Doctor Doom Knows How to Defeat the Fantastic Four, But the Marvel Villain Really Just Outdid Himself

WARNING: Spoilers for Fantastic Four #29 and One World Under Doom #1Doctor Doom has found many ways to defeat the Fantastic Four over the years, but his most recent victory may be his greatest of all time. Marvel's First Family has been vilified in the eyes of the public, with Doom being to blame for their shattered reputation. Although his global takeover is an impressive enough feat on its own, having the people on his side shows that Doctor Doom has truly defeated the Fantastic Four in every way.

In Fantastic Four #29 by Ryan North, Cory Smith, Jesus Aburtov, and Joe Caramagna, Invisible Woman is out with the Thing and She-Hulk when they notice a mob harassing a family of vampires for feeding on a pigeon. The Fantastic Four heroes try to calm the crowd down, but the people quickly turn on them.

Fantastic Four #29 An angry mob chants that only Doom can save them as they chase off the Fantastic Four — Fantastic Four #29

The mob chases off the Fantastic Four while criticizing them for not taking the same stance against vampires that Doom is, as seen during the Blood Hunt event. Doctor Doom has successfully won the world to his side, cementing his most devastating win over the Fantastic Four.

Doctor Doom Just Secured His Greatest Victory Over the Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four Have Lost the World's Favor in a Shocking Change

Fantastic Four #29 People hang up Latverian flags and signs that praise Doctor Doom — Fantastic Four #29

Doctor Doom fulfilled his global domination in One World Under Doom #1, though he didn't accomplish this by battling his way to the top and threatening people to do his bidding. Instead, by the looks of it, he's convinced every world leader to grant him power, and he's used his words and actions to depict himself as a heroic figure to civilians. For instance, because he's ended the vampire threat himself, he is perceived as a bastion of hope to those who live in fear of vampires. The Fantastic Four, on the other hand, have been painted as villains.

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In most of the Fantastic Four's encounters with Doom, even when the odds are stacked against them, they at least have the advantage of people rooting for them. People tend to want heroes to win and villains to lose, after all. Now, that dynamic has been subverted, as the angry mobs are naming Doom as their hero and calling out the Fantastic Four for letting them down. Doctor Doom has turned everyone against the Fantastic Four, and considering his history of despising them, it must be satisfying for him to be loved by his citizens while his superhero rivals have become universally hated.

Doctor Doom Has Defeated Marvel's Heroes by Earning the Public's Trust

Without People on Their Side, The Fantastic Four Are Powerless

The superheroes of the Marvel Universe typically have the world's favor on their side, but Doctor Doom has done the unthinkable and turned the tables against them. He's devised plenty of plans to take down the Fantastic Four over the years, but he's achieved the ultimate victory by simply getting people to prefer him over them. In One World Under Doom, Victor von Doom speaks to the public and spreads propaganda about how he's the savior of humanity. The Fantastic Four and their fellow heroes try to expose him as a fraud, but their efforts only further cement his rule.

Catch up on Doctor Doom's quest for world domination in One World Under Doom #1 by Ryan North and R.B. Silva!

When the heroes discover that Doctor Doom killed Baron Zemo and replaced him with a Doombot rather than actually partnering with him as he claims, Iron Man attempts to share his lies with the world and take back their trust. However, Doom then outsmarts the heroes by using that as an opportunity to boast about how he's taken down a Nazi ruler while the superheroes have failed to pull off the same feat. By the end of this issue, people are agreeing that "only Doom can save us", whereas the Fantastic Four are shunned as a result of Doom's manipulation of the masses.

Doctor Doom's Revenge Against the Fantastic Four Is Only Getting Started

The Fantastic Four Are About to Face Major Losses Against Doom

doctor doom attacks fantastic four's thing

Doctor Doom has already defeated the Fantastic Four, but his onslaught against them is just beginning. The solicitation for Fantastic Four #30 reveals that Doom will change the Thing back to a human form, stripping away his rock-like forms and superhuman abilities. After that, he'll be targeting every member of the Fantastic Four one by one until none remain. It isn't enough for Doom to turn the world against them, as he must also eliminate them entirely by robbing them of their powers. The Fantastic Four have experienced a defeat like no other at the hands of Doctor Doom, and it'll only get worse from here on out.

Fantastic Four #29 is available now from Marvel Comics!