Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
Kevin Feige Pushes Back at Criticisms That Dr. Doom Hasn’t Had Thanos-Level Buildup
Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has defended the buildup given to Doctor Doom ahead of Avengers: Doomsday, after fans criticised the villain's introduction as lacking the depth Thanos received before Avengers: Infinity War. Speaking after Marvel's Comic Con Hall H panel, Feige argued that Thanos's reputation as a well-built villain is largely retrospective, noting that at the time his brief post-credits appearances were widely mocked online rather than praised. The comments matter because Doomsday is being positioned as the next major turning point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Feige is keen to reassure audiences that Victor Von Doom, played by Robert Downey Jr, will receive a proper introduction rather than relying on prior goodwill.
Feige explained that Doomsday itself is intended to function as Doom's true introduction to audiences, mirroring how Infinity War fully established Thanos, with further character detail expected to unfold gradually across future films. Other news from the panel included confirmation that David Jonsson will star in Black Panther III and that Ryan Gosling has been cast in a new Ghost Rider film, though no major additional MCU announcements were made. Attention now turns to Spider-Man: Brand New Day, released later this month, and Disney's D23 event in August, which could reveal further details of Marvel's upcoming slate.
In short
- Feige defends Doctor Doom's buildup ahead of Avengers: Doomsday
- Says Thanos's strong reputation only built up after the fact
- Comic Con also revealed Black Panther III and Ghost Rider casting
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Feige makes a fair point that Thanos's limited early appearances were actually mocked when they aired, making current nostalgia for his buildup retrospective rather than genuinely prescient at the time. A major villain can be properly established within a single film's narrative, as Infinity War demonstrated with Thanos, and Doomsday is being structured similarly to provide Doom's complete introduction through the film's events rather than relying on scattered prior appearances.
The case against
Audiences have learned to expect major villains to receive clear character and thematic establishment across multiple films, and even if early Thanos appearances were poorly received at the time, they existed within a coherent multi-film arc that built context. The MCU has deliberately invested in character building across projects, so fans reasonably expect that accumulated wisdom to enhance the introduction of the next major saga rather than pivot to a different approach.
Explained simply
Doctor Doom is a supervillain who will appear in the upcoming Marvel film Avengers: Doomsday, which is intended as a major turning point for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character, played by Robert Downey Jr, will be the central antagonist of the film. Unlike some previous Marvel villains, Doom is being introduced primarily through Doomsday itself rather than appearing in multiple earlier films.
Some fans have questioned whether Doctor Doom has received sufficient character development before his major debut, drawing comparisons to how Thanos was established. Thanos appeared briefly in several films before becoming the main villain of Avengers: Infinity War, allowing audiences to become familiar with him across different stories. Many credit this gradual approach as key to why Thanos became one of the Marvel universe's most successful villains.
Kevin Feige is president of Marvel Studios and oversees the overall creative direction of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Questions about how Doctor Doom's introduction is being handled have become newsworthy because Doomsday represents a major new chapter for the MCU, and its success depends significantly on audiences connecting with its villain. The discussion reflects broader fan debate about how much advance setup characters require to make a meaningful impact on viewers.