Warning: Spoilers for The Ultimates #4Doctor Doom has a reputation for being the Fantastic practice The most terrible enemy, but the Ultimate Universe only reroutes its beginning, changing something fundamental about the iconic Marvel villain. The story of how Reed Richards became Doctor Doom is finally toldAnd it gives the name “doom” a dark new meaning.
in The Ultimates #4 by Deniz Camp and Phil Noto The origin of Earth-6160’s Doctor Doom is finally revealed. Through glimpses into four stages of Doom’s life, readers—and Doom himself—get to see his story unfold. In a cruel twist of fate, Reid’s friends and family face gruesome, untimely deaths as a result of his mistakes. Eventually, the Maker captures Reed and tortures him, referring to him as Doom. When Reed repeatedly denies that he is Doom, the Maker insists that Doom is more than just his name. It is what he inflicts on others.
By these unfortunate words, The name of Doctor Doom is completely redefined in a tragic wayTurning it into a constant reminder for Reed that he is dooming his loved ones.
Doctor Doom’s haunting backstory redefines his name forever
Reed Richards is “doom” to everyone he gets close to
Many Ultimates Readers will know the origin story of the Fantastic Four, but events are different in Earth-6160. Due to the Maker’s interference, when Reed Richards leads his teammates on their space expedition, he becomes the sole survivor. As the Maker explains during his torture, Reed doomed his loved ones by pursuing their mission despite being repeatedly urged against it, and so he bears the title of Doctor Doom as a twisted reminder of his mistakes. A name that was known to strike fear has become a symbol of guilt and sorrowRecontextualizing doom.
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The Maker may have changed the path of every Marvel hero, but he clearly saved the worst torment of all for Doom.
Grief over the loss of the Fantastic Four is what defines the Final Universe’s version of Doom, and he’s left feeling like something in his life is missing. Hoping to fill the gaping hole in him, Dum experiments on rats by giving them the fantastic four mutations. His efforts have so far been fruitless, with his experiments only killing rats over and over, but he refuses to give up. Doom’s purpose is to restore what was taken from himAnd he will achieve this goal no matter the cost.
The Ultimate Universe gives Reed Richards his darkest origin yet as Doctor Doom
The Ultimates #4 Variant Cover by Rod Reis
The Maker may have changed the path of every Marvel hero, but he clearly saved the worst torment of all for Doom. His revenge against Reed turns him into his greatest enemy, and the name Doom represents how his actions doomed his family. The heartbreaking new take on Doctor Doom’s origin is also a subversion of Reed Richards, with his guilt consuming him rather than fueling the formation of the Fantastic Four. Now that he knows what the maker took from him, Doctor Doom will stop at nothing to avenge the lives he believes he has condemned.
The Ultimates #4 is available now from Marvel Comics.
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THE ULTIMATES #4 (2024) |
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