man was chosen to be his champion against the Scions of Cyttorak, outfitting him with a new supernatural suit. (read Amazing Spider-Man 61-70 to witness Spider-Man's challenge)
• The Strange Academy was closed, and the students were invited to Doom's own magic academy in Latveria (read Doom Academy to see which students accept the invitation)
• Bucky Barnes was framed for a nuclear attack on his hometown for attempting to sabotage Doom's plans. (read Thunderbolts: Doomstrike to learn how the Thunderbolts clear Bucky's name)
• A number of strategists were kidnapped and imprisoned as Doom's personal wargames think tank (read Red Hulk to see the think tank attempt a prison escape)
• Doctor Strange magically locked down the Sanctum Sanctorum and its artifact caches before he laid low in Asgard (read Doctor Strange of Asgard to learn how Strange occupied himself during Doom's reign)
• New Avengers from a possible future where Doom was still world emperor were brought to the present (read Superior Avengers to learn of their true agenda)
• All rogue Doombots are instructed to return home (read Runaways to witness how the Runaways protect their Doombot friend).
• Latverian separatists began working with outside sources to stand up to Doom (read Iron Man 6-10 to see how Tony Stark helps the insurgents)

Resolution

The Avengers and Fantastic Four attempt to confront Doom in Latveria but fall into a trap. They revealed to the world that the reformed Hydra that Doom took credit for was being manipulated by a robotic double of Zemo, whom Doom had killed. This forced Doom to execute all the Hydra members who went rogue after the reveal of Zemo's demise. Instead of branding Doom a murderer, he was treated like a hero for eliminating a Nazi terrorist group.

He continued to curry favor with average citizens by pitting the heroes against the greater of evils, including a breakout at the raft and an invasion by Dormammu. Doom finally lost the PR battle when Sue and the Avengers managed to sneak into Latveria and find the residents Doom had been sacrificing to pay for his spells. This was revealed to the world during a debate between Doom and Reed that was just a distraction.

As Doom lost his cool, Reed turned to magic to give him an edge, while heroes from all over come to his rescue. As a last-ditch effort, Doom turned his armor into shrapnel and took out all the heroes non-fatally. Unfortunately, Valeria had joined the battlefield. Without Doom adjusting for her, she was killed by the shrapnel. Doom's heart broke over her loss, so he traveled up the cosmic hierarchy looking for a god willing to bargain. He offers everything to the Living Tribunal, who saw Doom's love for Valeria as true and traded Doom's life for Valeria's, ending his reign as the World Emperor.

Aftermath

• Due to the events of the Immortal Thor, Earth was cut off from the rest of the Ten Realms, stopping Doctor Strange from returning. (read his further adventures in Doctor Strange)
• Thunderbolt Ross is assigned to lead a military task force into Latveria to quell the civil unrest between factions vying for control over the country as well as securing the dangerous artifacts and weapons Doctor Doom had acquired for the years (read about Ross' mission in Will of Doom and Dungeons of Doom)
• The Eye of Agamotto and Cloak of Levitation were saved from being destroyed by the Living Tribunal by Scarlet Witch, who believes she has been chosen by them to be the new Sorcerer Supreme (read about her disagreement with the Vishanti in Sorcerer Supreme)
• The Superhuman Border Act was passed by the UN forbidding superhumans and technologically advanced heroes from entering Latveria to deal with the civil unrest. Enhanced soldiers were exempted so Captain America was recruited to a reinstated SHIELD to enter Latveria. (read about Cap and his new SHIELD squad in Captain America)