Victor Von Doom

Born to a Romani sorceress mother and a physician father in the fictional European nation of Latveria, Victor von Doom's brilliance earned him a scholarship to New York's State University, where a lab accident scarred his face—and his pride—driving him to forge an iron mask and armor, claim Latveria's throne, and wage relentless war on Reed Richards.

Few villains in Marvel history have cast as long a shadow as Victor Von Doom, who stormed onto the scene in Fantastic Four #5 in 1962, conjured into existence by the legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby at the very height of the Silver Age. Over an astonishing 64-year publishing history spanning more than 1,097 catalog appearances — 40 of them recognized as key collector issues — he has proven himself one of Marvel's most enduring and consequential figures, haunting the pages of Fantastic Four, Thor, and The Amazing Spider-Man alike. He keeps formidable company, sharing adventures with the likes of Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, the Human Torch, and Spider-Man, a rogues' gallery of Marvel's finest that speaks to just how central he is to the universe's fabric. If you're building a serious Marvel collection, Victor Von Doom isn't a footnote — he's a cornerstone.