One of the modern Marvel Universe's first ever villains, Doctor Doom has grown in complexity over the decades. While he's still a megalomaniac who wants to rule the universe, he's also saved it countless times, even working alongside the Avengers when he judges their cause worthy.
In recent comics, Doom has gone even further than that, founding his own Avengers roster to save reality itself. Now, playing the role of a hero, the former dictator is getting some recognition for his efforts.
Spider-Man Renames Doctor Doom 'Captain Latveria'
In a new preview for Godzilla Conquers the Multiverse #1 - from Gerry Duggan, Javier Garrón, David Curiel - Doctor Doom gathers his Avengers of Doom for a mission to free Earth-616 from the control of Knull and Godzilla. As Miles Morales leaves to gather the team, he addresses Doom as 'Captain Latveria.'
The half-mocking name references the fact that - in gathering a team of Avengers to save the world - Doom is acting in the role usually reserved for Steve Rogers' Captain America. The comic underlines the differences between the two as Doom gives a grandiose speech to his team, made up of a selection of heroes, villains and antiheroes who he believes will be useful on his multiversal hunt.
The Avengers of Doom (Doctor Doom's Anti-Godzilla Taskforce)
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Hero/Villain
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Powers/Abilities
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First Appearance
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Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom)
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Master of both science and mysticism
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1962's Fantastic Four #5
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Kang the Conqueror (Nathaniel Richards)
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Time-traveler with access to advanced technology
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1964's Avengers #8
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The White Queen (Emma Frost)
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World-class telepath, can transmute body into diamond-like substance
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1979's X-Men #129
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The Human Torch (Johnny Storm)
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Can generate cosmic fire and create sophisticated constructs out of flame
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1961's Fantastic Four #1
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Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes)
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Can generate and control mystic Hellfire, can imbue any mount with Hellfire, including living beings
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2014's All-New Ghost Rider #1
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Spider-Man (Miles Morales)
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Enhanced strength and agility, spider-sense, energy blasts, limited invisibility
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2011's Ultimate Fallout #4
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Man-Thing (Ted Sallis)
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Enhanced strength, healing factor, size-changing, multiversal travel, supernatural acid
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1971's Savage Tales #1
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The Punisher (Frank Castle)
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Expert combatant with mastery of guerrilla warfare
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1973's Amazing Spider-Man #129
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Herr Kagelmacher
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"The world's most talented baker" - an employee of Doctor Doom whose treats are being used to bribe Man-Thing
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2026's Godzilla: Infinity Roar #5
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Miles' nickname for Doom also draws the reader's attention to the fact that the villain may well have his own agenda beyond saving reality. While Doctor Doom's quest to defeat Knull is to the benefit of humanity, will he really stop once his rival is defeated, or will he use his freshly assembled kaiju menagerie to subjugate the planet in Knull's place?
While Doom's goals align with the heroic Spider-Man's, Miles is seemingly aware that won't last for long, and wants Doom to know that there's no chance of mistaking him for Steve Rogers.
Doctor Doom's Kaiju Army Is Coming
As Doctor Doom sets out to capture his own anti-Godzilla kaiju army, fans are hungry to see what his candidates will look like. The only member fans have seen so far is a Wolverine-esque Godzilla with gigantic claws, bringing Dave Wachter's variant cover for Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe #4 into canon.
However, writer Gerry Duggan has also teased that Mothra will appear in a celebration of the character's 60th anniversary, and a new version of Mechagodzilla is rumored to be on the cards.
Duggan has also promised a "Mecha Fin Fang Foom" with adamantium skin, and previews have shown a bright red Godzilla and Rodan battling Giganto. It seems that Marvel's own kaiju will be as central to this story as those from Godzilla lore. Doom's Avengers will also battle corrupted heroes, with the "symbiote Fantastic Four" seemingly playing a significant role in the story.
Marvel's Godzilla Trilogy Is So Brutal, Doctor Doom Is the Good Guy
In Godzilla Destroys the Marvel Universe and Godzilla: Infinity Roar, Godzilla took down every Marvel hero and villain who might have defeated him, from the assembled Avengers and X-Men to Odin and Dormammu. Now, Doctor Doom is all that's left.
The final entry in Marvel's ambitious Godzilla trilogy has arrived, with the fate of not just Earth-616 in the balance, but the entire multiverse. As Doctor Doom plays the hero, Miles has christened him 'Captain Latveria,' but can the Fantastic Four's nemesis live up to that title, or will his villainous instincts inevitably win out?
Godzilla Conquers the Multiverse #1 is coming July 22 from Marvel Comics.
English (US) ·