Most Marvel villains would be terrified at the sight of Doctor Doom‘s most brutal feat. On one end of the villain spectrum are antagonists whose self-serving actions are born from complex motivations, like Magneto. On the other end lie the true embodiments of unfiltered evil, like Mephisto and Green Goblin.
Standing at the apex of this hierarchy is Doctor Doom, Marvel’s most famous and iconic villain. Victor von Doom commands respect through a sophisticated veneer of authority and intellectual brilliance. Unlike many of his peers, Doom rarely appears visually evil in a traditional sense. Doom doesn’t cackle at suffering or delight in random destruction. However, his restraint makes his brand of villainy even more dangerous.
Doctor Doom’s Most Brutal Armor Is Literally His Dead Girlfriend
Fantastic Four Vol. 3 #67 (2003); Written by Mark Waid; Art by Mike Wieringo, Karl Kesel, and Paul Mounts
Doctor Doom wears his ex girlfriend’s skin as leather armor
In the 2003 Fantastic Four storyline “Unthinkable,” Victor von Doom decides that his scientific genius is no longer enough. Doom seeks to master the mystic arts and turns to a trio of demons known as the Haazareth Three. The demons demand a sacrifice, and Doom complies. Doctor Doom tracks down his ex-girlfriend Valeria and murders her as a ritualistic offering.
The demons accept the soul of his beloved and, in a gruesome display of supernatural craftsmanship, fashion her remains into a new suit of armor. Doom then wears this mystical leather armor made from Valeria’s actual skin. Doom gains immense magical capabilities that allow him to cast physics-defying spells that match the power of the Fantastic Four’s greatest strengths.
Valeria’s death represents the total desecration of the final traces of Doctor Doom’s humanity. While Doom often views himself as a noble leader, this act strips away the honor he usually claims to possess. Turning the woman he loves into a literal tool is a step too far, even for Doctor Doom. Beneath the regal cape and the metal mask lies a man willing to commit the unthinkable to prove he is superior to everyone else.
Doctor Doom Is An Inexcusable Villain, Regardless Of How Charismatic He May Be
Victor Von Doom Will Never Be Redeemed
Doctor Doom casts a spell wearing the Cloak of Levitation in One World Under Doom
Doctor Doom often tries to paint his evil deeds as the harsh but noble actions of a wise hero. But while his unwavering confidence is captivating, it only serves as a sophisticated mask for a deeply narcissistic monster. Doom’s heroic posturing for integrity has nothing to do with seeking a better the world for others. Rather, he seeks only to prove his own superiority.
The noble dictator myth falls apart pretty quickly. Although Doctor Doom has a soft spot for his goddaughter Valeria Richards, there’s no sliver of kindness in his heart. Doom’s ambition outweighs any shred of human empathy. Crafting armor from his ex-girlfriend’s skin is a level of depravity that no amount of diplomatic immunity or orderly Latverian streets can justify. Few villains are willing to do anything remotely similar.