As everyone has probably noticed, Robert Downey Jr. returns for the next Avengers film. This time, however, he is not Iron Man but the iconic villain Dr. Doom. Why Dr. Doom could be more intense than Thanos is explained by MeinMMO with five examples.
Who is Dr. Doom, anyway? Victor von Doom is an iconic villain on Earth-616, often clashing with the Fantastic Four, but he has also faced off against other heroes in larger Marvel stories. His most distinctive feature is his green cloak and metal mask.
In the upcoming Avengers film, he will make his next cinema appearance in 2026. If you can’t wait until then, you can prepare by watching the Fantastic Four films from 2005, 2007, or 2015. Dr. Doom has the potential to become an even more intimidating villain than Thanos. Here are 5 reasons for that.
If you’re hungry for more before the next MCU movie, then maybe the X-Men are for you: All 14 X-Men and Deadpool films ranked
1. He is incredibly intelligent
While Thanos isn’t dumb, Dr. Doom is considered one of the smartest people on the planet. Like Reed Richards or Dr. Banner, he is also a gifted scientist. He is knowledgeable in many areas of science. For example, he has an army of AI robots and medical knowledge.
In addition to worldly knowledge, he is also a great wizard in some comics and could hold his own against Dr. Strange. Thus, he is familiar with many facets of the Avengers. Whether he has all of this in the MCU is still unclear. (via Marvel Database)
2. He has a personal problem with Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic)
Cool and calculating villains are loved by many, but it’s truly terrifying when someone is unpredictable. Dr. Doom is both of these. He hates Reed Richards so much that despite his intellect, he does things that are completely illogical.
In his solo comic series that ran from 2019 to 2020, Dr. Doom encounters a new universe where he is completely different. There, he is even friends with Reed Richards. This alternate reality cannot stand his current self, which is why he destroys the universe (via reddit). At another time, he sent Richards’ son to hell.
3. Dr. Doom bows to no one, not even Thanos
When comparing Dr. Doom to Thanos, one might initially think that he stands no chance. As Screen Rant shows, the two meet in the comic version of Secret Wars from 2015. In that encounter, Dr. Doom is insulted by Thanos. Doom asks him if he has the Infinity Gauntlet, to which he replies no, but he doesn’t need it.
Doom then tears Thanos’s skeleton out, causing him to turn to dust. Doom simply states: That seems wrong.
While Thanos in the MCU has his own moral code, Doom is mostly driven by his pride and desire for power. Although Dr. Doom is incredibly powerful here, the scene shows that he can achieve almost anything.
4. The political influence of Dr. Doom
Most villains in the MCU often operate away from Earth. Doom, on the other hand, is the head of the fictional state of Latveria. This gives Doom some political advantages, as you can read in the Marvel Database.
If Latveria is considered a sovereign state, then Doom has diplomatic immunity. The heroes, who mostly act within the laws, cannot touch him. He can also travel to the USA for political matters without being arrested. With Civil War and Winter Soldier, we have already had films with political themes; with Dr. Doom, it could be taken to an even higher level. In one comic story, he even attacked Wakanda for vibranium. A theme that was hinted at in the second Black Panther film.
5. He is at his core the evil Tony Stark
The casting of Robert Downey Jr. seems a bit confusing at first, but looking at the previous reasons, it fits very well. Dr. Doom has technology and armor comparable to Iron Man, he is arrogant, proud, and kneels to no one, and most importantly, due to his appearance, he has a personal history with well-known characters.
With the Hulk or Spider-Man, one could create a personal connection to the villain. Additionally, he combines most aspects of the MCU: he has technology, magic, and political power all in one. The beloved charm of Tony could be flipped in this case.
Even though we have to wait a while for the new Avengers film, Dr. Doom promises exciting stories. Are you looking forward to Dr. Doom or are you fed up with the MCU? Let us know in the comments. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans also have a history together outside of the films: Chris Evans turned down the role of Captain America several times – Until Robert Downey Jr. convinced him
