Doctor Doom is back in the news courtesy of a leak from an unlikely source.

Fantastic Four fans had their ear to the tracks Thursday when word spread about Howard Stern being involved in a Doctor Doom project. “They're going over the schedule with me, and it's going to suck,” Stern said on his satellite radio show. “I told you, I'm going to do Doctor Doom. That's the thing. But believe me, I'm fucking miserable about it... I called Robert Downey Jr. and I was asking him acting techniques... Do you have a number for Jon [Favreau]?”

The comic world has been waiting for everyone’s favorite fictional dictator to make his way into the MCU since the Disney-Fox buyout, but no one would have expected the news to come from Stern, much less his mystery casting. 

At this point, the comments can be interpreted in many ways. It could suggest that Stern will play Victor Von Doom in the upcoming Fantastic Four movie or he could have a role in a Doctor Doom solo movie. The vague remarks only seem to confirm what we knew was coming: Doom is ready to enter the MCU.

Obviously, the news will jolt the market. Being one of Marvel’s first and most famous villains, most of Doom’s early appearances are well out of reach. However, there are still affordable issues, and some are even sleeper picks. Take a look.

FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #2

By no means is this a cheap buy. With all the FF news and rumors, even the most minor of Silver Age Fantastic Four keys can be a lofty investment. Compared to the likes of FF #5, it’s a bargain, at least for the lower grades. You’ll need five figures for anything from a 9.2 and above, and everything from a 6.0 to a 9.0 is at least a $1,200 comic. Drop the grade to the 4.0 or lower, and you can have a copy for $400-$500.

This issue is important because it dove deeper into Doctor Doom’s origin, revealing his lost childhood love, Valeria. There’s also huge MCU implications here when Doom battles Rama-Tut, who would soon be known to the world as Kang the Conqueror.

ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR #7

Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics was a breath of fresh air in the early 2000s. Spearheaded by Mark Millar, these alternate-reality takes on classic Marvel characters put a modern spin on their origin stories. With that came a new Doctor Doom who could be a better fit in the MCU. 

Instead of Victor Von Doom, the Ultimate Doom was actually Victor Von Damme. He made his appearance in UFF #2, but his most famous moment was taking up the mantle of Doctor Doom in UFF #7. This more grounded version of Doom could be the avenue to reintroduce the Marvel icon with a modern flare. Best of all, it’s completely under the radar, and the last graded 9.8 to sell online brought $25 in March.

SENSATIONAL SHE-HULK #18

Howard Stern is not a professional actor, hence his quote about needing acting tips from RDJ. With a character as famous as Doom, you would think Marvel would want an A-list star with a lengthy resume to play the part. Casting Stern as Doom would be laughably bad, and that may be precisely the point. Instead of Victor Von Doom, Stern could be Dr. Bob Doom, DMD.

Debuting 1990’s Sensational She-Hulk #18, Bob is Victor’s fifth cousin and aspiring villain. Jealous of Victor’s success, Bob concocts a plan to rule his own country. Using his dentistry skills to implant mind-control devices into his most wealthy clients’ teeth, Bob influences them to sign over their estates to him. He even makes his own copy of Doom’s mask.

In May, a graded 9.6 sold for $115. The last time a 9.8 had a recorded sale, it went for $78 in 2021.

Keep up with Dr. Doom!

*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not represent advice on behalf of GoCollect.