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The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has introduced a variety of terrifying villains, from Ultron to Hela and more. Thanos was at the top of the leaderboard for power and terror. Doctor Victor von Doom, the next upcoming film for Avengers Doomsday, seems to have big shoes to fill, but it seems like he’s about to do all that and more.
Who is Dr. Doom?
Doctor Victor von Doom, more popularly known as Dr. Doom, is a major supervillain known for wielding both advanced technology and powerful sorcery. He first appeared in a 1961 Fantastic Four comic, where he kept The Invisible Woman captive. However, he next shows up in an Avengers comic in 1963, where he hijacks a function at the Avengers’ headquarters.
It’s not absolutely certain what kind of background Dr. Doom will have in the upcoming movie. It is established that both Reed Richards and Sue Storm know who he is and even go so far as to call him by his first name. However, his exact origins are still a mystery.
The fact that Robert Downey Jr. is playing him had people theorizing that he’s a Tony Stark from another multiverse, which could be an interesting take. Simply imagining the long-standing Avengers’ reaction to a version of their old friend turning evil can be incredibly compelling.
However, given Dr. Doom’s connection to the Fantastic Four couple, his home reality may actually be Earth-828, a parallel universe separate from Earth-616. For reference, Earth-616 is the main MCU timeline, including Avengers: Endgame.
How Did Dr. Doom Get His Powers?
Dr. Doom, like many others in the MCU, seems to have started out as a regular old Joe. As seen in the Fantastic Four movies, he mutated alongside the Fantastic Four when they were exposed to clouds of cosmic energy. However, it can be a little more complex than that when diving into the comics.
The most popular version of Doctor Victor von Doom’s origins relevant to Avengers’ Doomsday is his history in Latveria. Born an orphan, he showcased and honed his skills in science and magic. He and Richards were rivals in the academe and, during a competition, tried to build machinery to outdo each other.
Unfortunately, Dr. Doom’s own machine had blown up in his face literally, even though he was intending on making contact with his late mother, a witch called Cynthia. He resented Richards and left that school to explore the world until he was adopted by monks.
Under the monks’ guidance and assistance, he was groomed to become the strong and skilled Dr. Doom people know today. One of his first and greatest feats was taking back and ruling Latveria as a benevolent leader.
Why Doctor Victor von Doom Is More Dangerous Than You Think
Doctor Victor von Doom can be an absolute threat, potentially even more than Thanos himself. Here are five key reasons why.
1. He’s a Master of All Trades
The power scaling in the MCU can be challenging at times, especially when you have heroes with a bow and arrow vs heroes that can literally rewrite reality. That said, Doctor Victor von Doom is looking to be a formidable foe.
As shared by many comic fans on forums, Dr. Doom has the technology of Iron Man, the intellect of Reed Richards and the sorcery of Dr. Strange all in one. His reign in Latveria is also a testament to the number of people he commands, including the Latverian Witches.
And if you want to compare Dr. Doom to Thanos, keep in mind that the sorcerer scientist has already killed the purple alien in Secret Wars by nonchalantly ripping out his spine.
2. He Can Be Persuasive
Dr. Doom has a way of getting people on his side. In recent comics, he managed to get Captain America to help him liberate Hell from Mephisto. However, Dr. Doom eventually turned on the hero and even freed the likes of Red Skull, one of Steve Rogers’ greatest enemies.
Many are theorizing that Dr. Doom will have his own team, especially after a snippet that showcased him recruiting the Hulk. While he’s not exactly being amicable about it, there’s a chance that he’ll get other people on his side.
For example, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man may still be under the radar, but there’s no doubt that he’s incredibly strong and intelligent, taking on even some of the Avengers in the previous films. Some fans can see Doom pulling him into the lineup under the false promise of helping save the world.
3. He Comes Prepared
Thanos was regarded as someone with a grand plan of collecting the Infinity Stones, but he seemed to push through with it through brute force and sheer determination. As for Doctor Victor von Doom, he seems to be much more calculated.
The very timing of Doom’s arrival in the MCU is a testament to that. Franklin Richards is considered the most powerful mutant because of their ability to warp reality. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence that he’s only coming on-screen after he’s finally born and in the picture.
4. He Embodies the Fear of the Unknown
From a MCU-only or casual viewer’s perspective, Doctor Victor von Doom is just so mysterious. With Thanos, there were many easter eggs in the earlier phases that built up his image. Fans also had his children, Gamora and Nebula, spreading tales of his own terror. That’s why when he finally showed up on screen, it was terrifying.
Dr. Doom didn’t really get that buildup. It could be the fact that the MCU’s Phase 4 and beyond were kind of hinting at other villains like Kang the Conqueror from Loki. However, with his actor Jonathan Majors fired, Marvel had to pivot in some other way instead.
In a way, Dr. Doom isn’t emerging from nowhere, as he is one of many affected by all the multiversal changes that the main heroes have made. And given that Anthony and Joe Russo only agreed to direct once Marvel had a solid story in store, fans can at least wait for the movie knowing it’s not going to be half-baked.
5. He’s Fueled With Conviction
The main rumor is that Dr. Doom lost his wife and son in an accident, the same accident that scars his face. It could also be his mother and him in the tapestry, but either way, it showcases that the new villain on the block is scheming with vengeance.
Truthfully, Thanos’ main focus was protecting his pride. His people, the Titans, scoffed at his mad plan of wiping out half the universe to ensure there were enough resources to allow the universe to prosper. And to be honest, they had a point, because why not just wish for double the resources with the Infinity Stones?
Regardless, Thanos only just wanted to make his case and prove he was right. Meanwhile, Dr. Doom is a madman who believes he must serve vengeance, restore order and save humanity. Misguided people can be one of the most dangerous ones there are.
Watch the Greatest Threat to the Avengers Yet
Doctor Victor von Doom is bound to give the Avengers hell, and it’s shaping up to be even more than what Thanos had dealt them in the past. However, only Avengers Doomsday will be able to reveal just how terrifying he’ll be. Share this with a fan!
