Doctor Doom Just Became the Most Important Hero of Marvel’s New Continuity, Redefining His Name Forever

Warning: Spoilers for The Ultimates #6Doctor Doom is one of the most dastardly villains in Marvel lore, and his Ultimate Universe counterpart believes himself to be the very same. The Maker’s malicious treatment of him has caused him to think lowly of himself, but when the Ultimates need him most, he steps up and shows that there’s more to this version of Reed Richards than doom. Through his brave actions, the Ultimate Universe’s Doom has reclaimed his name as that of a hero.

In The Ultimates #6 by Deniz Camp, Juan Frigeri, Federico Blee, and Travis Lanham, Iron Lad assembles the Ultimates for the first time in order to face off against the Ultimate Universe’s terrifying Hulk. However, upon their arrival for the battle, the team quickly realizes they’re out of their depth as Hulk and his allies make quick work of them. Their fate ends up in Doom’s hand, since he’s the only member of the team who stayed back rather than joining the fight. With the Ultimates’ lives on the line, Doom must find a way to save his allies before they meet untimely ends.

The Ultimate variant of Doom has long struggled with whether he’s a force of good or of “doom” as suggested by his name, but his efforts to rescue his teammates prove that he’s a vital hero to the Ultimates roster.

“All Hope Lies in Doom”: Doom Is Officially the Ultimates’ Most Valuable Hero

The Ultimates Network Owes Its Continued Existence to Doom

The Ultimates get much more than they bargained for when they challenge the Hulk, whose Iron Fist powers elevate him to a threat level beyond their wildest imaginings. Once Hulk’s onslaught begins, Doom loses communication with his Ultimates teammates. Foregoing his personal interests for the time being, he jumps into action to figure out how they’re faring in their life-threatening fight with the Hulk. He accesses Iron Lad’s visual feed, only to see how badly the heroes are being beaten by their opponent. Within seconds, Doom devises a plan to rescue the Ultimates from their own botched rescue mission, acting as their beacon of hope.

It’s difficult at times to see Reed Richards beneath the Doom mask he wears over his face, considering he acts so unlike his main universe counterpart in this alternate continuity. As he conducts elaborate calculations to save his team, though, the Fantastic Four’s genius leader shines through the armor encasing him. There is still a hero within him, despite his outward appearance resembling the villainous Doctor Doom. By working through impossible odds, Doom manages to bring them to safety before Ultimate Hulk can kill them all and defy the dark implications of his name.

Doctor Doom Subverts His Tragic New Origin in the Ultimate Universe

Doctor Doom Sets Out to Prove He Can Save Lives, Not Just Doom Them

Doom suggesting that hope lies in him rather than doom marks a huge change for him, considering the tragic nature of his Fantastic Four’s origin. In The Ultimates #4, it’s revealed that the Maker interfered with Reed Richards’ past and altered the calculations for his space trip with the Fantastic Four, resulting in their horrific deaths. Then, the Maker tormented Reed and convinced him that he brings nothing but doom to those he loves, bestowing the name Doom upon him as a reminder of this. The name “Doom” gets a much darker meaning in the Ultimate Universe, and it shapes how this version of Reed perceives himself.

Doom’s self-loathing is a product of the Maker’s torture. Even as he works to rescue his fellow heroes, he says, “One mistake and everyone is dead. Again.” He’s seen how events unfolded, including the Maker’s actions, yet he can’t help but blame himself for his family’s suffering. His newfound insistence that hope lies in him demonstrates that he’s taking strides to overcome the brainwashing the Maker instilled within him and reclaim his name as a message of optimism. However, although he tries to save every member of the Ultimates, one shocking death derails his plan to redeem himself fully.

Will Doom Be Worse Off After Letting Another Ally Die?

The worst case scenario comes to pass after Doom successfully transports the Ultimates out of the fray. She-Hulk exclaims that Tony Stark is dead, having been killed by the monstrous Hulk. Iron Lad’s loss doesn’t merely deprive the Ultimates of their leader; it also robs Doom of his closest confidant in the team. Now that he’s gone, Doom will undoubtedly blame himself for letting yet another ally perish. Still, the Ultimate Universe’s Doctor Doom did manage to save the others despite the untimely death of Iron Lad, redefining him to embody hope instead of doom alone – in everyone’s eyes but his own.

The Ultimates #6 is available now from Marvel Comics.