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The Marvel Cinematic Universe is preparing to remold its franchise in Doctor Doom’s image. With former Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. announced for the role, the character is said to be the MCU’s next Big Bad, expected to appear most prominently in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars as the lead antagonist. Doom diverts from the MCU’s original Kang plans, but perhaps another villain is better suited to do so.
Ultimately, The Maker is most worthy of leading the MCU, more so than Doctor Doom. Despite never being adapted for the big or small screen, The Maker has already become immensely popular in the mainstream, partially because of how Marvel Rivals has lent to Marvel’s comic book boom period. One alternate skin for the Reed Richards video game model has inspired players to research who The Maker is, learning just how disturbing his comic background is.
That same comic book background is the key to guiding the MCU into its next phase, more so than Doctor Doom ever could.
The Maker Is Saving Marvel Comics, And Could Be The MCU’s Ultimate Antagonist
Marvel’s “Evil Reed Richards” Deserves A Live-Action Arc
The Maker is best described as an evil Reed Richards, or rather, a sick interpolation of Reed Richards that hails from the original Ultimate Universe, Earth-1610. This is a Reed who never felt warmed by the loving touch of The Fantastic Four, but rather, neutered. He’s just as much of a genius as the Reed Richards of Marvel’s official continuity, but a mad genius whose madness only worsens overtime, with the events of Ultimatum marking the breaking point for himself and his family.
The Ultimatum event is chronicled in the 2009 five-part miniseries of the same name, written by Jeph Loeb, with art by David Finch, along with a number of tie-in books from the era.
Reed completely remodels himself as The Maker, committing unabashedly to acts of villainy even after the Ultimate Universe’s destruction. In response, he remodels Earth-6160 as a new Marvel Universe made in his image. Not only is he bold in his attempt, but the results show how he has been successful on and off page. The Maker’s lingering presence has made everything revolving around the new Ultimate Universe a must-read, and among the best comics on shelves today. Such a commanding presence is essential for any successful franchise, even the MCU.
The Maker Is A Tragic Villain On The Level Of Thanos, Perfect For The MCU
A Deeply Complex, But Highly Dangerous Antagonist
Onscreen and on-panel, Thanos proved to be among Marvel’s most compelling villains. In the MCU, Thanos remained captivating for his unique outlook on life and a determination to bring balance to the universe. Even in the comics, where his mission statement is more so motivated by an obsessive crush on Death incarnate, it’s his determination to commit villainy that makes him a force with longevity. The MCU’s success was largely built around such excitement and longevity around Thanos, a villain who lingered since The Avengers, six years before being an actual antagonist for Infinity War.
Similarly, The Maker lingers over the Ultimate Universe in the same manner, often spoken and heard of far more often than he’s ever actually seen. Things like The Maker’s Council has added significance to Marvel’s villains, making them matter in the long run, whilst also making The Maker feel like more of an ominous threat. The reader is never sure when he’ll actually strike, yet, his elusiveness only adds to his allure. In some ways, it even creates a greater sense of fear for whenever he does decide to show up. This exact structure turned Thanos into the MCU’s Big Bad.
The Maker Would Be The Perfect Antagonist To Follow Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom
There’s Only One Way To Follow Doom
It’s easy to look at The Maker’s history, past, and connection to Mister Fantastic and assume he only works as a villain for Reed and the Fantastic Four. It’s certainly timely to do so, knowing that Fantastic Four: First Steps is on the horizon. However, The Maker’s villain potential supersedes Fantastic Four, and has for a long time. He has had vendettas against far more heroes than just Marvel’s first family. Technically speaking, for how he’s warped the multiverse and Earth-6160, he has beef with the entire new Ultimate Universe.
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Alternatively, he shares a connection with Miles Morales, as he and Spider-Man are the only surviving members of the destroyed Earth-1610. Elsewhere, he’s used the X-Men’s Krakoan gateways to escape Earth-616, using it and other tech he’s stolen against other superheroes. The Maker is a supervillain mastermind, and, as such, can produce just enough levels of petty to strike a chord with any hero opposing him. That kind of rare quality in an enemy is what most readers find so appealing about Doctor Doom. The difference is that, arguably, The Maker is even more effective in his wrongdoing.
The Maker Opens The Door To A Reboot The MCU Sorely Needs
The Perfect Justification For Restarting The Marvel Cinematic Universe
There have been rumors circulating that The Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars will serve as a soft reboot for the MCU. Particularly Secret Wars, as the 2015 comic crossover centers around Doctor Doom using cosmic power to become God Emperor Doom and, essentially, reboots the multiverse to his liking. This is exactly what The Maker has done for the new Ultimate Universe. If the Maker were to be adapted to the MCU, everything he’s done to the Ultimate Universe presents a ready-made onscreen story, even post-Secret Wars.
A case can be made for this to even be a meta story for the screen. While welcome the thought of a reboot, the Maker’s meddling has shown that a reboot can be anything but good for the characters left behind. Even now, as readers adore the Ultimate Universe, The Maker has tainted it to the point that the most logical way for the heroes to win may be to end the Ultimate Universe. In any case, making audiences regret a reboot as an unwelcome obstacle for the protagonists presents a compelling story in movie and comic form.
The Maker Conquers Doctor Doom In More Ways Than One
If Not A Successor To Doom, Perhaps A Rival?
As much of a case can be made for why The Maker is a better villain than Doctor Doom, he wholeheartedly wins that argument when considering their latest interaction. The Maker defeats Doom on a mental, physical, and emotional level never before seen. He doesn’t just conquer him, The Maker creates Doctor Doom from his destruction. In re-crafting his new Ultimate Universe, it isn’t complete without his longtime rival. So, he captures a Reed Richards from another universe, tortures him to the point of deformity, and forces him to comply with his new origin of being Doctor Doom.
This one moment doesn’t just highlight Reed’s multiversal hatred for Doctor Doom, but that Maker’s vile nature knows no limitations.
Doctor Doom in any iteration, especially Earth-616, has always been diabolical, but never to this extent. This one moment doesn’t just highlight Reed’s multiversal hatred for Doctor Doom, but that Maker’s vile nature knows no limitations. At least Doom traditionally has a moral code of honor and, in his mind, carries good intentions. The Maker’s heart pumps purely with evil, and his intentions are no less than selfish and spiteful. A villain like that is scarily effective. The Maker’s terrifying and impactful in more ways than even the great Doctor Doom, and one day, he’s make an ideal MCU baddie.
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