Summary
Marvel andFortnite’snewDoctor Doomis a very good sign for theMCU’sversion. Fortnite’s Chapter 5, Season 4 is titledAbsolute Doom, featuring Marvel-themed locations, skins, mythic items, Easter eggs, and more. This also includes Marvel villains to be defeated across the island, including Victor von Doom himself. Seated on his throne in Castle Doom as a brand-new point of interest, Doom’s fortress and its contents serve as some dark and exciting teases for Doom’s MCU debut.
In the original comics, Doctor Doom is the primary arch-foe of The Fantastic Four while also being a major threat to the entire world and all its heroes. Now, it’s recently been revealed that the MCU’s Doom will be played by Robert Downey Jr. and serve as the primary antagonist of2026’sAvengers: Doomsday.However, it’s expected that he’ll likely debut beforeAvengers 5and be an ongoing threat in its aftermath. To that end,a handful of Easter eggs in Fortnite’s latest Marvel crossover seem like strong signs that the MCU’s Doctor Doom will mirror the comics' version in some key ways.
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Kevin Feige Used Fortnite’s Galactus Event To Inspire Fantastic Four
The Nexus War Helped Inspired Fantastic Four: First Steps
It’s recently been revealed that connections between Fortnite and Marvel Studios are closer than one might think. Before the first look at Fortnite’sAbsolute Doomwas released at Disney’s D23 Ultimate Fan Event,Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed that he gave the production team working on 2025’sFantastic Four:First Stepsfootage of Fortnite’s previous Marvel crossover (2020’sNexus War). Featuring the World Devourer Galactus as the season’s big bad,Feige confirmed that Fortnite’s Galactus event was so impressive that he wanted it to serve as inspirationduring development of the MCU’s Galactus who’s set to debut in the upcoming film.
At the culmination of Fortnite’sMarvel:Nexus War, players came together with the Avengers in a massive live event to defeat Galactus as he tried to consume the island and the multiversal Zero Point.As a result, it makes sense that Feige saw the event as a prime example of what the World Devourer should be like in the MCU,especially with the upcomingFantastic Fourmovie being set in another reality apart from the main Earth-616. Keeping that in mind, it’s interesting to see how the Fortnite developers have incorporated Doctor Doom into their newest season (including his classic rivalries).
The Fantastic Four: First Steps
Cast
The Fantastic 4: First Steps features Marvel’s First Family navigating their dual roles as superheroes and family members in a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world. They defend Earth from a formidable space god, Galactus, and his enigmatic Herald, Silver Surfer, testing their familial bonds and heroic resolve.
Fortnite’s New Marvel Season Showcases The True Power of Doctor Doom
Showing Off His Spoils of War, Particularly The Fantastic Four
InFortnite’sAbsolute Doom (Chapter 5, Season 4), a large portion of the island now resembles Victor von Doom’s nation of Latveria from Marvel Comics. This notably includes the town of Doomstadt and Castle Doom as key points of interest (the classic supervillain prison known as “The Raft” is featured as well).Castle Doom is particularly fascinating to explore, featuring all kinds of trophies and spoils of war held in glass cases belonging to characters this version of Doom presumably defeated.
Trophies include Magneto and Thanos' helmets, Doctor Strange’s Eye of Agamotto, fragments of the Silver Surfer’s board, and more.However, the most prominent and darkest trophies belong to The Fantastic Four. The remains of Ben Grimm’s The Thing serve as Doom’s throne, while the still-burning heart of Johnny Storm’s Human Torch is in the Latverian ruler’s fireplace. Meanwhile, an invisible Sue Storm is presumably seated and held within a glass case bearing her name, whileReed Richard’s Mister Fantastichas been wrapped up and bunched into a ball, seen trying to untangle himself from inside his own display case.
All these collected trophies are not just Easter eggs for the sake of being discoverable Marvel references.Each one is a testament to the true power of Doctor Doom, proving his ability to conquer and take down so many powerful beings in the Marvel Universe. Likewise, the fact that The Fantastic Four trophies are so much bigger (and crueler) points to his far more personal rivalry with Marvel’s First Family compared to any other Marvel heroes or villain.
Fortnite’s Doctor Doom Is A Great Sign For His Imminent MCU Debut
A Major Threat For The Entire MCU, But Still The Arch-Nemesis of The FF
Considering Doctor Doom’s imminent MCU arrival, one can hope that Marvel Studios will continue to take notes from Fortnite, just as Fortnite has clearly taken notes from the original comics. Just like with Galactus, the developers have managed to perfectly depict the true power of Doom and how intimidating he could and should always be, regardless of the medium. Furthermore,Fortnite further proves just how important it is to maintain Doctor Doom’s most important rivalry with The Fantastic Four, while also being an overarching threat to the Marvel Universe in general.
Keeping that in mind, it would be great to see that rivalry with Doctor Doom established with Victor debuting inFantastic Four: First Steps. This would allow his character and relationship with the FF to be developed beforeAvengers: Doomsdayand any future appearances in the MCU. At any rate, Fortnite’sAbsolute Doomis certainly a lot of fun to play while MCU fans wait for Doctor Doom on the big screen.
