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Doom is stronger than Thanos in Avengers: Doomsday, and the Marvel comics explain why
The article argues that Doctor Doom’s apparent ability to stop Thor’s Stormbreaker with two fingers in the Avengers: Doomsday trailer may be explained by Marvel comics storylines being adapted for the film. If the MCU draws heavily from Jonathan Hickman’s Time Runs Out and Secret Wars, Doom could possess powers far beyond those of his usual scientist-sorcerer incarnation, making him a potentially greater threat than Thanos.
In the comics, Doom discovers that Molecule Man variants across the multiverse are effectively weapons created by the Beyonders to destroy every universe simultaneously. Disguised as Rabum Alal, Doom first tries to stop this plan by killing them, then instead gathers their power for a final confrontation with the Beyonders; the article suggests an MCU Doom with such an arsenal could easily withstand Thor’s attack. Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom is therefore expected to be a multiversal, time-travelling version of the character whose actions may be framed as an attempt to save reality, however ruthless his methods.
In short
- Comics suggest Doom may wield multiversal power in Avengers: Doomsday.
- Molecule Man’s power could explain Doom stopping Thor’s weapon.
- The film may adapt Hickman’s Time Runs Out storyline.
Explained simply
Doctor Doom is one of Marvel's most prominent villains, a scientist and master of magic who rules a fictional Eastern European nation. The upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday features Robert Downey Jr. playing the character, and a trailer showed Doom stopping Thor's weapon with just two fingers, suggesting extraordinary power. This has led commentators to speculate about what version of Doom the film might be adapting.
Marvel comics suggest an explanation for such power. In Jonathan Hickman's Time Runs Out and Secret Wars storylines, Doom discovers that beings called Molecule Man variants across multiple universes are actually cosmic weapons created by all-powerful entities known as the Beyonders. Doom gathers these beings' power to confront the Beyonders, acquiring abilities far beyond his usual capabilities.
If the forthcoming film draws from these storylines, Doom could be portrayed as a version of the character with god-like powers who can travel through time and between universes. This would make him potentially far more dangerous than previous villains in Marvel films, and might suggest his actions are motivated by an attempt to save reality itself, however ruthless his methods.
Avengers: Doomsday Entertainment Film