I’m Scared That Fantastic Four: First Steps’ Post-Credits Scene Will Ruin The Best Marvel Rivalry

by

Be warned, this discusses a key moment from the end of Fantastic Four: First Steps! The post-credits scene leaves out an important part of the classic Doctor Doom and Reed Richards rivalry, and that worries me about how Doctor Doom will be portrayed in the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Doctor Doom is expected to become the MCU’s next major villain, playing a central role in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars movies.

Considering how important the character is in the comics, this direction makes sense. But even when he’s at his most over-the-top, Doctor Doom works best when he feels relatable and flawed. The clearest example of his weaknesses isn’t shown in the extra scene after the credits, and I’m concerned that viewers might miss the version of Doom that comic book fans have appreciated for years.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Doesn’t Seem To Have Doom’s Most Distinct Traits

The post-credits scene in Fantastic Four: First Steps hints that Doctor Doom is primarily interested in Franklin’s cosmic potential, which concerns me. It feels like the Marvel Cinematic Universe might be simplifying his character by leaving out his more personal and often small-minded reasons for doing things. The scene itself takes place several years after the Fantastic Four’s battle with Galactus.

Similar to how he always hunts for ultimate power, Doctor Doom appears to be targeting Franklin Richards, who has the potential to reshape reality itself. Although Sue Storm is clearly worried about Doom being there, he remains strangely silent and distant in this scene. We only see him from behind, and he doesn’t say a single word.

The MCU’s version of Doctor Doom is set up as a dangerous enemy right away. However, the best versions of Doom are memorable because they’re more than just powerful – they have a strong personality. He’s dramatic, presents himself as honorable, but is also spiteful and cruel. He’s a captivating villain because he fully embodies his many roles as a world leader, a master of magic, and a genius scientist.

The Doom shown after the credits roll doesn’t have the same distinctive personality as the character in the comics. It’s possible future appearances will capture the epic scale of the original stories, but so far, the MCU’s version of Doom is mainly presented as a source of simple, unsettling fear.

This villain is interesting, but they lack the unique qualities that make Doctor Doom so captivating. They don’t have his dramatic flair, inflated ego, or the specific hatred he has for the Fantastic Four. I’m concerned this will result in a less relatable and human version of the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The MCU Doom Will Lose Something Without His Hatred For Reed Richards

From the very beginning of the Fantastic Four comics, Doctor Doom’s hatred for Reed Richards has been a central part of his character. Their rivalry started in college, but it became much more intense after an experiment of Doom’s went wrong. Instead of taking responsibility, Doom blamed Richards and developed a lasting, intense dislike for him.

For decades, deep-seated hatred has defined this character, and it was key to the ending of the 2015 story Secret Wars. This history will likely be important in the upcoming Avengers movies. It fuels his arrogance and rage, making him a fascinating villain. Despite his over-the-top nature, he’s ultimately motivated by envy and anger.

Honestly, if that little scene after the credits had explained more about Doom’s backstory – like his family or his big rivalry with Reed Richards – I wouldn’t be quite so stressed about where they’re going with things. I’ve been a huge MCU fan for years, and I’ve always loved how they take these classic characters and stories and make them feel fresh and modern. That’s why I’m hoping they’ll build on Doom’s history in a way that makes sense.

As a movie critic, I’m cautiously optimistic about seeing Reed Richards and Doctor Doom finally share the screen – their rivalry is legendary, after all. But the end of First Steps hints at something a little different. It seems Doom’s primary focus might be young Franklin, which could actually lead to a more streamlined and intriguing relationship with Sue Storm. The way Sue discovers Doom, as shown in the film, feels like a deliberate nod to their complicated history in Secret Wars, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the movies explore that dynamic in full.

This change would give Sue Storm a more central role. It would also let the movies portray Doctor Doom as a more direct and serious villain. However, removing his bitter, childish resentment takes away a key part of his character. The best stories show Doom’s strong will and his ultimate weakness, and fundamentally, Doom isn’t Doom without his hatred for Reed Richards.

Doctor Doom is powerful enough to conquer the world repeatedly, but his own human flaws often cause him to fail. He’s become particularly obsessed with Reed Richards, to the point where it leads to his own downfall. In fact, the Doctor Doom comic by Christopher Cantwell and Salvador Larroca concludes with Doom destroying an entire reality just to avoid acknowledging his own need to grow as a person.

Doctor Doom is a classic Marvel villain I really appreciate. He’s been a key part of the Marvel Universe for years, and what makes him interesting is that, like many Marvel heroes, he’s deeply flawed despite his incredible power. His own human weaknesses are his downfall, which makes him a more relatable and compelling character than the typical, one-dimensional movie villain.

If the Marvel Cinematic Universe portrays Doctor Doom as simply a powerful villain, it risks losing what makes him truly interesting – his complex personality, like his deep-seated resentment of Reed Richards. I hope future Fantastic Four movies don’t focus solely on Doom as a threat and also show his more human, spiteful side.

Read More

2025-11-05 19:31