A supervillain team-up of epic proportions could be on the horizon for Avengers: Doomsday. As its title strong implies, Victor von Doom a.k.a. Doctor Doom will serve as the main antagonist of the next installment in the MCU’s Avengers series. But while being the villain will obviously allow him to hog the spotlight, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be the only threat Earth’s Mightiest Heroes will have to concern themselves with.
Decades of Marvel Comics history goes to show that Doctor Doom is absolutely resourceful enough to pose a threat all on his own. However, the sheer number of heroes in Avengers: Doomsday’s stacked cast could be an indication that despite how formidable he is, he may have certain allies on his side.
That’s not outside the realm of possibility, given that Doctor Doom hasn’t been averse to working with others to accomplish his goals. In fact, a recurring partner-in-crime to Doom in the comic book is included in the cast. That could be a coincidence, or a sign that the MCU intends to draw on their comic history for an exciting team-up.
Doctor Doom’s Connection To Namor In Marvel Comics Explained
Among the characters in Avengers: Doomsday’s cast is Namor the Sub-Mariner, the villain of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and an anti-hero many assume will wind up being recruited to help the heroes ultimately oppose Doom. This notion is based partially on his Avengers membership in the comics, as well as Wakanda Forever ending with a Wakanda-Talokan alliance.
Such a scenario is feasible, of course, considering that Namor isn’t a cut-and-dry villain, but his history with Doom shouldn’t be overlooked.
Namor and Doctor Doom share a storied past, with the two often forming alliances in their efforts to defeat the Fantastic Four, specifically in the Silver Age of Marvel Comics. Their first team-up against Marvel’s First Family occurred in Fantastic Four #6, and it was far from the last time the two found common ground.
They joined forces several times after that as well, with Marvel even giving their partnership its own comic book series. After losing his own comic book title, Namor co-starred alongside Doctor Doom in Super Villain Team-Up. It eventually paired up Doom with other characters, but it primarily focused on fights they had with their fellow villains, from Attuma to Red Skull.
At the start, Namor and Doom’s relationship was defined by their shared goal of beating their mutual enemy, the Fantastic Four. Doom has recognized the might of not just Namor himself, but also Talokan, and has often seen both as a means to an end. Namor, on the hand, has been similarly motivated, believing that Doom can assist him in conquering the surface world.
Namor Could Side With Doctor Doom In The MCU
Namor and Doctor Doom’s many team-ups in Marvel Comics create a working blueprint for a potential alliance between the two in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Namor has – at least temporarily – ceased his attacks on the surface and Wakanda, but it’s not impossible that, like his comic counterpart, he’ll find a reason to resume his villainous role.
A visit to Talokan from Doctor Doom could result in the latter trying to sway the Sub-Mariner to his side. It’s not hard to imagine Doom seeking this outcome, as Namor’s raw power and command over the Talokanil would amount to invaluable assets for Robert Downey, Jr.’s new MCU character as he plots out his moves against the Avengers.
Such a turn of events could be what draws Shuri and M’Baku, who are confirmed to appear in Doomsday, into the picture. They could learn what Namor and Doom are planning and try to get the word out.
A Team-Up With Doctor Doom Doesn’t Mean Namor Can’t Become A Hero
Doctor Doom managing to find an ally in Namor would differ widely from the general expectations for Namor in Avengers: Doomsday, but that’s not to say the MCU would be locking him into a permanent villain role or repeating his Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This is expected to be a two-part story that will lead into Avengers: Secret Wars, so there will be plenty of time for Namor to operate on both sides.
That direction would make a lot of sense, especially when considering what we know about Namor and Doctor Doom. After all, there’s just as many reasons for their alliance to fail as there are for them to team up. Providing evidence for this is the comics, which have featured a long list of Namor-Doom team-ups, most of which being partnerships that ended in betrayal.
Both are characters with massive egos, which are sure to clash. Making matters worse will be the fact that Doctor Doom prefers pawns over allies and doesn’t believe he has any equals. That kind of relationship isn’t something an arrogant king like Namor would be able to tolerate.
There’s also the matter of where Namor stands on the moral spectrum. He’s less of a full-fledged villain and a bit more of an anti-hero. In other words, there are lines he won’t cross. If Doctor Doom commits an act that Namor sees as a bridge too far or a decision that could put his people at risk, that could be what pits them against each other in Avengers: Doomsday.
- Release Date
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December 18, 2026
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Vanessa Kirby
Sue Storm / Invisible Woman
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Johnny Storm / Human Torch
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Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Ben Grimm / The Thing
