The MCU Really Wants You To Think Doctor Doom Is Secret Wars' Villain

Doctor Doom has long been the Fantastic Four's greatest antagonist, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe keeps dropping hints that Victor Von (Doctor) Doom is in the MCU, and he's secretly the main villain of Avengers: Secret Wars. The ruler of Latveria and Reed Richard's arch-nemesis has been a staple of Marvel comics for decades, and viewers have wanted to see him in the MCU for quite some time. With Secret Wars established as the next major conflict and culmination of Phases 4, 5, and 6, it seems highly likely that Kang the Conqueror may actually be overshadowed as the ultimate villain by Doom.

Victor Von Doom is historically a Fantastic Four antagonist, but he has also been a major threat to the Avengers throughout Marvel comics continuity. Until Disney's buyout of 20th Century Fox, Kevin Feige's MCU did not have the rights to use the Doctor Doom character, so he was never a threat to the original Avengers like Iron Man or Captain America. However, the character does appear in the three Fox Fantastic Four movies where he is less than comic-accurate. The comic version of Doom is the ruler of the fictional country, Latveria, which borders Sokovia, and has seen him team up with Namor of Atlantis and maintain a frosty relationship with Wakanda's Black Panther.

For avid readers of Marvel comics, there are several clues that hint toward Doom being Phase 6's ultimate antagonist. From the early introduction of Sokovia in Phase 2 to the conflict between Namor and the new Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, all signs point to Doom's introduction. Whether at the tail end of Phase Four in Wakanda Forever, in Phase 5, or in Matt Shakman's Fantastic Four reboot, Doctor Doom is almost certainly coming and Marvel is strongly hinting that he is the real big bad of Secret Wars.

Fantastic Four’s Timing Couldn’t Be More Appropriate For Doom’s Return

Shakman's new Fantastic Four movie is one of only four MCU projects announced so far for Phase 6, alongside Deadpool 3, Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, and Avengers: Secret Wars. With Fantastic Four listed as the final MCU film before the double movie event that concludes the Multiverse Saga: Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars, it could reveal who the real villain will be. It is very likely that the MCU's Doctor Doom will appear in Fantastic Four, as his origin is sometimes tied to the event that gave them superpowers. Even if Doom does not appear in the MCU sooner, appearing in Fantastic Four would totally set him up for a larger role in Secret Wars, just two movies later.

The Kang Dynasty Can’t Repeat Infinity War’s Shocking Ending

Thanos' defeat of the Avengers at the end of Avengers: Infinity War remains one of the most shocking moments in MCU history. As Marvel attempts to recapture the success of Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, it seems likely that another shocking cliffhanger ending will take place between Kang Dynasty and Secret Wars. However, Kang defeating the Avengers would be too similar to the way Thanos "blipped" half the universe in Infinity War. Instead, Doctor Doom's connection to the Secret Wars comic and his introduction in Fantastic Four hints that Kang Dynasty's twist ending could actually be Victor Von Doom overthrowing Kang the Conqueror to become the ruler of the multiverse.

Clues Doctor Doom Is Behind Wakanda Forever’s Namor Attack

Doom has always had a tense relationship with T'Challa and Wakanda, built on begrudging respect in the comics. He has also allied himself with Namor several times, though that relationship too often falls apart. Despite T'Challa passing away in the MCU, Wakanda Forever's plot with the warring between Atlantis and Wakanda could reveal that Doctor Doom is pulling the strings in the conflict between Namor and Wakandan leaders Princess Shuri, Nakia, and Okoye. This is in line with his ambitious nature in the comics and his tendency to manipulate others to achieve his goals.

In addition, 1998's Black Panther #27 seems to be a big source of inspiration for the film, as that comic sees Wakanda and Atlantis go to war, something reflected in Wakanda Forever's conflict between Wakanda and Talocan, Namor's kingdom. That comic also sees Doom weigh in and threaten war from Latveria. His close alignment with Namor and grudge against T'Challa in the comics are the perfect foundation to have Doom appear, even if he is only in Ryan Coogler's Black Panther sequel in a cameo role.

Ultron And Zemo Secretly Foreshadowed Latveria’s MCU Debut

The Marvel comics universe has introduced many fictional countries including Madripoor, Wakanda, Latveria, and more. Of these, only Latveria has yet to make its MCU debut, though its neighboring province of Sokovia was introduced all the way back in Phase 2, where the country was a major part of the villainous AI Ultron's plan to destroy the Earth. The introduction of so many Sokovian characters, Baron Zemo, Wanda, and Pietro Maximoff perfectly set up bringing Latveria into the MCU. In the comics, it is located in Eastern Europe, not far from Sokovia, and is strongly associated with Doctor Doom, who serves as its ruler. Introducing Sokovia so early on was clearly no accident and perhaps Kevin Feige was playing the long game in Avengers: Age of Ultron with the intention of one day bringing Doctor Doom into the MCU.

Doctor Doom Is The Ultimate Villain Of The Secret Wars Comic

Of course, the most blatant foreshadowing that Doom will be the villain of Secret Wars is the decision for the Multiverse Saga to adapt the Secret Wars story at all. 2015's Secret Wars comic book event famously saw the 616 and Ultimate universes collide, with Doctor Doom taking pieces from each to rule over an amalgamation called Battleworld, where he rules as God Emperor Doom. While Marvel does not usually adapt comics with 100% accuracy, Doom is such a vital part of that story that it seems likely that he will overthrow Kang and become the final antagonist of the MCU Multiverse Saga, much like Thanos was in the Infinity Saga. Hints about Doctor Doom's existence in the MCU stretch all the way back to Phase 2. And comic canon as well as the need to mix up Infinity War's ending suggest that Avengers: Secret Wars will conclude with a battle against Battleworld's Doctor Victor Von Doom.

Next: The MCU's Secret Wars Line-Up (As We Already Know It)