As the Multiverse Saga pivots toward Avengers: Doomsday, the arrival of Victor von Doom has sparked a flurry of theories regarding his origin. Is he a variant? Is he a “Richards” from another branch? If we look at the source material and the current trajectory of the MCU, “something isn’t right” with the theory that Doom is a discarded version of Reed Richards.
The Richards Theory: Why the Math Doesn’t Add Up
The popular theory that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom is a Reed Richards variant who “turned bad” hits a major roadblock when looking at the comics. In the seminal runs by Jonathan Hickman specifically Fantastic Four #50 (Vol. 3) and the lead-up to 2015’s Secret Wars Doctor Doom’s identity is inextricably tied to his reverence for one person: Valeria Richards, Reed and Sue’s daughter.
Doom is not just a rival to the Fantastic Four; he is Valeria’s godfather. In the comics, he successfully delivered her when Reed could not, and he remains one of the few people she truly trusts. If the MCU follows the “God Emperor Doom” path, Doom isn’t after Reed’s life because he is Reed; he is after the “Sacred Timeline” to prove he is the superior architect of reality. Doom’s fondness for Valeria suggests that he views the Richards family as a legacy he deserves to rule over, not a lineage he belongs to.
Dimensional Travel and the Grimoires of Wakanda: The Thoth Connection
With Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, we learned that dimensional travel is no longer the “impossible” feat it once was. This opens the door for a Doom who has already conquered his own timeline and is now looking for “The Bridge” the device from the Hickman era that allows one to look across the Multiverse.
But where does the magic come from? In the MCU, the Jabari who shun Vibranium technology may be the keepers of a “Wakandan Grimoire” or perhaps the lost Book of Thoth. In comic lore (Black Panther vol. 1 #1), we see the existence of King Solomon’s Frogs, ancient brass artifacts capable of warping time and space. Doom’s pursuit of these isn’t just about travel; it’s about the “mystic properties” of Vibranium itself.
Doom once famously told T’Challa that while the world sees Vibranium as a mere metal, the Wakandans worship it. He understands that Vibranium is not just a conductor of energy, but a conductor of the soul and the spirit world (the Ancestral Plane). By combining the tech of Solomon’s Frogs with the soul-binding properties of Vibranium, Doom hopes to “change everything” not just the physical world, but the very fabric of the afterlife and the Sacred Timeline.
The Return of the Tech: Shang-Chi and the Eternals
The beacon at the end of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings remains one of the MCU’s biggest hanging threads. Many speculate the signal is calling the Eternals or perhaps a variation of them. The “Ten Rings” and Ms. Marvel’s “Bangles” feature tech that feels “as old as time” reminiscent of Celestial craftsmanship.
If Doom is hunting for the ultimate power source to fuel his “Doomsday” device, these ancient artifacts are the logical target. He isn’t just looking for world domination; he’s looking for the blueprints of the universe.
The Thor Factor: Is it Too Early for the Rune?
While many fans are clamoring for Rune King Thor, the MCU timeline suggests it might be too early for this phase. Rune Thor (seen in Thor #84) represents the absolute end of the character’s journey a version that has sacrificed everything for ultimate wisdom.
To move Thor into the Rune phase now would skip the necessary tension of the Multiverse Saga. Thor needs to face Doom as a warrior-king first. The “Old Comic” timelines suggest that Thor’s evolution into a cosmic entity usually happens as a response to a reality-ending threat. Doom is that threat, but Thor’s “Rune” transformation should be the final card played in Secret Wars, not the opening move in Doomsday.
What Doom Hopes to Find
Ultimately, Victor von Doom is after Order. In Fantastic Four #611, Doom famously sees a future where the only way humanity survives is under his mask. In the MCU, he likely views the “Sacred Timeline” and the “Council of Reeds” (if they appear) as chaotic failures. He doesn’t want to be a Richards; he wants to be the one who saves the Richards from themselves.
