Today’s release of the first proper Avengers: Doomsday trailer has been accompanied by a stunning new poster for the Marvel blockbuster, which seemingly reveals the motivations of Doctor Doom himself.
First off, if you haven’t watched the new Avengers: Doomsday trailer just yet, go and do so right now. There’s a decent glimpse at Doctor Doom in there, fending off an all-powerful Thor with barely a shrug, and making it clear that heroes from multiple realities will be needed to ultimately bring Doom down.
But why is Doom on such a rager? What’s got him so worked up that he wants to cause multiversal annihilation? And why are our heroes in his green-cloaked path? For months now, fans have had their theories, fuelled by various famous comic book runs. But today’s poster seems to make Doom’s quest clear: it’s a quest for vengeance, and for loved ones he has lost.
Marvel’s Avengers: Doomsday poster features the cloaked figure of Doctor Doom from behind, his face unseen, as he stands with his head bowed in front of a towering tapestry. The wall-mounted artwork takes up the variety of the photo, and draws the eye to two figures at its top: a sad-looking woman and child.
The light shining down from above, plus the fact that these figures are encircled by clouds and angels, all make pretty clear that this woman and child are dead. Doom, meanwhile, stands as if in mourning, presumably within his castle in Latveria.
As well as sadness, there’s menace to this image, too. In his right hand, Doom brandishes his mask, which glares defiantly out towards the viewer. The suggestion here is that this is the family that Doom grieves, which fuels his need for revenge.
This all fits with fan expectations that Doom is mourning his lost wife and child, who have been killed (presumably accidentally) as a result of Steve Rogers’ past multiversal wanderings. Remember that the original Captain America undertook one last mission at the end of Avengers: Endgame to return the Infinity Stones to their previous places in time. But as the Ancient One warned, such meddling often comes with consequences.
This would provide Doom with ample reason to track down Steve Rogers, and presumably anyone else who has been meddling with the multiverse of late (there’s now a growing list). And it would also provide a neat comparison with Robert Downey Jr.’s heroic death as Iron Man , where Tony Stark sacrificed himself to save his family and the universe, Doctor Doom is willing to sacrifice the multiverse to gain revenge for his family.
Doom’s loss of a child may also go some way to explaining why he’s so interested in Franklin Richards, as seen in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, this also seems like an ominous sign for Steve Rogers, who himself is newly with child.
Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters December 18, 2026. Here’s the official synopsis:
“Universes collide and the Multiverse Saga begins its final chapter in Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday,” the movie’s newly-revealed description reads. “Beloved heroes from three distinct universes will be set on a deadly collision course and ultimately face an existential threat unlike anything they’ve ever encountered. This epic film will lay the foundation for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”
Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social