Will Villain Gossip Ignite a New Marvel Hero Civil War?

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In the world currently under control by Doctor Doom, his plan has successfully materialized. With the illusion that everyone is compliant, he has conquered the globe. Despite valiant efforts from teams like the Fantastic Four and the Avengers to resist, they’ve been outmaneuvered at every step, looking less than competent in the process. This predicament has forced the Avengers into an unlikely alliance with the Masters of Evil.

The latest edition of this villainous group – featuring Doctor Octopus (former leader), Baron Mordo, MODOK, Arcade, Madelyne Pryor, and Mysterio – have decided to lend their assistance to the heroes. Both Doc Ock and MODOK among them have a shared desire: they wish to obtain Doctor Doom’s mask as a keepsake after helping the heroes defeat him.

In the heat of my battle against Doom, I found that he was more than a match for both the Avengers and the Masters, handling us quite effortlessly. Yet, it wasn’t this encounter itself that taught me a lesson, but rather an unexpected event at the Raft – the supervillain prison – which diverted our attention away. This situation underscores the potential pitfalls of working side by side with villains. After all, trying to get villains to cooperate is as challenging as herding cats, and history has shown us that such alliances can lead to costly mistakes, as demonstrated in the past attempts at villain team-ups. The Avengers would do well to remember this lesson.

Villain Teams Are Hives of Betrayal

Team-ups among villains have been a common theme since the inception of superheroes. These team-ups can manifest as full villain teams, or as duos and trios working together. The debut of Spider-Man’s Sinister Six in 1964 marked Marvel’s first foray into villain teams, followed by the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and the Masters of Evil. Regrettably, these teams demonstrate why villain alliances often falter. Rife with internal squabbles, their disunity makes them easy targets for heroes. In many major team-versus-team stories, the villains end up fighting each other more than they fight the heroes. This is frequently due to one or more wanting to be the leader, or believing their plan is superior and deviating from the original scheme. The primary issue with villains lies in their inherent greed; whether their goal is world domination or bank robberies, many villains are simply greedy individuals using their powers or resources to grab whatever they desire.

1. The desire of Doc Ock and MODOK to acquire Doom’s mask exemplifies the trivial covetousness common among supervillains. Their motivation seems more about boasting rights than any significant technological advantage the mask might offer. In essence, they’re after something that sets them apart from other villains – a sign of greed.

2. The Masters of Evil could prove disastrous for the Avengers if they team up with them. Ock and MODOK may have joined forces with the heroes for their own gain. It’s uncertain whether another member of the Masters might be working for Doom or switch allegiances during this collaboration.

3. In issue #3 of “One World Under Doom,” we learn that Doom managed to persuade global leaders to hand over control by offering them what they desired. This raises questions about potential negotiations between Doom and members of the Masters of Evil. Could Mordo secretly be on Doom’s side, promised powerful magical artifacts?

4. Arcade is primarily motivated by money, but Doom has plenty to spare. The situation presents too many unknown factors.

Will Ock and MODOK Come to Blows?

In simpler terms, Doc Ock and MODOK didn’t quite manage to obtain Doom’s mask; instead, they both clashed with a combined force of the Masters and the Avengers. It seems like this conflict isn’t over, as MODOK has been acting suspiciously, possibly intending to pursue the matter further regarding Doom’s mask. On the other hand, Doc Ock, who is currently the Superior Spider-Man, might be trying to show everyone that he still poses a threat as always. Moreover, this encounter could potentially lead to tensions between the Masters and the Avengers, hinting at future discord.

It’s clear that the Avengers and FF are in dire need of additional support against Doom. Yet, seeking assistance from the Masters of Evil is an extremely unwise move. The Masters of Evil have a history of disintegrating into quarreling villains without a dominant force to keep them in line. Ock and MODOK might simply be engaging in typical villainous power struggles, but their behavior could also signal something more ominous lurking ahead. It’s inevitable that the Avengers and Masters will fracture at some point, and this kind of situation might just be the catalyst for that breakdown.

One World Under Doom #3 is on sale now.

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2025-04-25 06:48