WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Doctor Doom #7, by Cristopher Cantwell, Salvador Larocca, Guru-eFx, and VC's Cory Petit, on sale now.

Doctor Doom has returned to Latveria after going on the run following the Antlion incident. With the country having moved to a new ruler, only a small group of loyalists remains. However, within this group are the potential makings of a war for the future throne of Latveria.

Doom has been fleeing for the entirety of Cantwell and Larocca's run up until issue #7. Marvel's former magic-wielding evil genius despot was forced to leave his nation in search of answers after the destruction of the Antlion moon base by Latverian missiles. In his quest for answers, Doom joined forces with Kang the conqueror, acquired the ultimate nullifier, and had a falling out with Kang when Kang tried to steal the weapon from him. He also learned during this process that the attack was a frame job set up by Latveria's neighbor and rival Symkaria.

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Issue #7 picks up in Northern Latveria where the small contingent of Doom's remaining loyalists is having target practice in the snow. A silhouette appears on the horizon and it is revealed that this silhouette is Doom astride a hulking Grizzly bear, his cloak billowing in the wind. Doom asks his followers to swear their loyalty, upon which occasion he will decide them to be worthy or unworthy of serving him further. Among those who swear allegiance to him are Latveria's cosmic champion Victorious, and Doom's adopted ward Kristoff Vernard who has long been in line for the throne.

While Victorious is well known in the current comics run, a refresher may be in order for Kristoff. Doom took Kristoff under his wing when the boy's mother was killed by a robot under the control of the Latverian usurper Zorba Fortunov in John Byrne's Fantastic Four #247 in 1982. Doom raised the boy and was seemingly grooming him to take up the mantle of Latverian ruler in the event of his passing. Throughout his life in Marvel Comics Kristoff has assumed the mantle of Doom himself, been a sort of member of the Fantastic Four, and acted as the monarch of Latveria. What's important is that historically he has been the only person Doom has ever seen fit to take over Latveria in his stead. But all of that might be changing now.

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Doctor Doom's Loyalists

During the scenes where each of the loyalists kneels before Doom and restates their undying devotion to the former god-king, Kristoff makes the mistake of referring to Doom as 'father'. Victor rejects this, telling his ward to leave the tent immediately, and never to refer to him as 'father' again. The coldness that Victor expresses to Kristoff is counterbalanced by the warmth he expresses for Victorious. Where he sent the only man he has ever seen as a reasonable successor out into the cold, he welcomes Victorious, praises her, and goes as far as to give her the ultimate nullifier. His reasoning for this is that it takes a calm mind to control the weapon, lest the user is overwhelmed and destroyed, and Doom states that his mind has been unsettled for some time. This exchange and the thought process behind it can also be seen as the grounds for the possible decision to name Victorious as Doom's successor.

The fallout of this would be potentially cataclysmic. Victorious is not necessarily power-hungry but is wholly devoted to Doom and if that was his decision she would honor it to the death. Kristoff, on the other hand, is far more emotionally motivated and would see this as a further and more serious slight on the part of Doctor Doom. He has already let his emotions overcome him and erred in referring to Doom as his father, and so there is a clear sense of entitlement to Doom's land and power. Not only this but Kristoff has ruled before, and it only seems just that he should rule again.

It is unclear what Doom's intentions are for the future of Latveria, but a few things are certain: Larocca and Cantwell aren't pulling any punches and there is sure to be more bloodshed.

NEXT: Doctor Doom's Return Proves Why He's One of Marvel's Most Brutal Villains