BY MATT TUCK
IG @ matt.tuck.writer
The rumors abound that Doctor Doom is heading to the MCU, but which version of the Latverian despot could we see?
With variants and the Multiverse being the talk of the MCU, that opens the door to limitless possibilities that were unfathomable before. Comics are rich with alternate realities and timelines stretching back decades. DC even managed to pool all their campy Golden and Silver Age stories into an alternate reality of its own to help explain the different character traits.
As we are seeing with Spider-Man: No Way Home, the biggest implications for the alternate realities is merging the cinematic histories of comic properties. Instead of ignoring the previous franchises, Marvel Studios can now pull from fan-favorite movies and television shows. For that matter, Marvel can draw from any source to have any version of any character to appear in the MCU.
This is great for fans because we can expect new and exciting things from classic characters rather than seeing the same story rehashed multiple times. That brings me to one of the most anticipated characters coming to the MCU: Doctor Doom.
Over the years, Doom has been one of Marvel Comics’ elite villains. His rivalry with the Fantastic Four kept the company afloat in the 1960s, and by the Bronze and Modern Ages, he had become a complex, amoral threat to the entire Marvel Universe.
Throughout the decades, Marvel has reimagined Doom in many forms, and that is why it begs the question, which Doom will arrive in the MCU? Let’s explore these possibilities.
THE ORIGINAL
FIRST APPEARANCE: FANTASTIC FOUR #5
There’s just no beating the original. Doom may not have been the FF’s first villain - he was preceded by Mole Man, the Skrulls, Miracle Man, and the Silver Age Namor - but he remains the most iconic.
Arguably, he is the most famous of all Marvel’s supervillains in the eyes of mainstream fans. Whether or not he will appear alongside the FF in their MCU debut, only Kevin Feige knows for sure. Even if he doesn’t make it to that particular movie, there is no way Marvel Studios is going to leave Doom out of the equation.
Over the years, he has evolved from being the evil version of Reed Richards bent on world domination and settling his college feud with Mister Fantastic to becoming a more complex character. Certainly, he will always be a villain, but his character has grown to one with more altruistic goals. Don’t mistake him for a hero; maybe his goal is to ultimately help the world, but he is as callous and authoritative as ever.
No matter what form the MCU Doom takes, the core of his character and the foundation of his signature Man in the Iron Mask look began here with FF #5.
Need an FF #5 in your life? A 0.5 can be yours for the low price of $4,210, which was the latest sale price from November 18. Maybe you would rather upgrade to a 1.5. In that case, you will only need $5k, based on the most recent purchase from November 2.
BEYONDER DOOM
FIRST APPEARANCE: SECRET WARS #10
Think of this as the predecessor to God-Emperor Doom that would surface in 2015. The original Secret Wars began to evolve Doom’s character into more than just the world’s would-be dictator. After being a pawn in the Beyonder’s Battleworld and forced to align with other villains, Doom eventually took the god’s power for himself, making for one of the iconic covers from artist extraordinaire Mike Zeck. The only reason this issue’s cover art is overshadowed by Secret Wars #8 is because of the debut of the alien symbiote.
There are plenty of rumors of a Secret Wars movie in the works at Marvel Studios. Former Marvel editor-in-chief and legendary creator Jim Shooter proclaimed that the project is in development earlier this year at Megacon Orlando. Before that, the Russo Brothers, famous for directing Captain America: Winter Soldier, Infinity War, and Endgame, had said that they would only return to Marvel to helm a Secret Wars adaptation. It just so happens that the Russos reportedly are negotiating with Marvel for an unnamed project, which is stirring the pot for more Secret Wars gossip.
If there is a Secret Wars adaptation on the slate, rest assured that Doctor Doom will be a central figure in that story. That means the Beyonder-powered Doom could be on his way to the MCU, which also has market implications. Earlier this year, a 9.8 reached a record high $500, though the most recent sale was for $265 on November 11.
DOOM 2099
FIRST APPEARANCE: DOOM 2099 #1
Marvel will eventually dip into the 2099 world of characters for either a live-action or animated adaptation. Don’t forget that we’ve already had two 2099 Easter eggs in recent years. First was the mid-credits scene of Into the Spider-Verse which introduced Oscar Isaac as the voice of Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of 2099. This summer, a Loki case file revealed the date 2099 as part of the God of Mischief’s misadventures through time and space. With so many cues, there is no doubt that between Sony and Marvel Studios, the 2099 universe is ready to crack open. That could usher in one of the most popular Doom variants, Doom 2099.
Out of all the 2099 characters, Doom has been one of the more enduring next to Spider-Man 2099. The futuristic Doom’s first appearance in 1993 also remains one of the more expensive, though you should be able to find a graded 9.8 for less than $100.
GOD-EMPEROR DOOM
FIRST APPEARANCE: SECRET WARS #2 (2015)
This is my personal favorite incarnation of Doctor Doom. This version of everyone’s favorite dictator, clad in solid white, gained god-level powers from the Beyonders to kick off 2015’s Secret Wars. He used his abilities to salvage what he could from a dying Multiverse and piece it together into Battleworld, which of course Doom ruled with an iron fist.
Once upon a time, it would have been inconceivable for Marvel to use this version of Doom in the MCU. With the hot rumor of a Secret Wars for the silver screen, it is a real possibility. Couple that with the Multiverse, and it is feasible that God-Emperor Doom could be a star. With that potential, his first appearance is becoming increasingly expensive. So far this year, a 9.8 brought an astounding $700. In July, another copy sold for $500. More recently, those purchase prices have settled into the $200-$300 range since October.
IRON MAN DOOM
FIRST APPEARANCE: THE INFAMOUS IRON MAN #1
Armor Wars is on the Disney+ horizon, the show reportedly will focus on the fallout of Tony Stark’s Endgame death as different characters vie for his armory. Wouldn’t it be interesting if one of the contenders happened to be Victor Von Doom? After all, the Infamous Iron Man saw him don his own brand of Iron Man armor and function as an antihero, which was a total departure of character for the classic villain.
The standard cover last sold for $110 this month. The more coveted edition is the Esad Ribic variant, which last sold for $578 in September.
Matt Tuck is the author of the novel, Lost Bones of the Dead. He is a professional writer, avid comic collector, former teacher, and an international man of mystery. You can follow him on his Facebook page, The Comic Blog, or on Instagram at matt.tuck.writer.