The 10 Best Doctor Doom Comics You Should Read

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The Marvel Universe has plenty of great villains. However, there’s one that rises above the rest – Doctor Doom. There’s good reason for this, with the character pushing the Fantastic Four and many other Marvel heroes to their limit on multiple occasions through his genius, ego, and ruthlessness. As a result, he’s firmly placed himself as a major force in the Marvel Universe and pop culture.

There has been heightened interest in the character as a result of his inclusion in the MCU. Due to this, you might be interested in reading some of Doctor Doom’s best comic stories. If so, you’re in the right place with this spotlighting ten stories you should read. Discover what makes the character Marvel’s greatest villain, with tales ranging from his origins to encounters with the Fantastic Four and more.

Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5 cover by Jack Kirby.

Prisoners of Doctor Doom

Written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Art by Jack Kirby.

Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s Fantastic Four run lays the foundation of the Marvel Universe, introducing many characters and concepts that readers know and love, including Doctor Doom. This tale, published in the Fantastic Four’s fifth-ever adventure, introduces the classic villain with a bang when he ambushes the Fantastic Four and kidnaps them for his bidding. A bidding that involves a time-travel and a pirate adventure.

Doctor Doom is not fully formed as a character in this tale. However, there are enough compelling pieces, from the unique character design to portions of a backstory, that they elevate him above the mad scientist characters of the era and into a class of his own. Much of the unique element of Doom will be elaborated on in subsequent stories, like the ones below, and build upon Doom’s legacy.

Issue: Fantastic Four (1961 series) #5
Collected in: ‘Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine’, ‘Doctor Doom Epic Collection: Enter… Doctor Doom or ‘Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 1’, or ‘Doctor Doom: The Books of Doom Omnibus’
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Books of Doom

Written by Ed Brubaker. Art by Pablo Raimondi.

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby originally told Doctor Doom’s origin story in the pages of Fantastic Four Annual #2. Scribed on the very first page, in Lee’s signature hyperbole, is the proclamation, “We confidently predict that you will call this one of the greatest, most memorable “origin” stories of all time!”. They were almost right by giving readers a brief but memorable origin tale.

Books of Doom takes the foundations of that story, along with the nuggets that would proceed in the ensuing decades to form the most cohesive and robust telling of Doctor Doom’s origin. Over six issues, readers see Victor von Doom’s accent – fuelled by tragedy, hubris, and contempt. We see his humble beginnings as a poor Roma boy, the events that fuel his hatred for Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic), the impetus for becoming Doctor Doom, and how he became the ruler of Latveria.

Issues: Books of Doom #1-6
Collected in: ‘Doctor Doom: Books of Doom’ or ‘Doctor Doom: The Books of Doom Omnibus’
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Triumph and Torment

Written by Roger Stern. Art by Mike Mignola.

Every hundred years, the magically inclined come together to compete in tests that determine the new Sorcerer Supreme. Doctor Strange ultimately retains his title in the end. However, he’s now obliged to aid the runner-up, Doctor Doom, with a request. Thus begins an unlikely pairing as they delve into the depths of hell to retrieve the soul of Doom’s mother from Mephisto – Marvel’s equivalent of the Devil.

Triumph and Torment is a fantastic character study. Roger Stern and Mike Mignola dig into what makes Doctor Doom tock, exploring his motivations, hubris, villainy, and mystical side. The result is a richly complex character, proud on the surface but occasionally showing vulnerability when least expected. Check this one out if you want to know what Doctor Doom is all about.

Issue: Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (original graphic novel)
Collected in: ‘Doctor Strange Epic Collection: Triumph and Torment’ or ‘Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment’ or ‘Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Dream Is Dead’ or ‘Doctor Doom: The Books of Doom Omnibus’
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FURTHER READING: Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment Is An Essential Doctor Doom Story

Fantastic Four (1998 series) #67 cover by Mike Weiringo, Karl Kesel, and Richard Isanove.

Unthinkable

Written by Mark Waid. Art by Mike Weiringo.

Doctor Doom is more powerful than ever after renouncing technology and making a deal with prominent demons. Brimming with magical energy, he’s ready to destroy the Fantastic Four once and for all, so nothing can stop him from taking over the world. To do so, he’s going to do the unthinkable. Doctor Doom will make the conflict between Marvel’s first family personal by going after their children.

Mark Waid and Mike Weiringo bring out the unrelenting ruthlessness in Doctor Doom with this story. The villain is willing to do anything to see that his enemies are vanquished, whether that be sacrificing loved ones, going after children, or resorting to cruel and unusual torture. It’s Doctor Doom at his vindictive and hubristic worst.

Issues: Fantastic Four (1998 series) #67-70, and #500
Collected in: ‘Fantastic Four By Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo: Ultimate Collection – Book Two’ or ‘Marvel Ultimate Graphic Novel Collection #30 – Fantastic Four: Unthinkable’ or ‘Doctor Doom: The Books of Doom Omnibus’
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Emperor Doom

Written by David Michelinie. Art by Bob Hall.

What would happen if Doctor Doom finally achieved his goal of ruling the world? He gets his wish in this 1987 Avengers tale when he takes advantage of The Purple Man’s powers to make the whole world bend to his will. But is being the Emperor of the World all that it’s cracked up to be?

Emperor Doom is an interesting philosophical exercise. Here, Doctor Doom has made the world more peaceful and harmonious as Emperor, but has achieved it by taking everyone’s will away from them. Is this the right way to create a better world? It’s a question the Avengers have to tackle – and one that will have the reader pondering too.

Issue: Marvel Graphic Novel: Emperor Doom – Starring the Mighty Avengers
Collected in: ‘Avengers Epic Collection: Judgment Day’ or ‘Avengers West Cost Epic Collection: Tales To Astonish’ or ‘Doctor Doom: The Books of Doom Omnibus’ or ‘Marvel Masterworks: Avengers Volume 25’ or ‘Marvel Masterworks: Avengers West Coast Volume 11’
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Fantastic Four (1961 series) #60 cover by Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnot.

The Peril and the Power!

Written by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Art by Jack Kirby.

Doctor Doom has stolen The Silver Surfer’s cosmic powers. Now, he possesses unlimited power at his disposal, using it to cause chaos and sow fear as he flies around the world on the Surfer’s board. Nuff said!

Stan Lee and Jack Kirby do a great job of making the situation feel hopeless. The Fantastic Four throw everything but the kitchen sink at Doctor Doom and still lose on multiple occasions. It causes internal tensions to bubble over in the family, inspiring arguments and reckless actions. However, the effects of Doom’s new powers are best felt in a quiet moment at the kitchen table. While Ben is a little slow on the uptake, Sue and Reed’s silence as they eat says volumes about how dire the situation is.

Issues: Fantastic Four (1961 series) #57-60
Collected in: ‘Fantastic Four Epic Collection: The Mystery Of The Black Panther’ or ‘Doctor Doom Epic Collection: Enter… Doctor Doom’ or ‘Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 6’
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Fantastic Four (1961 series) #258 cover by John Byrne and Jim Novak.

Interlude

Written and art by John Byrne.

Most Doctor Doom stories show him as a villain, executing evil and elaborate schemes. It’s not often that we get to see him in a more regal role as the ruler of Latveria. Here, we get to see him go about his duties. It involves hearing out citizens, handing down judgment, and ensuring everything runs smoothly.

By following Doom’s day-to-day duties, John Byrne explores the side that ordinary folk rarely see. There are exhibitions of ego, resulting in one of the greatest Doctor Doom pages of all time; cunning thwarts against lesser enemies; and efforts at backstabbing by his supposed allies. It’s all a reminder of what makes Doom the greatest villain in the Marvel Universe.

Issue: Fantastic Four (1961 series) #258
Collected in: ‘Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 24’ or ‘Fantastic Four Visionaries: John Byrne Volume 4’ or ‘Doctor Doom: The Books of Doom Omnibus’
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Fantastic Four (1961 series) #200 cover by Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott, and Gaspar Saladino.

When Titans Clash

Written by Marv Wolfman. Art by Keith Pollard and Joe Sinnot.

Doctor Doom and Mr. Fantastic have had a storied rivalry stretching back to their collage days. When Titans Clash drives this dynamic to a satisfying potential* conclusion, with Doom’s plot to take over the world pushing Reed Richards harder than ever before.

The story starts off slow, blending into the previous tale about the Fantastic four disbanding and going their separate ways. However, Doctor Doom enters the fray it begins pick up. Doom is at his maniacal best, driven by hate of the Fantastic Four and disdain for those around him. And his plans to take over the world are elaborate, involving a long-lost son, a statue, and abdicating the Latvarian throne. It all comes to a climax in Fantastic Four #200, where Reed Richards and Doom face-off in an encounter that carries the weight of their history and no punches pulled.

*The story concludes in a way where it’s possible to be the final Doctor Doom story. However, being Marvel, he was brought back a couple of years later.

Issues: Fantastic Four (1961 series) #196-200
Collected in: ‘Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Four No More’, ‘Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four Volume 18’, and ‘Fantastic Four: The Overthrow Of Doom’, or ‘Fantastic Four Omnibus Volume 6’
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Doctor Doom by Christopher Cantwell & Salvador Larroca cover by Salvador Larroca.

Doctor Doom (2019 series)

Written by Christopher Cantwell. Art by Salvador Larroca.

Doctor Doom has lost it all in this 2019 solo series. He has been framed for a terrorist attack on the Moon, list his throne, and is on the run for a crime he didn’t commit. At the same time, he’s getting visions of an utopian future if his creation and being visited by Kang the Conqueror.

This 10-part story puts Doom through a journey that prompts an attempt to overcome his villainy. Can he apply his genius to something could change the world for the better or is he destined to be the petty, hubristic, megalomaniac that he’s known for?

Issues: Doctor Doom (2019 series) #1-10
Collected in: Doctor Doom by Cantwell & Larroca
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Days of Doom

Written by Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Green. Art by Sanford Greene.

Sometimes you just want to see Doctor Doom be a total badass. Set in the near future, the universe has been ravaged by an unstoppable Galactus. Only Doctor Doom and Valeria Richards are the only ones left who could possibly stop the cosmic being from hitting reset on the entire universe.

This over-sized one-shot is a playground for Jonathan Hickman and Sanford Greene to tell a big-stake story, smashing the Marvel Universe to pieces in the process. Backed-up by Greene’s energetic art that buzzes and crackles at full throttle, Doctor Doom is a heroic badass with nothing to lose as he powers his way through cosmic obstacle after cosmic obstacle.

Issue: Doom (2004) #1
Collected in: Doom Treasury Edition
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