Marvel character highlight #11: Dr. Doom

Name: Victor von Doom

Affiliation: Parliament of Doom, Dark Cabal, Knights of the Atomic Table, Fantastic 4, Masters of Evil, Future Foundation

Special abilities: Genius-level intellect, with specialty in scientific and technological matters, superhuman strength (while wearing the Doom armor), diplomatic immunity as head of a foreign sovereign state, and mastery of mysticism and magic enough to hold his own against a Sorcerer Supreme.

Background: Doctor Doom began his life in the nation of Latveria, which he now rules over as dictator. His mother was killed in a botched agreement with Mephisto, and his father was killed after they fled the area after a noblewoman died in Victor’s care. Doom’s genius allowed him to attend any school of his choice in the world, and he was offered a scholarship to State University in New York. It was here that he met his eternal rival and former best friend, Reed Richards (later Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four), and Ben Grimm (later the Thing of the Fantastic Four).

While enrolled in school, Doom began working on a device that would allow him to retrieve his mother’s soul from Mephisto’s realm. However, he miscalculated during its construction, which Richards attempted to warn him about. The device exploded, scarring Doom’s face horribly. After the accident, he was expelled for unauthorized experiments and left the country to travel the world.

Doom made it to a Tibetan village, where he mobilized the monks living there to create a suit of armor. The magically forged suit allowed Doom to conquer his native country and overthrow the leadership. With his base of operations set, Doom set about improving the country and eventually taking over the world.

Because he blames Reed Richards for his life-changing accident, Doom has clashed with him and the Fantastic Four numerous times in his quest to rule the world. He has also fought the Silver Surfer, teamed up with Loki of Thor’s home world of Asgard, teamed up with Marvel heroes to stop the entity known as Onslaught, and even participated in a secret war on another planet where he obtained a small portion of the Beyonder’s cosmic powers.

Relationships: Fantastic Four, rivals; Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch), wife in alternate reality; Morgana le Fay, lover; Valeria, lover; Doombots, self-created clones

First Versus game appearance: Marvel Super Heroes

Appearances in other media: Fantastic 4 (film), Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (film), Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (multiplatform), Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (multiplatform), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (multiplatform), The Marvel Super Heroes (1966, animated), The Fantastic Four (1994-96 animated), The Incredible Hulk (1996-97, animated), Spider-Man (1994-98, animated), Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes (animated), The Super Hero Squad Show (animated), Iron Man: Armored Adventures (animated), The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes (animated), Ultimate Spider-Man (animated), Spider-Man and Captain America in Doctor Doom’s Revenge (PC), Spider-Man (arcade), Marvel Super Heroes: War of the Gems (SNES), Fantastic 4 (multiplatform), Marvel Ultimate Alliance (multiplatform), Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects (multiplatform), Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (multiplatform), Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet (multiplatform), Marvel Super Hero Squad Online (multiplatform), Marvel Super Hero Squad: Comic Combat (multiplatform), Marvel: Avengers Alliance (Facebook game)

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