Doctor Doom’s Greatest Alliances: Unlikely Team Ups and Unexpected Friendships
Doctor Doom, ruler of Latveria and master of both science and the mystic arts, is one of Marvel’s most notorious villains. Despite his ruthless pursuit of power and dominance, even Doom occasionally allies himself with others, whether to achieve a common goal or to serve his own twisted ends. From strange alliances with heroes to sinister collaborations with villains, Doctor Doom’s partnerships are as complex as the man himself.
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most intriguing team-ups in Doctor Doom’s history, highlighting how the Latverian monarch has occasionally fought alongside the very people he seeks to destroy. As we’ll see, Doom’s alliances are often a reflection of his genius and his unyielding pursuit of ultimate power.
The Strange and Powerful Alliance with Namor the Sub-Mariner
Doctor Doom and Namor the Sub-Mariner may seem like an unlikely pair, but their relationship is one of the most enduring in Marvel Comics. Both are rulers of their own nations, and both have been at odds with the world’s greatest heroes especially the Fantastic Four.
Their first major collaboration came in Fantastic Four (1962) #6, where they joined forces as the Diabolical Duo to take on their mutual enemies. Over the years, their relationship evolved into one of mutual respect, even as they occasionally clashed.
In Giant-Size Super-Villain Team-Up (1974) #1, Doom and Namor formed a lasting partnership to combat Namor’s underwater enemies and other threats. While their friendship was often turbulent, Doom never hesitated to assist Namor and his people, further solidifying their unique bond. This unlikely alliance continued through the years, with Doom and Namor even collaborating in Norman Osborn’s Cabal, a coalition of villains who sought to control the world from the shadows.
A Devil’s Deal: Doctor Strange and Doom
One of the most fascinating partnerships in Doctor Doom’s history is his occasional collaboration with Doctor Strange. While both characters are deeply connected to the mystic arts, their motivations couldn’t be more different. Yet, when the stakes are high, these two sorcerers have teamed up to tackle problems no one else could handle.
Their most notable partnership occurred in Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989), when Strange agreed to help Doom rescue his mother’s soul from the clutches of Mephisto. This story not only showcased Doom’s desperation but also his mastery over dark magic, as he and Strange battled their way through Hell to free Cynthia Von Doom’s soul.
Despite their differences, this alliance fostered a grudging respect between the two. Doom’s intellect and magical prowess made him a valuable ally to Strange on more than one occasion, including their joint efforts to save a sliver of the multiverse from destruction in Secret Wars (2015).
Luke Cage: The Hero for Hire and Doom’s Unpaid Debt
Luke Cage, better known as Power Man, had one of the strangest interactions with Doctor Doom early in his superhero career. In Hero for Hire (1972) #9, Cage was hired by one of Doom’s Doombots to fend off a robotic invasion in Latveria. However, when the Doombot skipped town without paying him the promised fee, Cage took matters into his own hands.
Traveling all the way to Latveria, Luke Cage confronted Doom directly. After a brief scuffle, Cage saved Doom from an assassination attempt and was finally paid his $200, leaving Latveria with his dignity intact. This bizarre yet memorable encounter cemented Cage’s reputation as a hero who doesn’t take nonsense from anyone even Doctor Doom.
The Unlikely Alliance: Spider-Man and Doom
Doctor Doom’s team-up with Spider-Man is one of the most surprising alliances in his long history. The two first crossed paths during a time-travel adventure in Marvel Team-Up (1972) #43, where Doom found himself drawn into a battle with the witch-hunting Cotton Mather during the infamous Salem Witch Trials.
Despite their opposing natures, Doom and Spider-Man worked together to defeat the evil Dark Rider, though Doom wasted no time reminding the web-slinger that they would be enemies the next time they crossed paths. As with many of Doom’s alliances, his work with Spider-Man was driven by necessity rather than friendship, and he was quick to resume his villainous ways afterward.
An Unusual Collaboration with the X-Men
One of the most remarkable alliances in Doctor Doom’s history came when he teamed up with the X-Men. In Fantastic Four vs. X-Men (1987) #2, Doom offered to save Kitty Pryde, who had become stuck in her intangible form and was at risk of dissipating entirely.
Reed Richards, the leader of the Fantastic Four, had initially failed to find a solution, leaving the X-Men desperate for help. Doom stepped in, offering his assistance not out of kindness, but as an opportunity to humiliate Richards, his long-time rival.
In the end, it took the combined efforts of Mister Fantastic and Doom to save Kitty, with Doom’s involvement highlighting both his arrogance and his unrivalled intellect. This alliance was a temporary truce, however, as Doom’s disdain for Richards and the Fantastic Four would never fade.
The Future Foundation and Doctor Doom’s “Uncle” Role
Though Doctor Doom has been a bitter enemy of the Fantastic Four, his relationship with Valeria Richards, the daughter of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, is a peculiar exception. Doom, having helped deliver Valeria at birth, has always had a soft spot for her, and she affectionately refers to him as “Uncle Doom.”
This connection led to Doom becoming a part of the Future Foundation, a think-tank formed by Reed Richards to tackle the universe’s most pressing problems. In exchange for assistance restoring parts of his mind lost in battle, Doom agreed to work with the group, contributing his genius to their efforts.
Although this alliance was short-lived Doom left once he felt his debt to Richards was repaid Valeria’s influence on Doom remains one of the most compelling examples of his capacity for redemption, even if he rarely acts on it.
Doctor Doom and the Avengers: A Surprising Turn
One of Doom’s more heroic alliances occurred in Avengers & X-Men: AXIS (2014), where he and the Scarlet Witch teamed up to stop the Red Skull, who had harnessed the telepathic power of Professor X’s brain. However, a magical inversion spell caused Doom’s personality to shift, turning him into a selfless hero.
During this time, Doom formed his own team of Avengers, including Valeria Richards and Phil Coulson, and led them to victory over Scarlet Witch and other enemies. While the spell was eventually reversed, this temporary alliance offered a glimpse of what Doctor Doom could be if he ever chose to pursue the path of good.
Iron Man and Doom: An Unlikely Heroic Partnership
Following the events of Secret Wars (2015), Doctor Doom returned to the Marvel Universe with a desire to reform and do good. This led to one of his most unexpected alliances teaming up with Iron Man.
In Invincible Iron Man (2015), Doom worked alongside a sceptical Tony Stark to defeat Madame Masque and even took on the mantle of Iron Man himself in Infamous Iron Man (2016) after Stark fell into a coma. For a brief time, Doom operated as a hero, using his vast resources and intellect to battle evil. But, as always, Doom’s need for control eventually led him back to his old ways.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Adventures with Doom
Despite spending most of his time on Earth, Doctor Doom has occasionally ventured into the cosmos. One of his most significant cosmic team-ups occurred in Guardians of the Galaxy (2020) #14, when Doom joined the Guardians to face the powerful villain Dormammu.
Though initially seen as an adversary, Doom worked with the Guardians to defeat Dormammu and save the universe. Unbeknownst to the team, however, Doom had orchestrated the entire ordeal to absorb Dormammu’s power for himself, highlighting his never-ending thirst for dominance.
Conclusion: Doctor Doom’s Complex Legacy of Alliances
Doctor Doom’s alliances are as varied and complex as the man himself. From teaming up with heroes like Spider-Man and the Avengers to forging partnerships with villains like Namor and Dormammu, Doom’s relationships are always marked by his intelligence, cunning, and thirst for power.
Though he is one of the Marvel Universe’s most dangerous villains, these alliances show that Doctor Doom is more than just a one-dimensional villain. He is a man of ambition, brilliance, and occasional moments of surprising humanity even if those moments are fleeting.
