Doom's Cinematic Debut: Seven Traits for Marvel's Doctor Doom

My passion for comic books has grown over the years, a hobby you might already know about if you follow Gamereactor's Lifestyle section or have read previous articles like "10 Comic Books or Graphic Novels Every Marvel Fan Should Read." This enthusiasm for the medium has deepened my interest in adaptations, as I sincerely hope that characters and storylines are presented in a way that honors the original source material. While minor inaccuracies in less prominent characters or events might be forgiven and rectified in future adaptations, it's crucial for major figures and icons that they are accurately portrayed from the outset. Ultimately, we must strive to avoid a "Supergirl" situation at all costs.

This brings me to the purpose of this article. With "Avengers: Doomsday" on the horizon, I wanted to offer a list of elements I'd love to see in Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal, ensuring this legendary character is more of a formidable "Emperor-God" and less like the peculiar golem-like creature embodied by Toby Kebbell in the frankly awful 2015 Fantastic Four adaptation.

Firstly, however, both the naming of the project and statements from Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige have repeatedly indicated that the ultimate goal of "Avengers: Doomsday" and "Avengers: Secret Wars" (slated for 2027) will be to adapt Jonathan Hickman's "Secret Wars" comic series. For those unfamiliar, "Secret Wars" is a monumental narrative arc that essentially reorganizes Marvel's chaotic multiverse into a single, more cohesive entity, incorporating elements from various pre-existing universes and realms. It begins with the collapse of the multiverse, after which Doctor Doom, wielding powers stolen from the Beyonder, assembles disparate elements to forge his own twisted domain, known as Battleworld. Subsequently, the surviving heroes unite to thwart Doom's nefarious plan and reshape the universe into something more natural and recognizable. It's not entirely a spoiler to say the heroes eventually succeed (it's a comic book story, after all), but this process comes at a cost and necessitates an all-powerful version of Doom, known as God Emperor Doom.

If this is the direction we're heading, likely by the end of *Doomsday* to set the stage for *Secret Wars*, then it's clear we need a highly authentic version of Doom as our starting point. Here are seven character traits of Doctor Doom that I'd love to see brought to life, drawing inspiration from comic book stories where Doom takes center stage (Secret Wars, various Fantastic Four runs, One-Shots like 'One World Under Doom,' the list is extensive).

1. Doom Must Not Show His Face... Under Any Circumstances

To begin, let's focus on the mask. Doom does not show his face, unless someone rips the mask from his defeated, lifeless body. This is non-negotiable. Unless it's a flashback or an origin scene explaining how Victor Von Doom became Doctor Doom, I do not want to see Downey Jr.'s face without the concealing mask. Anyone familiar with Doom from the comics knows that one of his primary vulnerabilities is the shame he carries about his scarred appearance; the mask safeguards his immense ego and ensures no one witnesses the broken man beneath. As such, if we end up with a Doom who frequently removes his mask despite the repercussions, the adaptation is a failure. When he is Doctor Doom, the mask stays on... always.

2. Doctor Doom is Intellectually Unmatched (Even if Richards Thinks He Has an Equal), and a Master of Both Magic and Science

The second point is that Doctor Doom must be one of the smartest individuals in the room at all times. One of Doom's most terrifying aspects is that he has precious few rivals in terms of pure intellectual capacity. There's a reason the Fantastic Four and Doom are so intrinsically linked: it's because the smartest man in the universe (Reed Richards) needs a worthy adversary, and that adversary is Doom. He's an incredibly intelligent villain, a character capable of fighting on multiple fronts, masking his true intentions behind layers upon layers of cunning and schemes, all while wielding mastery over both magic and science. Doom should be nearly impossible to defeat in a one-on-one confrontation, whether in physical combat or a battle of wits, and having a legion of well-crafted and deadly Doom Bots significantly contributes to making even teams of heroes seem outmatched.

3. Layers Upon Layers: Doom's Motivations and Methods Should Never Be Obvious

On this point, Doom should never have his intentions clearly laid bare. From the moment we encounter him, it's essential that we never truly know his motivations or his secrets. He will almost certainly pose as an ally, someone the heroes can team up with, only to betray them when it suits him, and that's why Doom should not be a one-dimensional villain: he must have layers upon layers of schemes, plots, plans, and traps laid out so that nobody ever really knows where he stands.

4. He Must Fight for a Cause That Is, In Some Way, Admirable...

And another similar point: one of the things that makes Doom so intriguing as a character is that he is, in some way, admirable. Doom is undoubtedly a malevolent and self-serving villain, driven by a thirst for power, but he also possesses good ideas and often a cause that one can, in some way, get behind. Much like Thanos, whose genocidal plans were underpinned by a comprehensible motive, Doom must also be a contradictory personality to contend with. You'll want to hate him, you should hate him, but at the same time, there will be moments where you can't help but wonder, "Isn't he kind of right?"

5. ...Yet He Still Has Moments Where He Shows His Violence, Brutality, and True Nature

But here's the thing: as admirable as Doom might be at times, he is a villain, one of the most powerful there is, and that needs to be demonstrated. A show of force is sometimes in order, and you may have heard of that story where Doom rips out Thanos's spine; an iconic moment like that, taken from Secret Wars, will do wonders for showcasing Doom's true power and strength, especially if he reaches God Emperor status, which we sincerely hope for if Secret Wars is to be as faithful as possible to the source material. Another interesting example could come in the form of a human sacrifice, as Doom is not above trading lives for power; thus, brutally demonstrating this by sacrificing Franklin Richards, for instance, could be a striking and terrifying way to attain the necessary power for God Emperor status and the creation of Battleworld, especially since the Beyonder has yet to be introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Provided Valeria Richards is untouched, of course, as Doom's goddaughter is his greatest treasure.

6. Doom Is Not Just the Ruler, Protector, and Savior of Latveria, He Is So for Earth As Well

Doom would not be Doom without a populace upon which to exert his dominion. Doom needs an audience to boast to, a people who celebrate him (primarily out of fear of reprisal), and it must be made clear that this populace is not limited to Latveria, Doom's nation, but encompasses the entirety of Earth. Doom considers Earth to be his planet and his domain; thus, it stands to reason that, even if the powers that be may see him merely as the ruler of Latveria, in his mind, he is the rightful sovereign, ruler, protector, and savior of the entire Earth, a planet he should be able to shape according to his own vision.

7. A T-Rex as a Mount Wouldn't Hurt...

Finally, and this may be a bit of a stretch, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe does love its wacky and out-there ideas. Wouldn't it be fun if, during Doom's climactic battle against the heroes, he presented a rebellious companion, a variant of Doom in the form of a Tyrannosaurus Rex? It might sound ridiculous, but in the latest Fantastic Four series, the legendary Doomasaurus made an appearance to aid Doom in his battles against Marvel's First Family, before the two turned on each other due to a clash of egos. Doom eventually overpowered Dinosaur Doom, bending the reptile's will to his own, before using the formidable beast as a mount during a frenzied battle. So, again, wouldn't it be a bit of fun to see Dino Doom make an appearance?

Did we miss anything? Are there any other key character traits you'd love to see in Downey Jr.'s portrayal of Doom? If so, be sure to let us know.