‘Avengers: Doomsday’s Comic-Con Footage Just Answered A Serious MCU Question
Avengers: Doomsday (2026) is the first time we are seeing Doctor Doom in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that comes with many pros a nd a few serious cons. One of the biggest being that Doom is technically a Fantastic Four villain, but this film has to focus on at least three different teams.
As a result, many thought that Doom and Reed Richards wouldn’t have the shared history they did in the comics. But the footage shown at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con gave us a clear view of what to expect while also putting to rest a longstanding concern.
The New ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Footage Establishes and Changes Doctor Doom
One thing that audiences are more curious than ever about is who Doctor Doom is as a character. Aside from knowing he’s a powerful Fantastic Four villain, most of what we know about the character comes from the movies that poorly adapted him.
In the footage from SDCC, Sue Storm talks about how he was once a good person who had to be the smartest person in the room. But when he lost someone close to him, he changed and became the villain we all know. It also confirmed just how close Reed and Victor were, as they talk on a first-name basis and seemed to be friends for some time.
The big change, however, is that while it may be likely the death of his mother changed him, as in the comics, it could also be the loss of a wife and child that puts him on a destructive path. This change makes Doom far more grounded than ever and is a great parallel, as Reed now has everything that Doom lost so long ago.
Reed Richards and Doctor Doom’s History Is Important in the Marvel Universe
When it comes to the core foundations of the Marvel comics, everything begins and ends with the rivalry between Reed Richards and Doctor Doom. It was the main focus of the 2015 Secret Wars event, and even after, the two have always remained close.
While the movies often blame Reed for Doom’s scarred face, he actually had nothing to do with it. It was Doom’s hubris that established his current state as he tried to find his mother’s soul. But Reed, being who he is, was a natural intellectual rival Doom always wanted to get the upper hand on.
To have Doom and Reed share the screen without a history undermines everything we love about the Marvel Universe, and that’s why it’s so important to solidify their connection as early as possible. Doom’s pride always got in his way in ways it never did for Reed, and it always put them at odds.
Avengers: Doomsday can show that in action and how Doom’s logic may make sense, but his vanity will always define him more so and lead to his mistakes and downfall. Reed is also the only one who would see what Doom is up to, even if he’s too late to stop his initial moves.
Having Doom and Reed Being Connected Saves ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Before we saw any trailers for Avengers: Doomsday, there were heavy rumors that Doom and Reed wouldn’t be connected or even a focus in the new film. Naturally, this caused concern as both characters are so intrinsically linked. But with its new trailer and the SDCC footage, it confirms something that not only should happen but could save the film.
Avengers: Infinity War (2018) was both Thanos’ movie and the culmination of years of anxiety Tony Stark endured since The Avengers (2012). Thanos’ impact wouldn’t have been nearly as great if we didn’t see Stark facing a fear that built up for years.
Doomsday will absolutely be a Doctor Doom film, but every protagonist needs an antagonist and, in this instance, that’s Reed Richards. He may be the hero, but their connection is timeless, and he has to naturally challenge our villain.
This both solidifies just how tightly connected they are but also gives the film the emotional center it needs to work. There is no Doom without Reed, and vice versa, and with a short snippet of footage, fans can rest easy knowing that relationship is both intact and still important.
Heroes from three different worlds must unite when they’re thrust together to confront a catastrophic danger that could destroy everything they know.
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