Cool

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Doctor Doom from Marvel Comics stands unrivaled as their foremost villain. While Magneto has a more intriguing character development and Thanos possesses immense power, neither can compare to Doom’s complexity. Beneath his pompous demeanor lies a character of remarkable depth, as his arrogance masks a much deeper personality. Doctor Doom reigns supreme in the villain category; he boasts an outstanding costume, has iconic enemies, demonstrates power and cunning, and can function effectively as a nemesis for virtually any hero or hero team. Intriguingly, Doctor Doom has even taken on the role of Iron Man, and has played a crucial part in saving the universe multiple times. Currently, the comic series “One World Under Doom” presents readers with Doom as the world’s emperor, leaving heroes to struggle in their attempts to thwart him, consistently outmaneuvered by his strategic brilliance. Simply put, Doctor Doom is unrivaled in villainy, and that’s a fact.

In this modern digital era, Doctor Doom has seen an unprecedented surge in popularity, with numerous memes circulating on social media platforms. The recent casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Doom in the MCU, coupled with his appearances in Fortnite and Marvel Rivals, have further amplified this trend among fans. However, contrary to popular belief that “cool” characters make comics more appealing, I argue that the contemporary, well-received version of Doctor Doom is a significant issue. In fact, it could be considered a problem that has been building for years.

Doctor Doom Is No Longer Dangerous

The idea that Doctor Doom performing impressive feats is negative isn’t my viewpoint. For instance, consider the image of Doom riding a tyrannosaur named Doom – incredibly cool! The meme where Doom informs Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) that every child in Latveria must sleep for eight hours a night? Absolutely hilarious! His transformation into Iron Man, battling Mephisto, and his multiversal adventure with the Thing and Human Torch in Marvel-Two-In-One (2017) showcased a fantastic character evolution. Yet, when was the last time we saw Doom as a true threat? Perhaps it was during Secret Wars (2015), when he was the God Emperor Doom? Or maybe it was when he joined Norman Osborn’s Cabal? I can pinpoint that turning point – it was in the Fantastic Four story titled “Unthinkable”, where Doom sacrificed Valeria, a woman he had loved since childhood, for more power. He then used her skin as armor. This is the essence of Doom, and the modern portrayal of him as mostly good with an intense dislike for Reed Richards, makes him appear evil. This skewed perspective about Doom has greatly harmed the character over time.

The comic “One World Under Doom” serves as an illustration of the predicament faced by modern interpretations of Doom. To clarify, this comic is well-crafted and entertaining, with an engaging narrative and enjoyable victories for Doom. Nevertheless, my main issue lies in the portrayal of Doom as a selfless figure. It’s plausible that we may eventually uncover darker aspects of Doom, but for now, he appears as a near-populist, leveraging progressive ideals such as universal healthcare and education to gain favor. This deviates from the typical characterization of Doom as a manipulative figure. The straightforward presentation of Doom in this series diminishes its impact, much like “Secret Wars” (2015) did when it also attempted to present Doom as a hero, albeit with an underlying sense of unease. In this current storyline, despite Doom defeating the heroes in the last three issues, he still lacks the menacing quality that makes him dangerous. The essence of Doom’s villainy – his ruthless ambition and callous actions – is overshadowed by an excessive focus on his tragic past and affection for his people. While I have no problem with complex, noble villains, the current portrayal of Doom risks diluting his identity as a villain.

Doctor Doom Needs His Edge Back

To be clear, I don’t have psychic abilities. The movie “One World Under Doom” could potentially portray Doom as the menacing figure he should be. However, considering Robert Downey Jr.’s casting, it seems unlikely that Marvel will present us with a villainous Doom similar to “Unthinkable” or the 2015 version of “Secret Wars.” Instead, the movie’s plot seems to favor synergy and may depict Doom as a Tony Stark-like character rather than the real Victor Von Doom. This would align with Marvel’s approach in “Avengers: Doomsday,” where he might be more of a variant than the true villain. Over the years, Doom has lost some of his edge and become less menacing, almost endearing – at least in comparison to his original characterization.

There are many formidable antagonists in pop culture who continue to captivate audiences – Sabretooth, a ruthless assassin, consistently receives his own miniseries every few years as proof. This demonstrates that softening a villain isn’t the only way to make them popular. Doom is an exceptional character, a complex villain capable of eliciting laughter, empathy, and raw emotion. His ability to switch between these extremes is what truly sets him apart. However, it’s not just another meme-worthy moment that Doom needs; he needs that edge back to return to his throne as the reigning Marvel villain.

One World Under Doom is on sale now.

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2025-04-28 16:12