A new cover showcasing Doctor Doom’s new Hellfire Gala costume shows that while he’s often wrongly dismissed as a one-note villain, he possesses unique qualities that make him a joy in the right hands, and a character MCU fans should hope they don’t miss out on in favor of bigger but less idiosyncratic big bads.
Victor von Doom is the chief nemesis of the Fantastic Four – a master sorcerer, genius scientist, and brutal dictator whose political influence means that while his schemes can be stopped, he’s generally free to move right onto the next. Doom’s defining feature is his immense arrogance, outwardly believing himself to be the smartest and most noble man on the planet while secretly driven to distraction by the knowledge that Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, is his better. But one area where Doom can never be beaten is his iron will – a character trait that has seen him humble Marvel gods from Galactus to the Beyonder, become god of all reality, and destroy an entire universe rather than forgive his enemies.
In the hands of lesser creators, Doctor Doom is a pontificating blowhard who’s identical to any other villain, but many writers and artists use Victor’s aristocratic outlook as the key to making him one of Marvel’s most enjoyable characters. Doom is a cold-hearted killer, but it’s core to his identity that he’s also a gentleman, leading to hilariously cordial relationships with many heroes, including political discussions with Captain America, fine dining with X-Men’s Storm, and acting as a sincerely supportive ‘uncle’ to Valeria Richards, the daughter of his nemesis. While frustration quickly cracks his honorable facade, Doom’s sense of genuine superiority makes him the perfect foil for so many heroes, and that arrogance is dialed up to 11 in his amazing costume for the Hellfire Gala, designed by Russell Dauterman and appearing on the artist’s variant cover for Fantastic Four #45, from Dan Slott and Andrea Di Vito.
The costume sees Doctor Doom dressed in finery for the X-Men’s annual Hellfire Gala – a political event that promises to be packed with intrigue. Characters from Captain America and She-Hulk to real-life celebrities are expected to attend, with heroes and villains sporting high-fashion redesigns of their costumes. While Dauterman’s designs are typically jaw-dropping, Doctor Doom’s huge fur stole, angular mask, and militaristic brocade outfit get right to the heart of his unbelievable arrogance. Like the mirror image of the MCU’s Tony Stark, Doom’s gift for put-downs means that a highlight of the Hellfire Gala will simply be watching him interact with a room full of people he despises (a situation made all the more desirable by a preview that suggests Spider-Man will be pushing his buttons during the event.)
While it’s easy to see Doctor Doom as a simple villain screaming “RICHARDS!” at the slightest provocation, his arrogance makes him shockingly versatile, whether he’s stealing the secrets of the gods on the assumption no-one else can handle them, or struggling with the indignity of being bodyswapped with Rocket Raccoon. Doctor Doom is one of very few Marvel villains who can be legitimately funny and intimidating without sacrificing one for the other. MCU fans should hope that the movies’ cosmic threats don’t mean they miss out on Doctor Doom’s unparalleled verbal jousting, but either way, the upcoming Hellfire Gala event promises to depict him at his pompous, disdainful best.
Source: Russell Dauterman
Fantastic Four #45 is coming from Marvel Comics July 13.