Phase 6’sAvengers: Doomsdaywill bring together theMCU’s next big bad and its new team of superheroes, but this event will happen too late. The MCU Multiverse Saga seemed to be moving in the direction of an epic battle between a new generation of Avengers and the Council of Kangs. However,Jonathan Majors' legal issues led to his firing, and Kang the Conqueror was replaced by Doctor Doom as this saga’s main antagonist. FollowingRobert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom, Phase 6’sAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsnow seem to be adapting Marvel Comics' 2015Secret Warsstoryline more closely.
Meanwhile, the MCU is set to introduce an essential part of itsAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Warsstory, the Fantastic Four. Marvel’s First Family has been absent for the entirety of the MCU’s history, and Matt Shakman’s upcomingThe Fantastic Fourmovie will rectify that. The MCU’s main variants of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm will come from a different universe, and they will likely join the rest of the MCU’s main heroes from Earth-616 at the end ofThe Fantastic Four,Avengers: Doomsday, orAvengers: Secret Wars.
The MCU Is Introducing Its Most Important Multiverse Saga Characters Too Late
The Fantastic Four And Doctor Doom Will Debut Late In The Multiverse Saga
Not only are the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom some of Marvel’s most famous and powerful characters, but they’re also the protagonists of Marvel’s 2015Secret Warsstoryline, which will likely be the source material forthe MCU’sAvengers: DoomsdayandAvengers: Secret Wars. In theSecret Warscomics, Doctor Doom reshapes the multiverse as his personal kingdom, but Reed Richards challenges Doom and ultimately restores the multiverse, leading Doom to become a better man, albeit temporarily.Although the MCU may adapt Reed Richards and Doctor Doom’sSecret Warsdynamics at the end of Phase 6, both characters will only be introduced right before or duringAvengers: Doomsday.
In the Multiverse Saga, the MCU’s new main hero and new main villain probably haven’t been introduced yet.
The Infinity Saga only explored Thanos' backstory and motivations untilAvengers: Infinity War, but Thanos had already made cameo appearances inThe AvengersandAvengers: Age of Ultron’s post-credits scenes and a brief supporting role inGuardians of the Galaxy.Avengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgame’s entire hero roster was also gradually introduced throughout the previous twenty movies. In the Multiverse Saga, the MCU’s new main hero and new main villain probably haven’t been introduced yet.
Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel was introduced the same yearAvengers: Endgamewas released, which probably influenced her limited screentime in the crossover film.
The Fantastic Four And Doctor Doom Face An MCU Challenge After Secret Wars
The Fantastic Four And Doctor Doom’s Story Will Likely Progress Backwards In The MCU
If the MCU adapts the source material accurately,Avengers: Secret Warsmay conclude with Reed Richards reversing Doctor Doom’s rule over the multiverse. Should this happen, then the Fantastic Four and Doom’s biggest comic book battle will actually be their first encounter in the MCU, meaning thatAvengers: Secret Warscould either be the premature conclusion of Doctor Doom and the Fantastic Four’s feud, or a conflict so big that it will be impossible to match in future installments. In the former scenario, a one-off battle would undermine their lifelong enmity, and in the latter, an extended multiversal war would only continue to raise the bar for future sequels.
