10 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Heroes Powerful Enough to Defeat Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom's Arrival Shakes the MCU
The MCU is about to face its most formidable challenge yet: Doctor Doom. After a brief but impactful cameo in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Robert Downey Jr.'s iconic supervillain is set to wreak havoc across the multiverse in the highly anticipated Avengers: Doomsday (http://cbr.com/tag/movie/avengers-doomsday/). As the first Avengers-level threat since the Mad Titan Thanos, Doctor Doom's arrival will forever alter the MCU.
The Avengers will unite with new superhero teams, including the New Avengers, the X-Men, and the Fantastic Four, to confront Doom. However, only one hero will have the honor of finally defeating him, just as Iron Man vanquished Thanos in the climactic battle of Avengers: Infinity War. While many heroes yearn for the chance to battle Doom, these characters have the best shot at emerging victorious.
The X-Men's Combined Power: A Force to Be Reckoned With
Several X-Men from Fox's universe will return in Avengers: Doomsday, including Professor Charles Xavier, Cyclops, Nightcrawler, Beast, Mystique, and Magneto. Even Channing Tatum's Gambit is set to join the fight alongside his fellow mutants to protect their home universe. Although Deadpool and Wolverine's involvement is not yet confirmed, their inclusion would only strengthen the team's capabilities against a formidable villain like Doctor Doom.
Avengers: Doomsday seems to be a fitting finale for Fox's X-Men, marking their last appearance before the team is rebooted in the next MCU saga. Despite the franchise's ups and downs, this iteration of the X-Men played a pivotal role in kickstarting the modern age of superhero movies, and their contribution to the Multiverse Saga's epic conclusion should not be overlooked. As their story concludes, it would be fitting if their final act involved saving the multiverse by defeating Doctor Doom.
Doctor Strange: The MCU's Most Powerful Hero
Doctor Strange, one of the MCU's most powerful characters (https://www.cbr.com/strongest-avengers-doomsday-characters/), is among the few Avengers with the potential to defeat the villainous Doctor Doom. In the comics, Doom is a Master of the Mystic Arts, making him an ideal counterpart to the Sorcerer Supreme. As one of the only Avengers proficient in sorcery, Doctor Strange is well-positioned to face off against Doom when he arrives.
Although Doctor Strange's appearance in Avengers: Doomsday has not been officially confirmed, fans can be assured that he will play a pivotal role in the battle against Doctor Doom. Kevin Feige has described Benedict Cumberbatch's sorcerer as the "anchor" of the Multiverse Saga, hinting at a significant role yet to be revealed, which might involve bringing about Doom's downfall.
Black Panther: A Leading Hero Deserving of Recognition
Black Panther has had a challenging journey in the Multiverse Saga. Following the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman in 2020, Marvel had to adjust its plans for the character, with Letitia Wright's Shuri stepping into T'Challa's shoes as the new protector of Wakanda. Shuri's return in Avengers: Doomsday presents her with an opportunity to prove her worth by engaging in a direct confrontation with Doctor Doom.
In the Secret Wars comics, which serve as the basis for the Multiverse Saga's finale, Black Panther plays a crucial role in the narrative. While T'Challa may not be able to fulfill this role, Shuri can. Additionally, rumors suggest that Marvel is considering rebooting the character of T'Challa, with Damson Idris as a potential actor to take on the mantle. Avengers: Doomsday could introduce an alternate-universe Black Panther capable of standing up to the MCU's newest and most terrifying villain.
Captain America: Proving His Leadership
During the Multiverse Saga, Sam Wilson earned the title of Captain America, as witnessed during the events of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and Captain America: Brave New World. However, he has yet to prove himself as the new leader of the Avengers. The best way for Sam to dispel any doubts about his leadership skills is by spearheading the effort to defeat Doom at the end of Phase 6.
While Sam Wilson's Captain America may not possess the inherent power to defeat a god-like Doctor Doom, he should be the driving force behind the mission to overthrow the villainous dictator. By expertly commanding the Avengers in the battle against Doom, Captain America could emerge as the key to defeating their most formidable new enemy.
Loki: The Only MCU Character Stronger Than Doctor Doom
Tom Hiddleston's Loki has undergone a significant transformation since his last encounter with the Avengers. During the events of his self-titled Disney+ series, Loki gained a deeper understanding of his "glorious purpose" and the burden it carries. In the series finale, Loki assumes He Who Remains' role at the center of the multiverse, trading his title of "god of mischief" for "god of stories."
Loki is now one of the most powerful characters in the MCU, wielding supernatural control over the multiverse and all its universes. Audiences can anticipate a confrontation between Loki and Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday or Secret Wars. As one of the few characters with the power to defeat Doom, Loki's victory may come at a high cost.
Spider-Man: Street-Level Hero with Cosmic Strength
Although Spider-Man's role in Avengers: Doomsday has not yet been confirmed (https://www.cbr.com/every-spider-man-variant-who-could-appear-in-avengers-doomsday/), the street-level superhero is expected to play a significant part in the battle against Doctor Doom. Tom Holland's Peter Parker shared a special bond with Tony Stark before his demise, and facing a villain who resembles his former mentor would provide him with added motivation to fight with all his might in Avengers: Doomsday.
Spider-Man's connections to the multiverse, particularly through the Web of Life and Destiny, grant him additional resources when confronting a multiversal threat like Doctor Doom. He could enlist the aid of his variants from other universes, some of whom he met in No Way Home, to make the final stand against the Multiverse Saga's main antagonist.
Thor: Redeeming Himself After Infinity War
Chris Hemsworth is set to reprise his role as Thor in the upcoming Multiverse Saga finale. As one of the few original Avengers confirmed to appear, Thor is likely to play a pivotal role in the battle against Doctor Doom. With rumors circulating that Thor could perish in Avengers: Doomsday (https://www.cbr.com/avengers-doomsday-thor-death-improved/) or Secret Wars, the MCU can provide the god of thunder with a well-deserved heroic send-off by having him defeat Doctor Doom in the end.
As a Norse god and original Avenger, Thor possesses more than enough power to challenge Doctor Doom. More importantly, defeating Doom would serve as a crucial milestone in his character arc. Thor's failure to defeat Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War still weighs on his conscience, but he could finally find redemption by avoiding the same mistakes against Doctor Doom. There may be no better way to conclude Thor's story in the MCU than by having him atone for his failure against Thanos.
Iron Man: Returning to Face His Doppelganger
Robert Downey Jr. is set to return to the MCU as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, but his comeback could be more than just a heel turn. With the multiverse on the brink of collapse in Phase 6, anyone and everyone from other timelines could make an appearance in the two-part crossover finale. This includes a variant of Tony Stark/Iron Man, who could be the one to finally defeat Doctor Doom at the end of Secret Wars.
Tony Stark's return seems inevitable with Downey's comeback to the MCU for a brief run as Doctor Doom. By having Iron Man emerge as the victor over Doom, Marvel can once again solidify him as one of the greatest heroes in the franchise's history. This would also bestow upon Stark the honorable distinction of having defeated both of the MCU's major villains: Thanos and Doctor Doom.
Mister Fantastic: Doctor Doom's Longtime Rival
Mister Fantastic and Doctor Doom share one of the most iconic rivalries in comic book history, dating back to their days as college roommates long before they assumed their super-powered identities. It would be a disservice to both characters for Avengers: Doomsday not to capitalize on the feud between Reed Richards and Victor von Doom. As his chief rival, Mister Fantastic stands a strong chance of being the one to defeat Doom in the final showdown.
Doctor Doom is expected to gain god-like powers during the events of Avengers: Doomsday, which could make it challenging for a character like Mister Fantastic to deliver the final blow. However, Reed's stretching abilities are not typically what help him overcome Doom in the comics. Instead, it is his remarkable intellect that prevails in the end. Reed could be the one to devise the strategy to defeat Doctor Doom in the next Avengers film, solidifying his status as the more intelligent of the two.
Franklin Richards: One of the Most Powerful Beings in the Universe
Franklin Richards, the son of Reed Richards and Susan Storm, will play a pivotal role in Avengers: Doomsday. The child's powers made their debut at the end of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, where he resurrected his mother after her fatal encounter with Galactus. Fans of the comics know that Franklin is one of the most powerful Marvel characters of all time, possessing myriad abilities that include reality manipulation on a universal scale.
In the 2015 Secret Wars comic, Franklin Richards plays a crucial role in rebooting the universe. It is highly likely that the MCU will draw inspiration from this comic by making Franklin a central figure in its own Secret Wars event. This was confirmed when Doctor Doom arrived to meet a young Franklin in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Franklin's growing power may be the key to Doom's evil plans, but it could also be the villain's downfall.
