The MCU‘s most notable and consistent villain trend has – intentionally or not – paved the perfect path for Doctor Doom’s story in the franchise. With Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars being some of the next upcoming MCU movies on the horizon, focus has increasingly been on what the MCU’s next major crossover stories will contain.

While many specifics are unclear to us, one thing that is decidedly clear is that Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom will play a huge role in what’s to come. Though Doom has had less setup time in the MCU timeline, it’s interesting to note the franchise’s approach to villains has already built a backdrop that seems to benefit the character.

The MCU’s Most Consistent Villain Trend Has Perfectly Set Up Doctor Doom’s Debut

Throughout its history, the MCU has leaned into one trend with its villains so intensely that it’s often been the subject of playful references from fans: namely, having villains whose objectives or motivations are in some ways understandable or sometimes even ostensibly well-intentioned, even if the means they aim to use or intended outcome makes their efforts ultimately villainous.

Scores of Marvel villains have fallen into this category, from villains who are actively redeemed or have a redemption arc later on – like Loki, Gamora and Nebula – to antagonists who remain opposed to the MCU’s heroes, but who are shown to be more complex and less one-note because of elements of their motivations.

Though the past 17 years of MCU history weren’t all constructed with Doctor Doom appearing now in mind, the path the franchise paved has helped set him up in this regard. While Doom is responsible for his fair share of horrors, he’s conventionally characterized as having a moral code, and having motivations grander than his grudge against Mister Fantastic.

Doctor Doom is almost always driven by his incredible ego, but his efforts to amᴀss power are frequently either focused on protecting mankind in some sense – as Doom usually believes he can safeguard humanity in ways no one else can – or on other less inherently diabolical goals, like rescuing his mother from Mephisto.

With almost 20 years of practice in terms of making villains feel more complex and three-dimensional, it stands to reason the MCU will follow in the comics’ footsteps when it comes to depicting Doom as multifaceted – and as a figure who truly believes he’s doing the right thing, and is willing to chase that at all costs.

Why The MCU Needs To Make Doctor Doom One Of Its Most Complex Villains

Though there’s something to be said about the prospect of Avengers: Doomsday showing Doctor Doom at his most simply and entirely villainous and unhinged, a story that takes this approach to the villain would be missing out on much of the depth of the character and his story over the years.

Part of what makes Doctor Doom an engaging comic figure today is the fact he’s much more than a simple moustache-twirling villain. Doom has been involved in saving the world and universe more than once, and manages to balance his generally undying hatred for Reed Richards with his role as “Uncle Doom” for Reed and Sue’s daughter Valeria.

The MCU may not get time to replicate the rich history that’s set up Doctor Doom to be one of the most complex and interesting figures in Marvel comic lore, but it certainly can mirror the most striking aspects of the character, even as it splits its attention between all the members of the Avengers: Doomsday cast.

As such, it seems par for the course to replicate Doom’s complicated comic goals and motivations – which generally include amᴀssing powers for his own purposes, but also using said powers to protect others and stand against other antagonistic forces – especially given the MCU’s pre-existing track record on giving villains these kinds of narratives throughout its run.

With multiversal conflict seemingly on the horizon, it’s easy to see how the MCU‘s Doctor Doom could be depicted in this light already, and how this could lead into Avengers: Secret Wars, which looks set to mirror the 2015 comic and its infamous “God Emperor Doom”. However this story unfolds, it should be a fascinating next chapter for the franchise.