Marvel Announces New Doctor Doom Powers, Ahead Of MCU Return

As Avengers: Doomsday approaches and more information about Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom’s is revealed, fans are eager for any details about the ultra-villain’s portrayal.

One of Marvel’s oldest villains, Doctor Doom is traditionally a master of both science and magic, utilizing incredibly powerful armor, robotic servants called Doombots, and spells on par with the Sorcerer Supreme.

However, the most recent depiction of Doctor Doom returns to a theme that’s existed across Fantastic Four history – the team’s greatest villains granting himself the power of Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing.

Doctor Doom Gains the Powers of the Fantastic Four

In today’s Ultimate Endgame #5 – from Deniz Camp, Jonas Scharf, Terry Dodson and Cory Petit – the Ultimate Universe’s Doom joins the final battle against the Maker. Breaking free from the villain’s control, Doom reveals that his hidden ‘Project 4’ has given him the combined powers of the original Fantastic Four.

In Earth-6160 lore, Doom is actually Reed Richards. After the Maker changed the Fantastic Four’s origin, their maiden voyage killed them rather than granting powers. The Maker then kidnapped and brainwashed Reed into ‘Doom’ using him as a captive scientific advisor.

This issue, Doom finally breaks free. Not ony does he help fight the Maker with fire, rocky skin, and invisible constructs, he actually accesses the Maker’s source of cosmic power, rewriting reality to defeat the villain and resurrect Peter Parker’s Spider-Man.

Doom dies as a result, but reclaims his identity as Reed Richards in the process, rejoining his murdered family in his last moments.

Doom’s Legacy Will Continue

Ultimate Universe: Finale ends with the shocking announced that, following an indefinite hiatus, Marvel will bring back the Ultimate Universe. It’s clear that when the Ult U returns, it will be without this version of Doctor Doom, however Reed’s legacy will still endure.

That’s because he has worked hard to create the Fantastic Force – an army of heroic superhumans broken up into quartets. These heroes helped to defeat the Maker, but now that his regime has collapsed, they’re be free to take the role of traditional heroes. Hopefully, when the Ultimate Universe returns, a new Fantastic Four title will explore this huge roster of heroes.

Ultimate Reed Richards Is Dead… But Victor von Doom Rises

While Earth-6160’s original Doctor Doom is dead, another is about to rise. Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee and Travis Lanham’s section of Ultimate Universe: Finale reveals that Victor von Doom has been in hiding during the rise of the Maker.

In this timeline, Victor avoided the spotlight due to a series of assassination attempts by the Maker. Now, he’s captured the final remnant of the villain and is ready to enact his own plans. The comic clearly sets up Victor von Doom as the ultimate threat for the next era of the franchise, though in an imprint built on surprise twists, nothing is certain.

The Ultimate Universe’s first era ends with Reed Richards’ Doctor Doom sacrificing himself to bring down the Maker, only to introduce Victor von Doom as a new ascendant threat.

Ultimate Endgame #5 and Ultimate Universe: Finale #1 are available now from Marvel Comics.