It’s no secret that Doctor Doom (or, at least, the potential of Doom) has been Marvel’s one saving grace this past year. 2023 was not kind to the studio or its cinematic universe: after two Hollywood strikes, a handful of box office flops, and the departure of a promising new villain, Marvel had to work overtime to regain some much-needed goodwill. In the past months, the studio had its head down, “quietly retooling” its upcoming slate. Though it hasn’t been able to salvage some of its most troubled productions, it may have found an endgame for its Multiverse Saga... it just happens to be the most desperate choice the MCU could have possibly made.
