Summary:
- Doctor Doom appears in Fantastic Four: First Steps mid-credits scene targeting Franklin Richards.
- Franklin Richards is shown to have reality-altering and Power Cosmic abilities.
- Doom’s interest in Franklin could link to Wanda, Battleworld, and Avengers: Doomsday.
Why Does Doctor Doom Appear in the Fantastic Four Mid-Credits Scene?
The Fantastic Four: First Steps mid-credits scene introduces a major development: Doctor Doom appears unmasked, quietly interacting with four-year-old Franklin Richards. This scene comes after a four-year time jump, following the events in which Reed and Sue’s newborn defeats Galactus with help from Silver Surfer.
During the peaceful moment between Franklin and Sue Storm, she senses something unusual using her force field powers and discovers Franklin speaking to Victor Von Doom. Robert Downey Jr., returning as Doom, delivers a silent but chilling presence. The context suggests that Doom is not there by accident—he is watching Franklin, likely with a calculated goal.
Doom’s quiet but strategic entrance lays the groundwork for the events of Avengers: Doomsday, where he’s expected to battle both the Fantastic Four and X-Men. His intentions seem tied directly to Franklin’s growing powers.
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What Makes Franklin Richards So Important to Doctor Doom’s Plans?
Franklin Richards is no ordinary child. Introduced in Fantastic Four: First Steps, he is the son of Reed Richards and Sue Storm, and even as a baby, his abilities are feared by cosmic-level entities like Galactus. He possesses the Power Cosmic and has demonstrated reality-altering powers—he even revives Sue Storm after her apparent death in the final battle against Galactus.
In the mid-credits scene, Doom appears interested in manipulating or potentially abducting Franklin. The motive seems clear: Doom wants to use Franklin’s power to gain control of the Multiverse. As a young, impressionable child, Franklin is especially vulnerable to Doom’s influence.
The character’s comic book counterpart is an Omega-level mutant who creates pocket universes and reshapes reality. In the 2015 Secret Wars, Franklin and Molecule Man work alongside Reed to rebuild the Multiverse. Doom, who previously ruled Battleworld in that arc, may be plotting a similar outcome in the MCU, with Franklin at the center of his plan.
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Could Franklin Richards Be Key to Reviving Wanda Maximoff?
Theories surrounding Doctor Doom’s plan suggest a possible tie to Wanda Maximoff. Though her fate after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness remains uncertain, Doom may want to use Franklin’s resurrection abilities to bring her back.
If Wanda takes on the MCU version of Molecule Man—the power source behind Doom’s Battleworld in the comics—then reviving her becomes crucial to Doom’s Multiversal conquest. In that sense, Franklin is a living failsafe for Doom’s plan, ensuring he has access to a being capable of fueling or reshaping reality.
This logic fits into the broader Multiversal storyline. The film confirms that Doom is aware of the incursions and Galactus’ interest in Franklin. Given Doom’s intellect and obsession with power, it is plausible he has studied the Power Cosmic and recognizes Franklin’s potential.
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How Does This Tie Into Avengers: Doomsday and the Multiversal Saga?
Avengers: Doomsday is set to feature Doctor Doom as the primary antagonist, and Franklin Richards is expected to be at the center of the conflict. The four-year jump between Galactus’ defeat and Doom’s appearance suggests Doom has spent significant time preparing for this moment.
The Thunderbolts post-credits scene reportedly shows the Fantastic Four of Earth-828 arriving on Earth-616, linking the timelines. Their arrival hints at an impending crisis, and Franklin’s powers may be key to stopping—or accelerating—it.
If Doom plans to recreate Battleworld, the inclusion of Scarlet Witch, Franklin Richards, and possible incursions across universes build toward a massive crossover event. The possibility that Doctor Doom could use Wanda’s powers as a reality-destroying force, with Franklin’s resurrection ability as backup, forms a complex but clear arc heading into the MCU’s next phase.
Streaming now on Disney+, Fantastic Four: First Steps officially launches Marvel’s next Multiverse chapter, and it all begins with a child too powerful for one reality to contain.
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