Marvel’s Latest Doom Storyline the Worst Kind of Political Metaphor

The Conversation ran an article about vampires in past comics stories, and also brought up how Marvel’s recent directions with One World Under Doom are a leftist political metaphor, with Victor Von Doom a stand-in for a right-wing politician, and Donald Trump:

Vampires in American comic books retained this outsider status – invariably they were European immigrants like Morbius, who was born in Nafplio, Greece. In this way, comic vampires continue the literary vampire tradition of tapping into the fear of foreigners.

Doctor Doom: anti-immigrant populist politician

Comic book writer Ryan North explored a variation of this theme with Doctor Doom, the Marvel Comics’ super-villain, in issues of Fantastic Four released this year. Doom will be played by Robert Downey Jr. in the new film Avengers: Doomsday, due in 2026.

Doom rules Latveria, a fictional European country. He has recently declared himself Emperor of the World, supported by leaders of nations across the globe. Doom also uses Trump-style populism by propagating prejudice and fear-mongering against vampires. […]

In One World Under Doom #3 (April, 2025) a group of superheroes and super-villains team up against their common enemy and find out how Doom has manipulated the world’s leaders. Using their own powers, they discover that he has not used magic, telepathy or mind control. He has merely negotiated with other leaders to become World Emperor. His populist policies have been embraced by the public.

This, along with the anti-vampire rhetoric and misinformation, creates a powerful allegory of the far-right ideologies that are currently being propagated by politicians across our own world. This current portrayal of Dr Doom as a proxy for public figures and politicians who use anti-immigrant rhetoric, harmful stereotypes and egregious misinformation, strongly suggests that they are the real monsters. Not the immigrants – or vampires for that matter.

And this is supposed to be a bizarre anti-Trump metaphor? What’s also bizarre is how a science-fantasy concept is being turned around entirely for the sake of this mishmash, and we’re supposed to believe all vampires are “misunderstood” along with the illegal immigrants they serve as metaphors for? Does that mean Mr. North believes the Islamic religion is also “misunderstood“? If that’s his position, I hestitate to think what he thinks of Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City’s mayor. The part about world leaders and the public supposedly accepting Doom’s leadership as a metaphor for Trump is also absurd, because in reality, not every world politician or members of the public have done so.

Since the subject of One World Under Doom came up, Comic Book Club Live announced Scarlet Witch will be taking up the role of Dr. Strange, which was previously taken by Dr. Doom:

Written by Steve Orlando with art by Bernard Chang, the new series will find the one-time Scarlet Witch picking up the mantle left behind by Doctor Doom after the end of One World Under Doom. Leirix will provide main covers for the series, and Russell Dauterman has returned to the character for the new costume design, as well as covers depicting Wanda’s advisory council: Clea, Chthon, Wiccan, and Papa John (for the pizza thing).

[…] This marks the latest in a long line of Sorcerers Supreme in Marvel Comics. Back in 2009, Brother Voodoo took over in New Avengers #53, with Doctor Strange eventually taking back the mantle. In 2017’s Doctor Strange #381, Loki was made Sorcerer Supreme by the Vishanti. Then after Doctor Strange took it back again and then died, Clea took over, then gave it back to Doctor Strange, and then Doctor Doom took over, and now Wanda. Cool!

They’re much too late, and this only turns Wanda into another character lacking agency, as the step only makes it look like her role as Scarlet Witch never mattered. Which once again only makes clear the writer wants everyone to care more about the costume than the character. But all this does is make a mockery out of past Dr. Strange tales that were never for the sake of 15 minute media attention, and the artwork for this new book starring Wanda looks so otherwise sexless, it’s clear it won’t amount to much even on that level. One could easily argue Dr. Strange has become the 2nd most misused superhero after Captain America, based on these publicity stunts for stories that aren’t built on plausibility or merit.

Originally published here