New Avengers: One World Under Doom Arrives

Just when I thought I was done... Robert Downey Jr. and the Russo brothers are pulling me back in! According to Marvel, Doom's reign will be less of a single event (like last year's Blood Hunt) and more of an extended era, similar to Dark Reign. This means the Marvel universe will spend much of 2025 under the rule of Doom as World Emperor, Sorcerer Supreme, and the leader of the Superior Avengers.

As you might expect, the Superior Avengers will include villains. However, these won't be their classic incarnations; familiar names will be taken up by new characters:

This role is filled by Kristoff, Doom's adopted son and also Reed Richards' half-brother.Dr. Octopus. Not Caroline Trainer (Lady Octopus), but another woman.Ghost. The antagonist from Ant-Man. A nameless woman.Killmonger. An unconventional version.Malekith! The Dark Elves are making Earth their home.And Onslaught.

The Superior Avengers will be a six-issue limited series written by Steve Fox (X-Men '92: House of XCII, Dark X-Men, Dead X-Men, Spider-Woman) with art by Luca Maresca (X-Men: Forever, Children of the Vault). It launches in April.

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The concept itself isn't new. For instance, in Dark Avengers, Norman Osborn replaced the Avengers with villains back in 2009: the initial lineup featured Iron Patriot, Scorpion (posing as Spider-Man), Moonstone (as a false Ms. Marvel), Swordsman (a fake Hawkeye), Daken (an ersatz Wolverine), Sentry, Marvel Boy, and Ares.

Similarly, during the Secret Empire event, Hydra assembled its own Avengers team: the Unworthy Thor, a Vision controlled by Arnim Zola, a Scarlet Witch possessed by Chthon, Deadpool, Superior Octopus, Taskmaster, and Black Ant.

Hold on... Sorcerer Supreme? World Emperor? Dark and Superior Avengers? How did Doctor Doom pull this off? In this guide, I'll walk through the key stories leading up to "One World Under Doom" to get you fully caught up.

Table of Content

Emperor Doom President Doom 2099 Secret Wars Blood Hunt 1 0 Comment on this

Emperor Doom

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While this 1987 graphic novel by David Michelinie and Bob Hall is the first story many think of, you likely don't need to read it to understand the current event. Although Doom's theft of the Silver Surfer's cosmic power in Fantastic Four #57 was an earlier global power grab, Emperor Doom perfectly captures the core idea of a single planet under Doom's rule.

The story's main strength is its simple yet potent premise.

President Doom 2099

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Speaking of Doom's eras of global domination, in Doom 2099, the future version of the character nearly conquers America. In this series by Warren Ellis and Pat Broderick, the supremely cool 90s-era Doom 2099 delivers iconic lines like, "America is the greatest threat to the planet."

"I will save the world by saving America." In my view, this is the standout title of the Marvel 2099 line and a fantastic showcase of Doom's most impressive historical feats.

Secret Wars

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Did someone say "greatest conquests"? To a God-Emperor, what are mere titles like emperor or president? Devoted Marvel fans will always point to Doom's pivotal role in Jonathan Hickman's Fantastic Four and Avengers saga, culminating in the 2015 Secret Wars event. It's the ultimate modern example of Doom's relentless quest for godlike power, which he justifies as necessary for benevolent rule.

Of course, Doom saved all of reality in his own image, and his actions—such as making Sue Storm his wife, transforming Johnny Storm into the sun, and setting Ben Grimm as a planetary barrier—were driven by his own unresolved personal issues. This remains my favorite story exploring what Doom would do with the absolute power of the Marvel universe.

Blood Hunt

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The most direct prelude to One World Under Doom is the 2024 Vampire Invasion event, Blood Hunt, by Jed MacKay and Pepe Larraz. In a final, desperate move to reverse a Darkhold-fueled global vampirism, Doctor Strange turns to Doctor Doom for help.

Doom agrees, but only on one condition: he must be granted the title of Sorcerer Supreme to wield the necessary magic. Surprisingly, Doctor Strange agrees, arguing the world isn't yet fully saved. As a result, Doom retains his Sorcerer Supreme powers, setting the stage for his next move.

So, while we await more concrete concepts, ideas, and a finished script from the Russo Brothers and Robert Downey Jr. partnership this February, let's immerse ourselves in a world that belongs to Doom, and Doom alone.