The Fantastic Four: First Steps dropped the MCU’s first tease of Doctor Doom, and it may be a hint at a future rivalry. After pivoting from Kang, Doctor Doom was announced as the official major villain of the Multiverse Saga and is set to be played by Marvel veteran Robert Downey Jr. Doom finally made his first appearance in the MCU’s latest project.

There are two hints to Doctor Doom’s MCU arrival in First Steps: one being a very obvious setup and the other being a subtle detail. His mid-credits cameo seems to be hinting at some bad blood between him and the Fantastic Four, and the MCU is going to have to lean into that rivalry going into Avengers: Doomsday.

Doctor Doom’s First Fantastic Four Tease Is The MCU’s Only Rivalry Set Up For The Villain Going Into Avengers: Doomsday

Doom is going to be the main villain of Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, yet he has yet to be formally introduced in the MCU with only one more film to go. It’s a very different approach than with Thanos, as Thanos was teased for years throughout the Infinity Saga, which is ultimately what made him so menacing.

For a villain who will go against all of the MCU’s heroes, he currently only has one rivalry set up for him going into Doomsday. The Fantastic Four: First Steps mid-credits scene was his first on-screen appearance, as he’s shown breaking into the Baxter Building and interacting with Franklin, likely wanting the child’s powers.

It’s a small tease at what’s to come, but First Steps’ opening montage also established a pre-existing rivalry between the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom. At Sue’s Future Foundation presentation, the seat for Latveria is empty, meaning Doom either chose not to come or refused to send a representative.

The Fantastic Four and Doom don’t interact directly in First Steps, but it could be ᴀssumed that he’s fought the family in the past. If he hasn’t, he clearly holds disdain for the family in some capacity. It’s the only pre-existing connection that Doom has so far to the greater MCU, with his big debut coming next year.

The MCU Ideally Needs To Give Doctor Doom His Comic Rivalry For Avengers: Doomsday

Reed and Doom’s rivalry has always been particularly strong, with Reed contributing greatly to Doom’s villain origin story. If Doom is to have no other ties to other MCU characters going into Avengers: Doomsday, he at least needs to maintain his connection to the Fantastic Four.

As of right now, we have no idea what Doom’s motive for attacking Earth is. We know that the Fantastic Four will find themselves on Earth-616 at some point based on the Thunderbolts* post-credits scene, and Doom chasing the family there would give him a logical reason to hurt the planet in the process.

Doctor Doom is responsible for a lot of evil deeds in the comics, but his core rivalry has always been with the Fantastic Four. It’d be an injustice to both characters if that history were erased, but it seems like the MCU will maintain their rivalry, considering the number of hints throughout The Fantastic Four: First Steps.