Warning: Spoilers for The Ultimates #6Doctor Doom is one of the most cowardly villains in Marvel lore, and his Ultimate Universe counterpart is believed to be the same. The Creator’s malicious treatment of him has made him consider himself lowly, but when the Ultimates need him most, he steps forward and shows that there is more to this version of Reed Richards than disgrace. Through his courageous actions, Doom of the Ultimate Universe reclaimed his name as that of a hero.
In The latest #6 by Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee and Travis Lanham, Iron Lad brings the Ultimates together for the first time to face the terrifying Hulk of the Ultimate Universe. However, upon arriving for battle, the team quickly realizes they are lost as Hulk and his allies make quick work of them. Their fate ends up in Doom’s hands, as he is the only member of the team who stayed behind instead of joining the fight. With the Ultimates’ lives at risk, Doom must find a way to save his allies before they meet an untimely end.
The Ultimate variant of Doom has long struggled with whether he is a force for good or “doom” as suggested by his name, but his efforts to rescue his teammates prove he is a vital hero for the Ultimates roster. .
“All Hope Lies in Doom”: Doom is officially the Ultimates’ most valuable hero
The Ultimates Network owes its continued existence to misfortune
The Ultimates get much more than they bargained for when they challenge the Hulk, whose Iron Fist powers elevate him to a level of threat beyond their wildest imaginations. Once Hulk’s attack begins, Doom loses communication with his Ultimates teammates. Abandoning his personal interests for now, he springs into action to find out how they are faring in their menacing fight with the Hulk. He accesses Iron Lad’s visual feed, just to see how much the heroes are being defeated by his opponent. Within seconds, Doom devises a plan to rescue the Ultimates from their own failed rescue mission, acting as their beacon of hope.
It’s sometimes difficult to see Reed Richards beneath the Doom mask he wears on his face, considering he acts so differently from his main universe counterpart in this alternate continuity. As he conducts elaborate calculations to save his team, the genius leader of the Fantastic Four shines through the armor that surrounds him. There is still a hero inside him, despite his outward appearance resembling the villain Doctor Doom. By working against impossible odds, Doom manages to bring them to safety before Ultimate Hulk can kill them all and defy the dark implications of his name.
Doctor Doom subverts his tragic new origin in the final universe
Doctor Doom sets out to prove he can save lives, not just condemn them
Doom suggesting that hope lies in him rather than doom marks a huge change for him considering the tragic nature of the Fantastic Four’s origin. In The latest #4, it is revealed that the Creator interfered in Reed Richards’ past and altered the calculations of his space travel with the Fantastic Four, resulting in their horrific deaths. Then, the Creator tormented Reed and convinced him that he brings nothing but destruction to those he loves, giving him the name Doom as a reminder of this. The name “Doom” takes on a much darker meaning in the Ultimate Universe and shapes how this version of Reed perceives himself.
Doom’s self-loathing is a product of the Creator’s torture. Even as he works to rescue his fellow heroes, he says: “One mistake and everyone’s dead. Again.” He saw how events unfolded, including the Creator’s actions, but he can’t help but blame himself for his family’s suffering. His recent insistence that hope resides within him demonstrates that he is taking strides to overcome the brainwashing the Creator instilled in him and reclaim his name as a message of optimism. However, although he tries to save every member of the Ultimates, a shocking death derails his plan to fully redeem himself.
Doctor Doom’s failure to save everyone cements his status as a harbinger of doom (or does it?)
Will Doom be worse off after letting another ally die?
The worst-case scenario happens after Doom manages to transport the Ultimates out of the fight. She-Hulk exclaims that Tony Stark is dead, having been killed by the monstrous Hulk. The loss of Iron Lad not only deprives the Ultimates of their leader; it also robs Doom of his closest confidant on the team. Now that he’s gone, Doom will no doubt blame himself for letting yet another ally die. Still, the Ultimate Universe Doctor Doom managed to save the others despite Iron Lad’s untimely death, redefining him to embody hope rather than just destruction – in everyone’s eyes but his own.
The latest #6 is now available from Marvel Comics.