11 Reasons Why Marvel’s Doctor Doom And Reed Richards Hate Each Other

Doctor Doom and Reed Richards have one of the most well-known rivalries in comics history. These notable Marvel characters first appeared together in a comic book back in 1961, and ever since then, they’ve been constantly trying to outdo each other by doing everything possible to bring about each other’s downfall.

Among Marvel’s antagonists, Victor von Doom stands out as being particularly formidable, even compared to Thanos. His intimidating presence primarily stems from his intellect. This man is not just a scientific genius, but he also delves into the arcane mysteries of dark magic, which grants him a formidable amount of power, enough potentially to challenge the world as a whole. However, there exists one individual in the cosmos who outsmarts Doom every time – Reed Richards. Whenever Doom devises a plot to dominate reality, it is always Reed Richards who steps in to thwart his plans.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe Introduces Mister Fantastic with Doctor Doom Looming Nearby”

In the new movie “Fantastic Four: First Steps”, we will see the introduction of Reed, also known as Mister Fantastic, to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, Victor von Doom, or simply Doom, remains lurking in the shadows. The upcoming movies will feature Robert Downey Jr. bringing Doom to life, offering a new interpretation of this iconic character. But Doom wouldn’t be Doom without his deep-seated hatred for “that accursed Richards.”

The depiction of these characters on screen could significantly alter the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but their comic book rivalry has been instrumental in shaping Marvel Comics’ narrative as a whole. The enmity between Reed and Doom is so entrenched that some fans might have forgotten its origin. To remind you, let me briefly recount what many consider the most epic rivalry in Marvel Comics history.

“Fantastic Four: First Steps” introduces Mister Fantastic (Reed) to the MCU, while Doctor Doom waits in the wings. Robert Downey Jr. will play Doctor Doom, offering a fresh take on the character, but his hatred for Reed remains central to his persona. Their rivalry has played a significant role in shaping Marvel Comics and might be difficult for some fans to remember its origins. For a quick reminder, here’s a summary of what many believe is the greatest rivalry in Marvel Comics.

They represent science vs. magic

The Fantastic Four boasts a rich past, and Doctor Doom makes his debut rather early within it. Introduced in “Fantastic Four” #5 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Doom’s backstory was initially not fully fleshed out at the time of his introduction. Interestingly enough, his animosity towards Reed Richards was more symbolic than rooted in their actual college past. You see, Reed recalled that he knew Doom during their university days, where this classmate exhibited an unhealthy fascination with the dark arts. One fateful night, Doom attempted to summon some unknown power, which resulted in an explosion and left him disfigured. Following his expulsion, he abandoned education to pursue further magical knowledge and power.

Since inception, Doom and Reed have been pitted against each other thematically, reflecting a fundamental rivalry. As the most intelligent being in the universe, Reed embodies the might of science, while Doom symbolizes the enigmatic and mysterious. Reed is portrayed as distrustful towards Victor, and Doom is positioned to scorn Reed for his reluctance to embrace magic. Underlying their conflicts are numerous practical reasons, but it’s essential to understand that their animosity extends to the very essence of their characters.

They were college rivals

In his initial debut, it became known that Victor Von Doom attended college alongside Reed Richards. However, the heated rivalry between the two wasn’t solidified until issue #5 of “Fantastic Four” didn’t explicitly depict this. Instead, Marvel enthusiasts had to be patient and wait till 1963 when they could read “The Fantastic Origin of Doctor Doom,” a story featured in “Fantastic Four Annual” #2, for the intricate details of their tumultuous past. This captivating tale delved deep into their early history together.

Victor initially journeys to the U.S. for studies following his role in overthrowing an unjust ruler back home. Upon reaching school, Doom has already endured the loss of his parents and played a significant part in establishing a new nation, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to his goals. Reed encounters this future supervillain and attempts to initiate a casual chat, but from their initial encounter, Doom develops a strong dislike for the future Mr. Fantastic’s demeanor.

In a nutshell, Doom firmly believes he’s the smartest student around and yearns to demonstrate this fact. One day, Reed visits Doom’s lab while he’s engrossed in an ambitious project, offering suggestions and pointing out some miscalculations in his figures. However, Doom is reluctant to consider advice from others about his work, a trait that nearly costs him dearly when his experiment unexpectedly explodes.

Doom blames Reed for his facial scars

In simple terms, if we accept the story of “The Origin of Doctor Doom” as it is told, it seems like Reed Richards and Victor von Doom’s initial conflict was rather lopsided. While Reed seemed to genuinely want friendship during their school days, Victor didn’t see it that way at all. He viewed Reed as an intellectual rival, believing that his fellow student was merely making fun of him. Over time, some writers of the “Fantastic Four” have suggested that Doom holds Reed responsible for the accident that led to his scarring and expulsion from school.

According to renowned writer Mark Waid, his interpretation of the character leans towards the belief that Doom should acknowledge responsibility – a stance that contrasts with Waid himself. Before embarking on the Marvel series, Waid penned a “Fantastic Four Manifesto,” where he mocked Doom for persistently blaming Reed for sabotage, despite it being evident to all, including Doom himself, that Reed was correct and he was wrong. Essentially, Waid argued that Doom can’t truly stop hating Reed until he accepts that Reed wasn’t responsible for the incident that happened to him. (Source: SlashFilm)

Doom is ruled by his ego

It seems evident that what drives Doom is his self-importance above all else. Prior to his encounter with Reed Richards, Victor von Doom was striving towards a seemingly noble cause – freeing his nation from the tyranny of King Vladimir Vassily Gonereo Tristian Mangegi Fortunov. From an outsider’s perspective, Doom might have appeared as a hero. However, his true motivation was to demonstrate his own power and strength rather than genuinely championing for Latveria’s freedom. His concern for the success of his people was merely a means to validate his greatness.

As a gamer, I’d say it like this: In this grand cosmic game, there’s no prize more coveted than being the smartest, most powerful player out there – and that’s the title I, Doom, am hell-bent on claiming for myself. I’ve amassed a fortune that would make most villains green with envy, and time and again, I’ve dangled the universe on the brink of destruction to prove my mettle. Yet, Reed Richards, with his genius mind, keeps giving me a run for my money. The fact that he’s so intelligent irks my ego, and no matter what he does, it only fuels my disdain for him. The Fantastic Four’s leader may be brilliant, but to me, he’ll always be an annoying obstacle in my quest to become the ultimate player.

Reed and Doom once swapped bodies

Doctor Doom and Reed Richards have a deep-seated hatred for each other, driven by both thematic differences and specific past events that fuel their lasting animosity. For years, they’ve been trying to outmaneuver one another, with their conflicts not always impacting the destiny of the world. A classic instance of this can be traced back to 1961’s “Fantastic Four” #10 (by Kirby and Lee), where Doctor Doom reappears after being thought dead, revealing a fresh plan to harm Reed and the Fantastic Four.

On this occasion, Doom discovers an unfailing method to annihilate his arch-enemy. While investigating an alien race known as the Oviods, he uncovers the secret to replicating their telepathic skill of swapping bodies. Having mastered this new trick, Doom entices Reed Richards to Marvel Comics creators Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s office. Once there, he captures Reed using a teleporter before assuming control over his body. The Fantastic Four eventually show up and engage in battle with “Doom,” allowing the true villain to flee with Reed’s body.

Initially, Doom aims to eliminate the Fantastic Four, particularly targeting Reed Richards, by tarnishing his reputation. To achieve this, he deceives Reed’s friends and engages in criminal activities such as stealing from a zoo by shrinking animals and confining them within glass boxes, intending to frame Reed for the crimes. However, when Mister Fantastic returns to his own body, Sue can detect his inherent goodness, revealing the truth to the rest of the Fantastic Four. Eventually, Doom is defeated using his own shrink ray, but it remains uncertain whether Reed will be able to forgive this betrayal easily.

Reed has murdered Doom variants

Doctor Doom, often regarded as Marvel’s most formidable villain, isn’t a one-dimensional character. On the other hand, Mister Fantastic, who has saved Earth and even the universe more times than we can count, is not your typical hero either. Despite being the smartest man in the world, Reed Richards, aka Mister Fantastic, has a complex side, and some narratives reveal that he’s capable of performing unspeakable acts if he believes they serve a higher purpose.

In the “Fantastic Four” storyline titled “Solve Everything,” penned by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham, Reed Richards is frantically searching for a solution to prevent the destruction of Earth from Galactus. He ultimately decides that he must harness the power of the multiverse to address every challenge confronting Earth simultaneously. By reaching out to a Council of Reeds – alternate versions of himself who have united with the objective of helping people across multiple realities – Reed and his council are providing sustenance for millions, if not billions, of individuals. However, wherever they go, they keep encountering Doctor Doom.

The Council’s strategy for dealing with these catastrophes is to develop a unique, permanent neckpiece designed to annihilate higher cognitive abilities. They capture individual calamities and fasten this device around their neck, immediately and irrevocably turning them into mindless husks before imprisoning them in a dark abyss they refer to as the Pit (as depicted above). Reed recognizes that the Council is essentially committing mass murder across multiple universes, but because he believes that the universe would be better off with them eliminating these calamities, he supports their scheme.

Doom saved Reed’s family out of spite

Similar to Mister Fantastic, Victor Von Doom is a character with depth that might not be immediately apparent. In the comic books, Doctor Doom often appears with a sinister agenda, but occasionally he demonstrates acts of kindness, although these actions are frequently questionable. On one occasion, Doom even took on the role of a hero for Reed by rescuing Sue and her unborn child.

In “Fantastic Four” #267 (by John Byrne) in 1984, it wasn’t Sue who gave birth to her second child while in the Negative Zone; instead, the pregnancy ended tragically due to the intense effects of that realm. The resulting baby exhibited unusual energy and harmful radiation. Later, in a 2002 story arc, some comic book-style maneuvers involving the Negative Zone’s power and Sue’s son Franklin revived the stillborn infant. However, the radiation problem resurfaced as well.

In the comic “A Choice of Dooms!”, Reed Richards finds himself in a fight while Sue is about to give birth. The safety of Sue and their unborn child hangs in the balance due to the power of the Negative Zone. Interestingly, Doctor Doom intervenes to save them. As payment for his help, Sue agrees to let Doom choose the baby’s name, which he names Valeria. He also declares that Valeria will always be under his protection. In doing so, he reminds Reed that from then on, whenever he gazes upon his family, he’ll recall that it was only Doctor Doom who could rescue them.

Reed thinks he’s better than Doom

It’s not just his ego that fuels Doctor Doom’s dislike for Reed Richards; there’s a deeper rivalry at play. Doom aspires to be the world’s greatest genius and most powerful being, but only someone like Reed can truly challenge him intellectually. This makes Doom resent Reed because he worries that the hero might surpass him—a fear that, on some level, Reed shares.

In Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribić’s “Secret Wars,” I find myself marveling at the grandiose creation of Battleworld by none other than Doctor Doom himself, essentially reimagining the Marvel Universe as we knew it. The assembled heroes put up a valiant fight against this new reality, but ultimately, the fate of the universe hangs precariously on the outcome of a showdown between Doom and Reed Richards, the Fantastic Four’s genius leader. During their epic battle, Reed levels an accusation at Doom, suggesting that he hasn’t utilized the infinite power he gained to create Battleworld effectively. In response, Doom poses a question to Reed, wondering if he truly believes he could manage such power better than Doom himself. Without hesitation, Reed gives his honest opinion and says yes.

In the climactic final words, Reed shares with his longtime adversary that he is correct, a revelation which forces Doom to acknowledge something he has long resisted. Eventually, Doom sets aside his pride and concurs with Reed, thereby bringing an end to the “Secret Wars” conflict. Remarkably, this very acceptance of his deepest dread serves as the key to preserving all existence.

Reed is afraid of turning into Doom

The feelings between Doctor Doom and Mister Fantastic are complex due to Doom’s ego, while Reed’s feelings toward Victor have a hidden root that he is reluctant to acknowledge. Despite their contrasting lifestyles, these two characters share striking similarities – they’re both brilliant minds, and they prioritize expanding their own knowledge above most other things in their lives. Beneath the surface, a significant part of Reed Richards’ animosity toward Doom stems from his realization that they aren’t as dissimilar as he would like to believe.

Essentially, Doom is the antithesis of Reed, and certain iterations of Mister Fantastic have acknowledged that they carry a small amount of Doctor Doom’s essence within them. Notably, when Reed initially encountered the Council of Reeds, one member confessed that their resemblance to Doom afforded them a profound comprehension of why Doom needs to be eradicated.

In certain grim realities of the Marvel comic book world, Reed Richards, also known as Mr. Fantastic, has transformed into a full-fledged villain. The Reed Richards from the Ultimate universe eventually earned the title ‘The Maker’, a malevolent version of Reed who brought destruction to countless universes and even manipulated another incarnation of Reed into becoming Doctor Doom. While fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) speculate about the Maker making an appearance on screen, for now, the MCU’s Reed remains surrounded by his family, helping him control his darker tendencies.

Reed refuses to see Doom’s good side

Once in a blue moon, even the notorious Doctor Doom shows a glimmer of kindness towards another soul – at least that’s what happened when I stumbled upon a distressed figure, none other than Sharon Ventura, aka Ms. Marvel, in Fantastic Four #311. Back then, Sharon had been transformed by cosmic rays into a form reminiscent of the Thing, and she was so despondent that she considered taking her own life.

As a fellow being who’s had my own appearance permanently altered due to an accident, I could understand her plight. So instead of mocking or dismissing her, I offered her a helping hand, telling her that strong people like us can rise above adversity and lead meaningful lives. Despite our differences in allegiance, it was a moment when we shared an unexpected bond, reminding me that even the cold-hearted Victor Von Doom has a softer side every now and then.

In a manner similar to how Doom consistently denies Reed’s intellectual superiority, Reed consistently dismisses any good qualities in Doom. This is why Reed was taken aback when Doom rescued his family, and he rarely mentions instances like Victor giving advice to Sharon when discussing Doom’s character. However, after calming Ms. Marvel down, Doom did make an attempt to persuade her to join him in destroying the Fantastic Four, but under the circumstances, isn’t it understandable that he would try such a thing?

They have too much history to bury the hatchet

From their very first encounter, Doctor Doom and Reed Richards seemed fated for animosity. Coming from disparate backgrounds and adopting starkly contrasting views in their shared scientific endeavors, they initially found no common ground. Victor von Doom paid no heed to Reed’s presence, while Reed struggled to comprehend the enigmatic Doom. Over the passage of time, each took turns attacking the other: Doom launching attacks on the Fantastic Four, and Reed thwarting Doom’s ambitious schemes for global domination at every turn. The hostility between these two has been so intense that it has come close to destroying the world more than once.

Currently, the burden of their collective past proves overwhelming for Reed and Doom to move past it. Now, with all their cards exposed, they likely grasp each other’s intentions better than any hero-villain pair ever has. Surprisingly, after a deep confrontation in the “Secret Wars” finale, one might expect them to have no more reasons for conflict – and that would be accurate. However, their rivalry gathers too much steam to subside. In essence, Reed and Doom seem destined to engage in an endless struggle until the very end of time. Fortunately, this never-ending feud keeps Marvel Comics fans enthralled!

2025-06-18 15:31