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The Most Brutal, Shocking, and Gross Moments of HOUSE OF THE DRAGON Season 2

House of the Dragon season two is finally here and the tension is overflowing between the Blacks and the Greens. The first episode shows a remorseful Queen Alicent who realizes she’s set the stage for violence to swallow her family whole. On the other side is (THE RIGHTFUL QUEEN) Rhaenyra, who is mourning the loss of her son Lucerys and only speaks four words in the entire episode: “I want Aemond Targaryen.” I know that’s right, sis. This season is in full swing and, if the first season is any indication, House of the Dragon will keep delivering lots of shocking, gross, brutal, and bloody moments. 

Jump To: Episode 1 // Episode 2 // Episode 3 // Episode 4 // Episode 5 // Episode 6 // Episode 7HBOEpisode 1 – “A Son for a Son”Queen Alicent and Criston Cole Are a, Um, Thing Now

In terms of the Game of Thrones universe, this episode was actually rather tame. The first shocking (well, more like gently surprising) moment was the oral sex scene between Alicent and Ser Criston Cole. (We all hate him, right? RIGHT?!) I felt like there were a few hints that they might get together, especially considering how salty he STILL IS over Rhaenyra rejecting his proposal years ago. But there was nothing outright to suggest that their relationship had turned sexual until now. 

It’s even more shocking for poor Helaena to walk in on her mother on top of him after witnessing the brutal murder of her child. 

The Murder of Jaehaerys Targaryen By Blood and Cheese

Speaking of that, the death of Jaehaerys Targaryen has viewers divided but it still certainly registers as a shocking moment. Helaena has to watch her baby boy’s head be slowly sawn off and collected by Blood and Cheese. She then flees the room and alerts Alicent about the death. It’s not the first time a child has died in this universe, of course. But this level of brutality happening to a very small and innocent one is jarring. Daemon has really started some mess!

Episode 2 – “Rhaenyra the Cruel”The Prince Jaehaerys Street Processional Max

Otto’s plan to use Jaehaerys’ death to 1) frame Rhaenyra for it and 2) drum up support/sympathy from the kingdom’s subjects was gross. It was incredibly jarring to see his little body (with the head sewn back on) as the carriage made its way through the streets. This only proves that there are people on both sides willing to do anything to win this ongoing battle.

The Hanging of the Ratcatchers

What a terrible time to be a ratcatcher in King’s Landing. Aegon acts out of rage after Blood tells him that his accomplice is a ratcatcher and orders all of them to be hung and displayed in the streets. Cheese is one of them but this move also turns many people in the kingdom away from the royal family.

Ser Criston Cole Becomes Aegon’s Hand

Otto rightfully calls Aegon out about his abhorrent actions. Aegon responds that he will not be seen as weak and dismisses his own grandfather as his Hand. He names Criston Cole, which only gives the latter more power to continue his plan to hurt Rhaenyra in any way possible. We bet Aegon wouldn’t be so thrilled if he knew Criston was sleeping with his mother…

The Twin Duel Between Arryk and Erryk Ends in Tragedy Ollie Upton/HBO

Ser Criston Cole decides to make himself feel less guilty about his actions by essentially sentencing Arryk to death. He sends him to Dragonstone to slay Rhaenyra, knowing it will not end well no matter what. Arryk and Erryk confront each other in Rhaenyra’s bedchambers. Their fight ends with Arryk killing Erryk before he stabs himself with his sword. What an awful ending, indeed.

Episode 3 – “The Burning Mill”The Bracken and Blackwood Slaughter

The beginning of episode three shows us tension boiling over between two feuding collectives who have also chosen sides in the Black vs. Green fight. An argument over boundary stones leads to a full on slaughter where everyone dies. Yikes.

Aegon Embarrasses Aemond 

Aegon goes to Aemond’s familiar haunt to make fun of his brother, who is spending time confiding in a sex worker. Aemond doesn’t have anything to be ashamed of considering his encounters with her are consensual (unlike Aegon’s horrific sexual assaults of staff) but his brother certainly makes him feel like a lesser man (and quietly angry) because he has a fondness for this specific woman. Aemond leaves as Aegon offers his squire to the woman. Terrible. 

Daemon’s Vision of Rhaenyra and Jaehaerys 

Daemon is off to his own adventure at Harrenhal. He stays there after “conquering” it but finds it hard to relax. Daemon believes someone is at his door to attack him and he goes out to see a vision of a younger Rhaenyra saying he has to clean up his messes as he comes and goes. He sees her sewing Jaehaerys head back on and watches in horror before coming back to reality… or so he thought. He gets an omen that he will die where he is. Hmmm. 

HBORhaenyra Returns to King’s Landing to Confront (a Very Stubborn) Alicent

Rhaenyra makes one last ditch effort to stop the war. With Mysaria’s help, she disguises herself and gets to Alicent. She tells her that war is not necessary and they even get clarity about what Viserys really meant on his deathbed. Still, Alicent says her son being king is not a mistake and she refuses to help correct things in any way. Sigh.

Jump To: Episode 1 // Episode 2 // Episode 3 // Episode 4 // Episode 5 // Episode 6 // Episode 7Episode 4 – “The Red Dragon and the Gold”Corlys Keeps Alyn, His Illegitimate Son, a Secret

Episode 4 takes poor Rhaenys on a wild ride before her shocking death alongside her dragon Meleys. She’s disrespected by Rhaenyra’s council while trying to protect Baela and she also acknowledges that one of the men who works under her husband Corlys is likely his son. Having kids outside of wedlock is certainly nothing new for this world (and ours, tbh). But, out of all the men in House of the Dragon, Corlys seemed to be one of the most morally upstanding ones. Blocking his son from having a higher position and refusing to acknowledge him after Alyn saved his life is nasty work.

Criston Cole’s Violent Tour

Criston Cole continues to push forward with his army, heading to Darklyn to give people a choice: choose Team Green or choose death. Lord have mercy.

HBOAlicent Is Pregnant and Chooses to Use an Abortive Tea

Honestly, this isn’t too shocking. If you keep having hetero sex with someone in a world before birth control options, pregnancy is a possibility. But it is still a shock to see her processing all of this while her sons are acting a fool and her child’s father is outside doing the most.

Aemond Barbequing Aegon and Sunfyre

We all know that Aemond is willing to go for blood. And, after dealing with Aegon’s harassment last episode (and his terrible personality in general), Aemond and Criston Cole team up for a battle plan. When Aegon shows up with Sunfyre against all good advice and engages in a fight with Rhaenys/Meleys, Aemond and Vhagar show up to take action. Aemond times his “Dracarys” at a very convenient moment where his brother is in the crossfire. I’m pretty sure he was trying to kill him alongside Rhaneys.

The Entire Battle at Rook’s Rest

Whew. From Rhaenys’ death to the charred fate for Aegon, this entire battle featured some dragons dancing, which is the real reason why we are here. Love to see it.

Episode 5 – “Regent”Meleys’ Head Takes a Trip Through Kings Landing 

In the aftermath of Rhaenys’ death, Criston Cole somehow thought it would be a good idea to drag Meleys head through Kings Landing to show how strong the king is. That, in fact, was not a good idea. It only disturbed others and made them question their current leadership versus what they had under Viserys and could have under Rhaenyra. 

King Aegon’s Fried Body 

Aegon looks pretty bad. Alicent watches in horror as the Grand Maester and his men pry Aegon’s steel armor off and reveal the bloody, charred, and broken skin beneath. Of course, Aemond is all ready to rule in his stead, which isn’t shocking at all. 

HBODaemon’s Weird Oedipal Sex Dream 

Team Black isn’t doing so great either. Daemon continues to lose his mind at Harrenhal with perhaps his most disturbing dream sequence yet. He’s confronted by his mother and they embrace sexually and boy is it weird and stomach-churning. His dream is broken after she takes a dig at him by saying “if only you were born first.” His obvious issues with not being the next ruler fully take over as he starts his own plan to rule as a King. Oh boy. 

Jaecaerys Becomes the Real MVP

Rhaenyra’s kids haven’t been particularly useful until now. Jaecaerys (a.k.a. Jace) flies to the Twins and manages to secure the Freys’ allegiance in exchange for Harrenhal. He does this on his own volition, which upsets Rhaenyra to a degree but also makes her proud. At the end of the episode, she’s upset that she’s unable to make any actual moves because she is the Queen. She’s also not happy that they don’t have dragonriders but Jace comes up with a brilliant idea.

He says there are Targaryen descendants in other Houses that could claim and ride a dragon. In other words, go out and look for the “bastards.” The duo begin to go through genealogical records to see whom they can find. 

HBOEpisode 6 – “Smallfolk” Aemond Releases Alicent From the Council

Alicent continues to not have a great time in episode 6. After a council meeting, Aemond tells his mother that her services on the council are no longer needed. She chastises him for being young and foolish but he doesn’t care.

Viserys Returns (in Daemon’s Dreams)

We wrote more about Viserys making his return, which wasn’t too shocking. It was Daemon’s real-life reactions to seeing his brother, which included him nearly slicing Simon Strong’s neck and crying.

Seasmoke Barbeques Ser Steffon Darklyn Before Choosing His Own Rider, Addam

Seasmoke is so unserious. Jace’s idea that others with Targaryen ancestry can become dragonriders does not start off very well. Ser Steffon willingly faces Seasmoke, who seems to accept him at first. Just as he begins to approach and try to mount the dragon, Seasmoke is like “sikkkeeee” and lights him on fire. Interestingly, Seasmoke flies off and chooses Alyn’s brother Addam, who is also the illegitimate son of Corlys.

HBOAlicent and Helaena Nearly Die During Riots

Rhaenyra and Mysaria’s plan to turn the smallfolk against the royals is working like a charm. They are starving and hear rumors that the royals are having feasts. And, after Rhaenyra sends ships of food to them, they are in the streets fighting and unhappy with their current leadership. Alicent and Helaena are in the midst of lighting candles and praying when guards whisk them out into the streets. We see a couple of royal guards go down against the smallfolk and Alicent is even hit in the face with food. Yikes.

Mysaria’s Confession and Her Kiss With Rhaenyra

Rhaenyra is still uncertain that she will win this war and claim the throne. Mysaria reveals that she trusts her completely, which is a big deal considering her past. She opens up to Rhaenyra and says her own father raped her, resulting in the birth of a son. Mysaria was left for dead but survived it all. Rhaenyra embraces her and they share a passionate kiss.

Episode 7 – “The Red Sowing” Lord Oscar Tully Gives Daemon the Business

Oscar Tully is in charge now and he’s not taking any s**t from Daemon. They confront each other at Harrenhal and Tully takes Daemon down a peg in front on everyone, calling him loathsome among other things. In the end, Daemon has to kill Willem Blackwood for the crimes he allowed to happen against the Brackens. Maybe Daemon will get himself together now.

Jace Confronts Rhaenyra About His Biological Father

Jace is not cool with Targaryen bastards who are smallfolk taking dragons. He believes they will come for the throne following Rhaenyra’s death, as they have the trademark silver hair and he does not. He asks his mother if she thought he would have dark hair when she took Harwin Strong into her bed. Oop. She doesn’t chastise him nor argue against what he is saying, so they move on with the plan.

HBOThe Big Dragon BBQ

Rhaenyra warned the Targaryen bastards that many of them would die trying to claim a dragon. Still, they went into the pit and, well, Vermithor wastes no time taking just about everyone out. Hugh the Hammer manages to tame this great beast but not until a fiery mess is made.

Aemond Stands Down in the Face of Rhaenyra

After Ulf the White takes Silverwing on a ride through King’s Landing, Aemond quickly mounts Vhagar to figure out what’s going on. He doesn’t get too close before he can see Rhaenyra standing with THREE dragons behind her. It’s truly about to go down in the finale.

We cannot wait to see what other shocking, bloody, and gross moments will happen in House of the Dragon season two.

Jump To: Episode 1 // Episode 2 // Episode 3 // Episode 4 // Episode 5 // Episode 6 // Episode 7

Originally published June 17, 2024.

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Who Plays Lady Deadpool in DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE? The Actress Behind the Mask Revealed

Lady Deadpool was one of the Deadpool Variants that Deadpool & Wolverine teased us with even before the movie was released in theaters. After some initial quick glimpses, we got a good look at her strutting her stuff in the final trailer for Deadpool & Wolverine. But the fully masked nature of the lady in question led fans to ask the natural next question. Just who plays Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine? In case you didn’t sit through the credits to find out, here’s the truth about the actress behind the Lady Deadpool mask and ponytail. (And it turns out this Deadpool & Wolverine casting has a surprisingly rich history to it.)

[image error]Blake Lively Plays Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & WolverineMarvel Studios

So, just who is it that plays Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine? Well, as many fans theorized, Lady Deadpool’s actress is Blake Lively. There isn’t yet confirmation of whether Lively was actually wearing the Lady Deadpool costume in the MCU movie or just giving voice to the role. However, one way or the other, Blake Lively is credited as Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine.

Of course, this casting makes sense on a surface level because Blake Lively is married to Deadpool’s actor Ryan Reynolds. But there’s actually an interesting Marvel history to Blake Lively playing Lady Deadpool that extends beyond this real-world connection.

Rob Liefeld Designed Lady Deadpool with Blake Lively in Mind Over a Decade Before Deadpool & WolverineMarvel Studios/Marvel Comics

In 2010, Deadpool’s creator, Rob Liefeld, first unmasked Lady Deadpool in Marvel Comics. And in 2022, he shared an Instagram post discussing the character at greater length. In it, he noted that Blake Lively served as the inspiration for Lady Deadpool’s unmasked form in the 2010 comic. Liefield shared:

My most bad-ass contribution to Girl Power in comics, LADY DEADPOOL! First introduced 13 years back, we unmasked her in 2010, with her unblemished visage. Based entirely on Blake Lively as Joy and I were crazy Uber Gossip Girl fans (who wasn’t right?), never missing an episode. Yup, I pleaded a strong case that Wanda Wilson was a stunning blonde, no scars and Marvel thought that was a cool idea. Invoked Blake [Lively] on GG and they gave me the thumbs up. Serena Van Der Woodsen forever! Upon meeting Blake [Lively] on the set of Deadpool, I was tongue tied in the most embarrassing fashion. Years later at the Golden Globes I again bothered to the point I think I was speaking in tongues. If ever we are blessed with Lady Deadpool on screen I’m pretty certain Ms. Lively will have some say in the casting. 

Yes, it was Liefeld’s great love of Gossip Girl and Blake Lively’s character Serena Van Der Woodsen that inspired the unmasked Lady Deadpool in Marvel Comics. We’ll talk more about Wanda Wilson below, but it seems like she might have been completely different looking without Lively’s influence. The blonde hair, the clear skin, the long blonde ponytail—those Marvel Comics Lady Deadpool features all came right from the actress herself.

Rob Liefeld Had No Idea Blake Lively Would Actually Play Lady Deadpool

What a truly happy accident. And no, Liefeld had no idea that Blake Lively was actually about to play Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine at the time. As he notes in his Instagram share, he never managed to get up the courage to tell the actress about the way she inspired the Marvel Comics character.

Additionally, Lively shares in her own post, “Just before all this in 2010, @robliefeld drew an unmasked Lady Deadpool for the first time, go to the next slide for his words. @deadpoolmovie wasn’t real. And Rob had no idea I was working with @vancityreynolds. 12 years later, I read Rob’s post. A year after that, @deadpoolmovie 3 was filmed… And today it’s in theaters. The universe has such a magical sense of humor sometimes.” It does at that.

Who Is Blake Lively’s Character, Lady Deadpool, in Deadpool & Wolverine and Marvel Comics?

Although we know that Blake Lively is the actress behind Lady Deadpool in Deadpool & Wolverine, Lady Deadpool never actually unmasks in the MCU movie. But in addition to her casting, we know that Lady Deadpool was the fearless leader of “the Deadpool Corps,” the group of Deadpools that Cassandra Nova had amassed in the void. Lady Deadpool and the rest engage in a bloody battle with Deadpool and Wolverine as they try to stop Nova from shredding the universe.

Rob Liefeld

Meanwhile, in Marvel Comics, Lady Deadpool is described as follows, “Motivated by money, television, junk food, and sometimes love, this merc with a mouth packs lipgloss and is known as Lady Deadpool.” In addition, we know Lady Deadpool’s name is Wanda Wilson and she hails from the Earth-3010 reality where she is a female Deadpool counterpart. She’s also a “former mercenary and government test-subject” who fights in a Second American Civil War against a fascistic American government. Lady Deadpool dies in the comics in Deadpool Kills Deadpool #3 in 2013. Like Deadpool, Lady Deadpool has a rapid healing factor, but “regenerating brain cells due to repeated brain injuries leaves her sanity and memories severely damaged.” Additionally, she’s an incredible athlete with “peak human strength, speed and agility.” Lady Deadpool has incredible skill in multiple unarmed combat techniques but also excels with weapons and wields a combination of guns and swords.

Other Blake Lively References in Deadpool & Wolverine

Blake Lively’s Lady Deadpool appearance and credits mention weren’t the only times that Lively played a role in Deadpool & Wolverine, though. Deadpool is a very Meta character and often breaks the fourth wall. And some of those fourth wall breaks invoked Blake Lively as the wife of Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds.

Marvel Studios

In the movie’s opening sequence, one of Deadpool’s one-liners notes, “There are 206 bones in the human body—207 if I’m watching Gossip Girl.” Blake Lively, of course, starred in Gossip Girl. Later in the movie, Deadpool scolds Wolverine, “Get your mind out of my pants, man, or I’m telling Blake.”

We expected Blake Lively to play Lady Deadpool, but we could not have expected her to be so entrenched in so many aspects of Deadpool & Wolverine‘s world. And who knows, we just might see Lady Deadpool and Blake Lively back again in some other part of the MCU’s world.

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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Aaron Stanford Talks Pyro’s Return

Deadpool & Wolverine star Aaron Stanford (Pyro) sits down with Nerdist’s Ro Rusak to talk about returning to the role after almost 20 years, how Pyro has evolved, and more!

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Is THE BATMAN the Most Underrated DC Cartoon?

This video is sponsored by Man and Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps, in theaters nationwide on July 28 and 30 with Fathom Events! Get your tickets now at https://manandwitch.com/k0zj

With a new Batman animated series on the horizon, Nerdist’s Kyle Anderson is taking a closer look at one of the Caped Crusader’s more forgotten adventures. But does The Batman hold up 20 years later?

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DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE: Kevin Feige On Finally Seeing Hugh Jackman in the Iconic Suit

Deadpool & Wolverine executive producers Kevin Feige and Wendy Jacobson sit down with Nerdist’s Maude Garrett to discuss Feige’s history with the X-Men, Marvel team-ups, and the excitement of finally seeing Hugh Jackman in the iconic blue and yellow suit.

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S2 E6 “Smallfolk” Breakdown | MAESTERMINDS

Welcome back for more fire and blood, House of the Dragon fans! Dan Casey gathers his extra small council of Michael Walsh to discuss their reactions to episode 6 “Smallfolk”, and dive deep into everything you missed in the world of Westeros on today’s Maesterminds!

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Complete Marvel History of RED HULK

The long anticipated debut of Red Hulk in the MCU is officially here! But before you see him crash the big screen in Captain America: Brave New World, Kyle Anderson has you cover with a complete Marvel history of Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross and his fiery alter ego.

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HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S2 E5 “Regent” Breakdown | MAESTERMINDS

Welcome back for more fire and blood, House of the Dragon fans! Dan Casey gathers his extra small council of Michael Walsh to discuss their reactions to episode 5 “Regent”, and dive deep into everything you missed in the world of Westeros on today’s Maesterminds!

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HELL HOLE Is Way Too Talky to Be Anything Close to Scary (Fantasia Fest Review)

I respect any indie filmmakers who have a consistent output and a brand of their own. In the horror space especially, this is part of the fun. Osgood Perkins, for example, has recently proven his own unique take on scary movies can be successful and still stay true to his vision. Similarly, I have the utmost respect for the horror-making consortium known as The Adams Family and their continual turnout of movies. I must confess, however, the movies they make haven’t really done much for me. Their latest, Hell Hole, which I saw at Fantasia International Film Festival 2024, is the one I’ve liked the best, which is something I suppose.

Fantasia Fest

The Adams Family consist of father John Adams, mother Toby Poser, and daughters Lulu Adams and Zelda Adams. All or most of them write, direct, and appear in all of their films. They are undoubtedly talented, and prolific of late. Their previous horror outings have been 2019’s The Deeper You Dig, 2021’s Hellbender, and 2023’s Where the Devil Roams. All of those films had a certain visual eeriness and a muted tone. Where they usually lose me is in the story, which is often so sparse you could drive Rhode Island through it. Hell Hole has more of a story, and a lot more dialogue, which helps to a degree. But it’s still missing something.

The film follows an American-led fracking team in Eastern Europe who uncover strange parasitic caephelopedic creatures underground. More specifically, they find a French soldier from the Napoleonic Wars, perfectly preserved and carrying one of these creatures within him. Like a plague or a virus, the tentacled terror jumps from host to host as the crewmembers and their environmental envoys try to figure out what to do about it.

And that’s it, that’s the whole story. It’s not dissimilar to any number of alien movies. Specifically, Alien. This one deals more in the vein of discussing whether ancient creatures like this deserve to live, even if it means the host body dies in the process. It’s essentially, what if the facehuggers took a lot longer to gestate the alien, and they did it from inside? We get some gruesome body explosions and the creature design itself is grotty, but largely that’s what Hell Hole is.

Poser plays Em, the head of the outfit, who has the best head on her shoulders and knows enough to let the local workers deal with troubles their own way rather than try to assert more dominance. John Adams plays John, one of the other Americans, and Max Portman plays Em’s nephew, a young cook with a crush on Sofija (Olivera Perunicic), one of the two scientists. The cast are all quite good, especially considering half of them are speaking their first language.

But the simplicity here is sort of the problem. The plot mechanics are fine, the actors are good, and the creature itself is effective enough. But so much of the movie is just idle banter while standing around waiting for things to happen. I won’t say it’s boring, and like I said, it ended up being the most I’ve liked one of the Adams Family’s movies. It just doesn’t do much with what it’s working with to get it over the hump. The movie isn’t scary or even particularly exciting. It’s shot more like a comedy than a horror movie but doesn’t have the jokes.

I hope the Adams Family make movies forever, and I hope I eventually like even one of them.

Hell Hole is coming to Shudder on August 23. Maybe you’ll find more to like about it than I did.

⭐ (2.5 of 5)

Kyle Anderson is the Senior Editor for Nerdist. He hosts the weekly pop culture deep-dive podcast Laser Focus. You can find his film and TV reviews here. Follow him on Instagram and Letterboxd.

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The History of Doctor Doom, Marvel’s Greatest Villain, Explained

Magneto. Green Goblin. The Kingpin. All are among the most iconic Marvel Comics villains. But the greatest Marvel villain of all time is easily Victor von Doom, better known as Doctor Doom. And after three middling attempts at bringing him to the big screen, none other than Robert Downey Jr. will now play him in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. (And quite possibly in The Fantastic Four: First Steps as well). In the comics, he started out as a Fantastic Four villain, but he went on to become an antagonist to the Avengers, the X-Men, Spider-Man, and just about the whole darn Marvel Universe.

Fantastic Four #5 is the First Appearance of Doctor DoomMarvel Comics

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962 early in their legendary run on Fantastic Four, Doctor Doom was intended to be the team’s ultimate nemesis. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #5, instantly alerting the team of his genius, thanks to the invention of a time travel platform. Although he was instantly popular with readers, it would be two years before Doctor Doom’s origin story was revealed, in Fantastic Four Annual #2.

The Origin of Doctor DoomMarvel Comics

Victor von Doom came from a tribe of Romani people in the fictional Eastern European nation of Latveria. During his childhood, the cruel aristocrat Baron Vladimir Fortunov was Latveria’s ruler. Victor’s mother was a witch named Cynthia von Doom, who the demon lord Mephisto killed when Victor was very young. Victor’s father, tribe leader Werner von Doom, also had extensive knowledge of medicine and arcane practices. When the Baron’s wife began to suffer from an incurable form of cancer, the Baron forced Werner von Doom to come to his castle and cure her. When he couldn’t save her, the Baron declared him a murderer, sentencing him to death. Werner escaped with young Victor, but died from exposure in the forests of Latveria. Victor survived, vowing revenge on the Baron for his cruelty.

Doctor Doom’s Rivalry with Reed Richards

Eventually, young Victor returns to his Romani tribe, where he learns the truth about his mother Cynthia’s witch status. He finds some of her spell books and magical instruments, and learns how to use them. He uses this knowledge to protect his people. Already a genius, Victor combined his scientific know-how with the teachings of magic, hoping to master both. His accomplishments in creating technological devices years ahead of their time became famous. Eventually, he drew the attention of those in the United States. The dean of Empire State University recruited him to study there, hoping he would become an asset of the government. Seeing an opportunity to gain access to sophisticated equipment and state-of-the-art laboratories, Victor agreed to leave Latveria and study in America.

Marvel Comics

By the time the young Victor came to Empire State University, his ego was already unchecked. Because of this, he became rivals with the only other student at the university whose mind matched his own—Reed Richards. Even though he respected Reed, he always reminded him that his own intellect was the superior one. While at Empire State, Victor built a machine to breach the realm of the dead, so he could communicate with his beloved mother. Reed attempted to warn him the machine was faulty, and needed more work before he used it. Victor dismissed Reed, and attempted to activate it regardless. The resulting explosion scarred Victor’s face, although it was not a very large or disfiguring scar. Nevertheless, the egomaniacal Victor saw any blemish on his face as disfigurement.

How Doctor Doom Gained His Mask and ArmorMarvel Comics

After the accident, Victor von Doom was expelled. He journeyed across the globe looking to seek new insights that would allow him to perfect his machine. He eventually found himself in Tibet, and collapsed from exhaustion near the retreat of a clan of monks, who took him in. Victor soon learned all of the monks’ disciplines, gaining vast amounts of new knowledge. Victor forged a suit of armor for himself, with an intimidating iron mask, which he placed on his face before it cooled. This process truly disfigured his face, far outdoing the tiny scar he gained as a result of the lab explosion.

Doctor Doom Becomes the Ruler of LatveriaMarvel Comics

Now calling himself Doctor Doom, he began his quest for revenge in earnest. He returned to Latveria, deposing the Baron, and installing himself as dictator. He ruled from the Baron’s old castle, but he was just as much a tyrant as the Baron in every way. Doom renamed the capital city of Latveria, Hassenstadt, to Doomstadt, and Castle Sabbat to Castle Doom. Despite being a complete dictator, the people of Latveria not only fear him, but adore him with a cult like devotion. This is, perhaps, because Doom freed them from a far worse and more cruel dictator. To the Latverians, he’s practically a god.

Doctor Doom vs. the Fantastic FourMarvel Comics

With a country at his disposal, Doom sought revenge against the man he believed was responsible for his misfortunes—Reed Richards, now Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four. Doctor Doom attacked Marvel’s First Family repeatedly, starting with his first appearance in Fantastic Four #5. Each defeat at the hands of his rival Reed Richards made him more bitter, and more obsessed with proving how his mind was superior upon their next encounter. Over the decades, the Fantastic Four has fought Doctor Doom and always won, yet Doom has always managed to inflict physical and psychological harm on his rivals.

The Marvel Universe vs. Doctor DoomMarvel Comics

Doctor Doom clashed with just about every hero in the Marvel Universe, not just the FF. He tried to recruit Spider-Man, and attempted to turn the Hulk into his mindless servant. When the Avengers traveled to Latveria, this started a rivalry with that team, for daring to set foot in his homeland without permission. He saw any other genius intellect as a challenge to his superiority. Doom always had to be the best at everything. This led to making enemies with Iron Man (a master of technology), Black Panther (a master of science), and Doctor Strange (a master of the mystic arts). Doctor Doom simply couldn’t abide not being the very best at everything. Doom was even chosen as the primary villain for the DC/Marvel crossover Superman and Spider-Man.

Doctor Doom’s Powers and AbilitiesMarvel Comics

Doctor Doom’s powers and abilities are vast, as he has a mastery over both science and sorcery. Doom’s armor gives him superior physical strength, enough to battle Marvel heroes like Iron Man and the Thing to a standstill. He can also fight Spider-Man and Captain America while wearing the armor and hold his own. His armor can generate concussive energy blasts, and create force fields. Like Iron Man’s armor, Doom’s suit allows him to survive underwater and in space for a limited time. Thanks to tutelage from a group of aliens called Ovoids, Doom can transfer his consciousness into other people. Doom has managed to absorb the powers of the Silver Surfer and even the godlike Beyonder, but his own hubris always leads to Doom losing those powers.

The DoombotsMarvel Comics

Doom’s scientific prowess led him to the create his Doombots, an army of robot duplicates that enforce his will. Thanks to their advanced A.I., over the years many Doombots have believed themselves to actually be Doctor Doom. The Doombots have enforced Victor’s rule in Latveria, and he often blames an errant Doombot for his own past failures. Still, an army of robots with his strength and memories has created a formidable army for him, even if they are often more trouble than they’re worth.

Doom’s Sorcery SkillsMarvel Comics

Thanks to his studying with the monks in Tibet, as well as a time learning under the sorceress Morgan le Fay, Doom is one of the most powerful magic users in the Marvel Universe. Even Doctor Strange conceded he’s as worthy of the name “Sorcerer Supreme” as he is. Among the magic abilities Doom has displayed over the years are the power of summoning demons, teleportation, dimension-hopping, and weather control rivaling (but not exceeding) the powers of the X-Man Storm. Doom eventually used his magical skills to venture into Hell itself to save the soul of his mother from Mephisto.

God Emperor Doom in Secret WarsMarvel Comics

Doctor Doom’s crowning moment as a villain came in the 2015 version of Secret Wars. Although Doom temporarily gained the powers of the godlike Beyonder in the original 1984 Secret Wars, he wasn’t the primary villain of the series. In Jonathan Hickman’s 2015 reboot, after several incursions, every universe in the Marvel multiverse dies, including the “prime” 616 universe. Before his world falls, Doom steals the power of the omnipotent Beyonders, creating his own Battleworld from the remains of different realities.

Now cloaked in all white robes and wielding ultimate power, he declares himself God Emperor Doom. He removes the memories of Battleworld’s inhabitants so they don’t recall their old lives in the previous universes, and makes Doctor Strange his sheriff. He also replaces Reed Richards as the husband of Sue Storm, and father to his two children. Doom even commands his own Thor Corps, a police force made up of Thors from across realities, enforcing his will. After his defeat in Secret Wars at the hands of Reed Richards, Victor von Doom actually tried to redeem himself by becoming a hero. During a time when Tony Stark was presumed dead, Doom took up the mantle of Iron Man. He used a version of his armor that combined Stark tech with his own, including magical properties.

Doctor Doom’s History in Other Media

Doctor Doom has been portrayed in countless TV cartoons. These range from the 1967 Fantastic Four to the ‘90s Spider-Man and Fantastic Four shows. His live-action appearances have never been as faithful. In the 2005 Fantastic Four film, Doom (Julian McMahon) was the CEO of Von Doom Industries, and not Latverian royalty. It was in his space station that the FF gained their powers in a cosmic ray storm. Also present for the storm, he starts turning into organic metal and has the power to control electricity.  

Marvel Animation/Twentieth Century Films

In the 2015 reboot Fantastic Four, Victor (Toby Kebbell) is a genius computer programmer who gained his powers when he journeys to a mysterious parallel dimension. On this world, he fused with his spacesuit and gained telekinetic powers. Both the 2005 and 2015 versions of Doom painted the character as almost a “fifth Beatle.” Someone who gained power at the same time as the Fantastic Four, but misused that power. This element is not in any mainstream Marvel comics.

Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom in the MCUMarvel Studios

The only thing we know about Doctor Doom in the MCU is that he will be played by Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. As this is the Multiverse Saga, will this Doom be a variant of Tony Stark? The official Marvel announcement says he’ll play Victor von Doom, but the fact that Robert Downey Jr. is playing him suggests there’s more to it than that. Is Doom in the Fantastic Four’s alternate universe the physical doppelgänger of Stark, but not exactly the same person? The fact he’s playing Doom in an adaptation of Secret Wars suggests we may see RDJ as God Emperor Doom. It certainly would be interesting if the actor who started the MCU now ends it as another character. We’re sure to learn more in the months and years ahead.

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