Why Doctor Doom’s Absence in Fantastic Four: First Steps Has Marvel Fans Buzzing
Fantastic Four: First Steps and the Doctor Doom Mystery
Fantastic Four: First Steps has stirred up a familiar question among Marvel fans, echoing the controversy from Eternals: Where was Doctor Doom during the big crises? This smaller-scale “Eternals problem” might be a key puzzle piece for the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. Let’s break down what’s going on and why it matters.
- Why fans wonder about Doctor Doom’s absence in First Steps
- Connections to the Eternals controversy and MCU continuity
- Possible explanations and fan theories about Doom’s role
- What Marvel might be setting up for the future
The Missing Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four: First Steps
Fans eagerly anticipated seeing Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four: First Steps, but director Matt Shakman made it clear early on that Doom wouldn’t appear in the main movie. Still, the film teases his presence: there’s an empty ambassador seat for Latveria at the U.N., a brief news mention of Latveria, and moments hinting at a Doom reveal that never quite happens.
Given Doom’s reputation in Marvel Comics as a brilliant and strategic villain, fans are left wondering why he didn’t show up during a major threat—like when Earth was almost devoured by Galactus. In the comics, Victor von Doom is known to intervene when his planet is in danger, so his absence feels odd.
Linking Back to the Eternals Problem
This isn’t the first time Marvel has faced this kind of question. When Eternals came out, fans criticized the film for not explaining where these powerful protectors were during critical events like Avengers: Endgame or Age of Ultron. The Eternals’ excuse—avoiding interference in human conflicts unless Deviants were involved—didn’t convince many.
Just like with the Eternals, Fantastic Four: First Steps raises the question: why wasn’t Doctor Doom involved in a major crisis? Was he simply absent, powerless, or playing a deeper game behind the scenes?
Possible Theories About Doom’s Absence
There are plenty of fan theories trying to fill the gaps:
- Maybe the Earth-828 version of Victor von Doom is dead, incapacitated, or off-world.
- He could be recovering from his origin story or wearing his iconic mask for a reason.
- Perhaps Latveria is ruled by someone else entirely in this universe.
- Doom might be traveling through the multiverse, setting up the rumored Battleworld storyline for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.
The MCU’s multiverse opens endless possibilities, meaning there could be many versions of Doom, each with a different role.
What’s Next for Marvel and Doctor Doom?
Marvel Studios will likely have to address this mystery eventually. Understanding where Victor von Doom was during First Steps will help fans connect the dots and clear up lingering questions from Eternals. Plus, it sets the stage for Doom’s bigger role, especially with Robert Downey Jr. rumored to portray him in upcoming Avengers films.
As Eternals director Chloé Zhao explained, the Eternals were told not to interfere in human conflicts unless Deviants were involved, but fans remain skeptical about that explanation. Similarly, Doom’s absence feels like a plot thread waiting to be unraveled.
So, buckle up! The Doom storyline is heating up, and Marvel fans can’t wait to see what Victor von Doom will do next.
