When most casual Marvel fans think of Doctor Doom, their minds are usually drawn to the image of a ruthless supervillain with a thirst for power and world domination. While Marvel certainly has its share of villains who are purely evil for the evil’s sake, most villains are actually quite complex characters that aren’t purely evil. And this also applies to Doctor Doom. He’s narcissistic, arrogant, prideful, vindictive, and obsessed with control. However, he’s not purely evil; beneath the imposing armor and sinister reputation lies a character with a surprising capacity for familial love and duty.
In fact, many consider that Dr. Doom is leagues ahead of Mr. Fantastic when it comes to familial relationships. In many instances, Doom’s devotion to those he cares about starkly contrasts Reed Richards’ detached and overly pragmatic approach to family life, even when it comes to Reed’s own daughter. So, in today’s discussion, we’ll dive into six instances where Doctor Doom proved he’s a better husband and father than Reed Richards.
He Saved Valeria Richards
Valeria Richards is the second child of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. She was conceived in the Negative Zone and began emitting bursts of deadly radiation that threatened both her and her mother.
In Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #54, Doom showed up and used a combination of magic and science to save the child’s life. Later in life, Valeria chose to move to Latveria and reside with Doom, who ended up raising her. He’s actually quite proud of succeeding where Reed failed, and he takes every opportunity to criticize Reed for his lack of parenting skills.
He’s Actually a Good Father Figure
After regaining the Latverian throne, Doom took the orphaned Kristoff, whose mother (a woman still loyal to Doom) was slain by a robot controlled by Doom’s political opponents. He adopted Kristoff as his protégé and eventual successor. He mentored Kristoff, imparting wisdom about leadership, power, and responsibility, but he also provided emotional support and education, as seen in Fantastic Four #258.
It’s worth noting that the two later clashed, but Doom had Kristoff crowned as the new Monarch of Latveria, as he himself was severely injured during the Fall of the Hulks. He advised Kristoff from the shadows until he completely regained his health and resumed his rule of Latveria once more.
He Attempted to Save Franklin Richards
In Fantastic Four #416, Doctor Doom receives a report of Onslaught kidnapping Reed Richards and Sue Storm’s son, Franklin Richards. Despite his long-time enmity with the Fantastic Four, Doom makes a genuine effort to save Franklin Richards from what’s clearly a life-threatening situation.
X-Men, Fantastic Four, and members of the Avengers, along with Dr. Doom, confronted Onslaught and destroyed his physical form, causing an explosion that seemingly killed them all. However, just moments before Onslaught was destroyed, Charles Xavier and Joseph (Magneto’s clone) managed to take Nate Grey and Franklin Richards to safety.
The Time He Saved His Mother from Hell
Reed Richards is truly a dedicated scientist, and his relentless pursuit of scientific discovery often leaves little room for familial devotion. Doom, on the other hand, is quite affectionate towards those he considers family, and we can witness one of the most compelling illustrations of his familial loyalty in Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment.
Namely, Doom’s mother, Cynthia von Doom, was killed by the demon Mephisto when Victor was young. Now, he teams up with Doctor Strange to enter Mephisto’s realm in an all-out effort to free his mother’s soul. This story really shows the complexity of Doctor Doom’s character, giving layers few villains have.
Doom Is a Benevolent Ruler
Though he rules the Kingdom of Latveria with an iron fist, Doom doesn’t abuse his power to subjugate his people. In fact, one of the biggest surprises with Doom is just how beloved he really is by his people. Now, that doesn’t usually happen with villains, so what gives?
As it turns out, as long as his subjects are loyal to him, he’ll treat them fairly. The Kingdom of Latveria has the highest employment rates and lowest crime rates than any other nation in the Marvel Universe, simply because the people are united under Doom. Not only that, but he has repeatedly placed the safety and property of the Latverian people above his own ambitions.
Now, this is something even Reed Richards couldn’t pull off when he took over Latveria in Fantastic Four #503.
He Wishes for a Better World
In 2015’s Secret Wars, Doom seized the Beyonders’ powers and forged a so-called perfect world from the shattered remnants of the Multiverse. While his methods were far from noble, his ultimate goal was to create a better, safer reality for all.
This highlights that Doom’s ambition isn’t fueled by a mere thirst for power but by a desire to correct the world’s flaws. A striking example of this appears in Doomwar #3, where Doom is brought before the Panther Goddess Bast, who threatens to devour him. However, upon examining his rule, Bast acknowledges that under his dominion, mankind has thrived. Despite his ruthless and often villainous methods, his intentions are judged as pure — earning him a reprieve from destruction.
Final Thoughts
Examining these six instances in comic book history proves that Doctor Doom has a tender and protective side. Given that Robert Downey Jr. has been announced as the next Doctor Doom, we really hope that upcoming Marvel releases highlight Doom’s complexities as a character that’s more than just the quintessential supervillain as portrayed in previous movies.