"Only Doom Can Save Us": Like It or Not, Marvel Knows Its Smartest Villain Is Doctor Doom

Warning: Spoilers for One World Under Doom #1Doctor Doom has seized control over the Earth, and the strategy he's utilized to secure his reign cements him as Marvel's smartest villain. Since becoming Sorcerer Supreme, Doom's plan has been to claim every nation as his own, but he doesn't need magical power to pull his plan off. Instead, the key element of his strategy is his intellect - as well as his way with words - which has allowed Doom to triumph over Marvel's heroes.

One World Under Doom #1 by Ryan North, R.B. Silva, David Curiel, and Travis Lanham kicks off Doom's highly anticipated takeover of the Marvel Universe. In a speech to people around the globe, Doom declares that he's bringing every nation together in a "United Latveria", where war is outlawed and healthcare and education are universal.

He concludes his message by saying, "Doom is wisdom. Doom is power. Doom is prosperity. And only Doom can save you."Doom's tactic of seizing control through promising positive changes as opposed to weaponizing his powers demonstrates just how smart he is, which he further proves when the heroes take a stand against him.

Doctor Doom's Marvel Takeover Proves How Smart He Truly Is

Marvel's Best and Brightest All Fall For Doom's Manipulative Trap

When Doom announces at the start of this issue that the leaders of every nation have declared their loyalty to him, Marvel's heroes - including the Avengers and the Fantastic Four - refuse to believe him and decide to launch their offensive. They then discover that Zemo, who'd been by Doom's side, has been killed and replaced with a Doombot. They believe the war against Doom will end once they spread the word, since he can no longer win the hearts of the public if he's known as a fraud. As it turns out, though, the heroes sharing the truth about Zemo is all part of Doctor Doom's plan.

Doom addresses the planet and admits that he's kept the truth hidden, though he's still done them a service by murdering Zemo when even the "good guys" couldn't. He frames the superheroes as incompetent for letting Nazis run rampant, while he's established world peace within a day. A woman thus echoes his earlier words and agrees that "only Doom can save us". Although the heroes hoped that unveiling the truth behind Doctor Doom's trickery would expose him for the fraud he is, their efforts actually make him look better - and, by extension, make them look worse.

Doctor Doom Is Playing the Long Game Against Marvel's Superheroes

Since Becoming Sorcerer Supreme, Doom Has Made Clever Moves

Doctor Doom's quest for power has been going according to his wicked plans all along, despite the heroes' fruitless attempts to interfere. He first becomes the new Sorcerer Supreme at the end of the Blood Hunt event when it's made clear to Doctor Strange that only he can save the world from the vampire threat, hinting at his overall strategy to seize world domination through presenting himself as the planet's savior. He then constructs a magical dome around Latveria - which even the Fantastic Four can't infiltrate - and formulates his strategy to win the world over through manipulation rather than sheer force alone.

Another example of Doom leading Marvel's superheroes into a trap can be found in Fantastic Four #28 by Ryan North and Steven Cummings, in which Reed Richards seeks out the Black Knight's help to find a magical means of defeating Sorcerer Supreme Doom. Dane Whitman takes the Fantastic Four back in time to unearth a weapon that he calls the "Fated Sword". However, as soon as they dig it up, Doctor Doom appears. He reveals that the weapon is actually the Doomblade, the only weapon capable of hurting him. Doom destroys the sword, once again tricking the heroes into carrying out his bidding and furthering his conquest.

Marvel's Heroes Are Powerless Against Doctor Doom's Genius Tactics

Doctor Doom's World Domination Won't Be Easily Thwarted

Doctor Doom has the people of Earth in the palm of his hand, as they believe him to be the good guy, and Marvel's heroes are left at a loss by this premier issue's conclusion. They initially anticipated that Doom had some sort of mystical control over the planet, but in reality, he's won them over through claiming to act for their greater good. Superheroes can take on most foes with ease, yet a villain who's obtained power through being revered by the masses can't be eliminated with fists. Doctor Doom's intelligence transcends even his magic, and the heroes have learned that the hard way.

One World Under Doom #1 is available now from Marvel Comics!