A brand-new trailer for “Avengers: Doomsday” debuted online last week, confirming that, as is common knowledge among the comic book community, Victor Werner von Doom (Robert Downey Jr.) is not one to mess with. Claiming that hell answers to him after stopping Oathbreaker, like Thor (Chris Hemsworth) was swinging a broom at him, it’s clear that the new big bad of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a threat that perhaps even Thanos (Josh Brolin) might’ve had trouble with.
A man of magic and science, Doom has been a longtime threat in Marvel history, with not only a suit of armor with all kinds of abilities, but also a master of manipulation and a god complex so big he’s actually managed to become one. Hard as it might be to believe, though, there are beings of both good and evil that, if they wanted to, could send the Lord of Latveria packing. After careful study, we’ve picked a quintet of quintessential characters that are in the MCU already or have yet to make their live-action arrival and, in the most scientific terms, tear Doom a new one.
Besides breaking down just how much trouble these characters could cause Victor, we’re also using this list as an opportunity to highlight why these prized potential fighters could end up becoming great additions to the MCU. With the time of mutants on the horizon and other realities collapsing into the one we’ve been watching since 2008, these contenders could bring something extra special to the franchise, besides giving Doom a whooping.
Beyonder
As mentioned, Doom has dared to challenge a number of godlike beings, and one such individual was the Beyonder. Making his debut in “Secret Wars” #1 back in 1984, this omnipotent being created Battleworld as a place for all manner of Marvel friends and foes to get in a super-sized scuffle. Naturally, the godlike ability to warp reality and matter to his will made the Beyonder’s power set something Doom was interested in having for himself, which is why, through his technological know-how, he managed to steal the Beyonder’s powers, turning him mortal. It wasn’t long, though, before the deity-like world builder took his powers back and vanished to parts unknown.
Years later, Doom would try to replicate the Beyonder’s efforts in his own way, leading to the 2015 “Secret Wars” event, which many anticipate the sequel to “Avengers: Doomsday” will adapt, rather than the swinging ’60s version. Even then, though, Doom was unable to mirror the Beyonder’s abilities on his own and imprisoned another equally powerful individual (who will be appearing on this list) to get the job done. This alone proves that while Victor has often stood in the presence of and wielded the power of gods on occasion, it’s never something he’s been able to do off his own back. Doom might be powerful, but as much as he’d hate to admit it, even he needs a hand when it means trying to reach god-mode.
Franklin Richards
He might have only made a small appearance in “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but make no mistake, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue Storm’s (Vanessa Kirby) son, Franklin Richards, is one of the most powerful beings in the Marvel universe. Making his debut in 1968, Franklin wields powers on par with the Celestials, feared by both them and even Galactus. Besides possessing high levels of both telepathy and telekinesis, Franklin can manipulate matter and alter reality itself, allowing him to create pocket dimensions on a whim. He’s also been known to change his own power set, leading him to alter his own genes and abilities, which can be a double-edged sword.
With all these skills under his belt, it makes sense why Franklin could play such a significant part in “Avengers: Doomsday,” and perhaps even explain how Doom is hopping between realities. Once again, though, this might further prove that while Doom is a powerful foe, he accomplishes his goals through manipulation and the abuse of others’ powers.
We know from the post-credit scene in “First Steps” that the newest addition to the Richards family has been kidnapped, which is why the First Family is on a collision course with the Avengers and the rest of the MCU’s heroes. Perhaps, given how Franklin saved his mother in the final moments of the superteam’s cinematic debut, the little fella could also undo some of the damage Doom has wrought before “Avengers: Secret Wars” begins.
Jean Grey
She might seem like a manageable foe for Doom to face in the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now, but given her recent power adjustment, it’s safe to say that Sadie Sink’s Jean Grey is on the road to becoming one of the strongest characters in the MCU — even more so than Doom. Initially able to telepathically body-hop across great distances (within 33 feet, of course), “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” upped her power set to a level we’re more familiar with, and it’s likely to only get greater from there if the franchise sticks to the comics.
Jean is an Omega-level mutant, possessing incredible telepathy and telekinesis, which can cause understandable issues for Doom. The masked villain might possess impressive scientific and magical intellect, but he could struggle against Jean’s abilities when Sink will reprise her role in “Avengers: Secret Wars.”
That’s also not even considering the inclusion of an entity that has a lengthy history with Jean but ha yet to appear in the MCU — the Phoenix Force. While a separate being all its own that has taken over numerous individuals in the Marvel universe, Jean’s transformation into Phoenix is the most notable, wreaking havoc on worlds and killing millions across the universe while she served as its host. That’s the kind of foe Doom, in his most basic form, wouldn’t stand a chance against, and we can only hope to see him struggle with such an encounter when it happens for real.
Molecule Man
Another big player in the “Secret Wars” story who may or may not appear in the movies is Owen Reece, aka Molecule Man. Another gifted individual leagues above many of Marvel’s greatest, Reece can — you guessed it — control and manipulate molecules, letting him do just about anything with the universe and reality itself.
It’s this nifty party trick that Doom used in the 2015 comic event that led the Latverian leader to create Battleworld, leading to various heroes bending the knee before Reed Richards and others fought back to set things right. When Mister Fantastic finally faced off against Doom, Reece stripped Doom of his powers to ensure a fair fight, leaving Doom just being the regular cape-loving lunatic who referred to himself in third person.
Once again, a person with this kind of power could topple Doom, much to his frustration. It’s perhaps because of Reece’s complex history and capabilities in the Marvel universe, though, that he won’t be making an appearance in “Avengers: Secret Wars” when it debut in December 2027. Rummaging around in different realities feels like something that Franklin is more than capable of doing, and we can only imagine that when it does happen, Doom will have to face the consequences when the good guys try to turn the tide and restore the multiverse.
Blue Marvel
Perhaps the coolest character on this list, and one who is in desperate need of an appearance in the MCU, is Adam Brashear, aka Blue Marvel. After being caught in the explosion of an antimatter project, Brashear was gifted with the standard abilities of invulnerability, super strength (he can lift up to 93,000 tons), and super speed, as well as the ability to fire concussive energy bolts. Nothing new there, right?
He also has telekinesis, matter and antimatter manipulation, and absorption. The antimatter energy he can control and distribute actually comes from the Negative Zone, which has yet to make an appearance in the MCU, just like the hero in question. As far as brains go, it’s a tough battle, given that even one of Doom’s sworn enemies, Reed Richards, has admitted that Adam and Victor share the same level of intellect. Of course, this isn’t just a battle of brains — it will require pure, power-infused brawn to beat Doom, in which case Adam has the edge.
While Doom might be well-versed in the dark arts of magic that the Avengers will soon get a tough lesson in, Adam can expel one gram of anti-matter energy that packs the same punch as a nuclear bomb and wields enough energy to power New York City for 24 hours. Unfortunately, even with all this at his disposal, there’s no sign of the Blue Marvel making an appearance any time soon, what with the imminent arrival of Ghost Rider and a new roster of X-Men taking the spotlight.
