5 Best Doctor Doom Comic Books
Doctor Doom is an essential part of the story of The Fantastic Four. He is their arch-nemesis, and without him, there wouldn’t be as many iconic comic book runs and story arcs as we’ve had throughout the years. But have you ever wondered what he’s like in the comics? What’s his deal? Why is he one of the most beloved and iconic comic book villains? Well, let’s take a look at that with my 5 top comic books with Victor von Doom.
Secret Wars (1984) – Jim Shooter, Mike Zeck & Bob Layton
Before Doctor Doom became a god, he was already aiming for something close in the original 1984 crossover that started it all. Secret Wars was Marvel’s first major event comic, bringing together heroes and villains on a world called Battleworld, created by a cosmic being known as the Beyonder.
From the beginning, Doom acts like more than just another villain. He’s not satisfied with puny fights or proving he can outpunch someone. While other villains fight Earth’s Mightiest Heroes or follow Magneto’s lead, Doom steps back and starts plotting something bigger. He wants the Beyonder’s power to reshape reality under his rule, because in Doom’s mind, the universe would be better that way, and he is the only one who’s worthy of controlling it.
Midway through the series, Doom executes his plan. He manages to outsmart the Beyonder, take his power, and become a god. What follows is one of the most incredible depictions of what happens when unlimited ego meets unlimited power. Even with godlike abilities, Doom is still haunted by his inner fears. He tries to maintain control over the powers, but deep down, he knows he won’t have them for much longer.
What makes this Secret Wars run more than just a big event is the story of how we see Doom’s flaws and his mistakes. He can take all the power in the world, but he knows that he can’t hold it forever. Of course, he is still a villain, but he’s brilliant in his way. And when everything inevitably falls apart, it isn’t because he was defeated in battle. It’s because his doubts and ambitions got the best of him and caused him to lose his powers.
The original Secret Wars might now feel old, but the way this comic book treats Doom and his powerful persona remains a major blueprint for his future stories. It captures the full scope of what makes him a fascinating villain. His intellect, ambition, pride, and the tragic self-understanding of his limitations make him a more humane villain than one would expect. Secret Wars set a new standard for Doctor Doom stories, showing what happens when a man who believes he’s a god finally gets the chance to prove it, only to be humbled by his limitations.
Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989) – Roger Stern & Mike Mignola, Mark Badger & Jim Novak
This is one of my favorite comic books with Doom, mainly because he teams up with Doctor Strange. It’s a story about showing that every great character needs one moment in their life where they do something truly surprising, something readers wouldn’t expect. For Doctor Doom, that moment comes in Triumph and Torment. Here, he teams up with Doctor Strange to enter Mephisto’s realm and save the soul of his mother.
This comic was stunning for me on multiple levels. First, the dynamic between Strange and Doom is terrific and completely unexpected for me. Both are proud, brilliant, and egocentric men constantly comparing their “things” and fighting over their different moral codes.
Strange is cautious around Doom, and Victor tries to always be forceful to achieve his goal. Watching them work together sparks the reader’s imagination of potential outcomes from their team-up. But the real heart of the story is Doom’s motivation. He is a bad guy, but once a year, he will do everything to save his mother’s soul from Hell.
What makes this story hit so hard is showing Doom’s vulnerabilities. For once, his quest isn’t about power or defeating The Fantastic Four. It’s about rescuing his mother, fighting for her love, overcoming guilt, and seeking redemption. He’s willing to put himself at enormous risk just to humbly ask Strange for help, and even to make painful sacrifices.
Books of Doom (2005-2006) – Ed Brubaker & Pablo Raimondi
If you want to understand Doctor Doom more and learn about how he became this iconic and almost 100% despot, read Books of Doom. This six-issue miniseries is a modern take on Doctor Doom’s origin story, presenting his life from the very beginning, through his own eyes. It’s not a superhero or a supervillain story in the usual sense. It is more of a dark biography.
We see Doom’s Latverian heritage, the death of his mother at the hands of Mephisto, his rough childhood, and his rise to power as a scientific genius and sort of a master of mystical arts. The story in this comic book paints Doom as both a victim and a monster that he is. What was striking to me when reading is how deeply human these pages try to be. While reading, you catch yourself deeply rooting for a villain. His pain and trauma start to make sense, and you understand the roots of his obsession with power, magic, perfection, and control. He just doesn’t want to be sad anymore.
What makes Books of Doom special is how it never excuses Doom’s actions, but it helps you see how he justifies them. To him, every decision is logical, noble, and for the greater good. Ed Brubaker writes him as an egoistic maniac with cold confidence and big pride. This story is the psychological core of understanding Doctor Doom.
Infamous Iron Man (2016-2017) – Brian Michael Bendis & Alex Maleev
Now it’s time for one of the weirdest Doctor Doom comic books I’ve ever read. Ponder to yourself the question… What if Doctor Doom tried to become a hero? After Civil War II, Doom is left in a weird state. With Tony Stark gone, Doom sees a chance to change. He puts aside his traditional armor and becomes the new Iron Man, hoping to honor the legacy of his greatest rival. But the world doesn’t trust him. Heroes reject him. Villains try to kill him. And Doom, despite good intentions, constantly struggles with his decisions.
This isn’t a story about a perfect redemption arc. Doom still acts like Doom, but he tries to be more in control of his arrogant and impatient behaviors. He wants to be better, even if he doesn’t quite know how. The comic dives deep into his psychology, especially his relationship with other characters like The Thing, Maria Hill, and more.
This run doesn’t end with Doom as a full-blown hero. It ends with Doom realizing how hard that path truly is , and how much more work he has to do. Even though there is much more to the story, you can see that on some Earths, Doom can change, and it’s not always for the worse.
Doctor Doom (2019-2021) – Christopher Cantwell & Salvador Larroca
This time let’s touch upon one of the most recent Doctor Doom solo comic book runs. This solo series dives deep into Doom’s psyche as well as his role as a good leader for his country and his people.
It begins with Doom being framed in a terrorist act and being forced to go on the run. Without his kingdom, without his resources, and with the world hunting him, Doom starts to evolve in the pages of this story.
What follows is a strange, surreal, and deeply disturbing moment in Doom’s history. Doom is haunted by visions of a utopian future where he’s at peace, married, and beloved by many, and has kids. He doesn’t trust this vision. Even when offered a happy ending, he assumes it’s a trick. His paranoia, guilt, and pride constantly pull him in different directions, causing him to stay in his madness alone, in the dark, forever.
Here you can see Doom not just as a villain or even a ruler, but as a man trapped by his legend and haunted by his demons. The story of this run forces him to reflect on his failures, his need for control, and the possibility that he might be the architect of his misery. This series doesn’t have huge battles or cosmic stakes. It’s more of a character study, and that’s what makes it special.
What are your favorite Doctor Doom comics?
Do you have your own favorite Doctor Doom story? Let us know what Doom comics you enjoyed the most on social media @MyCosmicCircus, or join our Patreon and private Discord to talk with other Marvel Comics fans!
Also check out: Secret Wars Comics Reading Guide
