One of the Marvel Universe's most menacing and enigmatic villains' is Doctor Victor Von Doom. Doom has battled nearly every hero and villain, often emerging victorious due to his technologically advanced armor, mastery of mystic arts, intelligence, and charisma.
However, for every victory Doctor Doom has amassed over his many years of villainy, he's equally suffered various forms of defeat. The ruler of Latveria has suffered setbacks and been thwarted in ways that have (almost) shattered his vanity. Some of Doom's most note-worthy humiliations are due to the most surprising reasons by some of the most unlikely people.
10 Doom Mistakenly Swaps Bodies With Rocket Raccoon
One of Doom's most ambitious schemes ended in comedic failure. In Guardians of the Galaxy #14 by Al Ewing, Juan Frigero, and VC's Corey Petit, Doom attempts to steal and wrest control of Emperor Hulkling's mystical sword.
By destroying their alliance, Doom planned to usurp control over the Kree and Skrulls. The ruler of Latveria tried to swap bodies with Hulkling so he could control the voice-commanded blade. However, he was redirected into the body of Rocket Raccoon instead. The planned coup wasn't only a colossal failure but an embarrassing moment for the villain.
9 Doom Is Bested By Squirrel Girl
Doom is known as a formidable fighter and top foe to many in the Marvel Universe, including the Avengers. In Marvel Superheroes Volume 2 #8 (by Michael Higgins, M.C. Wyman, Sam De La Rosa, and Nel Tomov), Doom meets a mutant with the ability to command rodents.
After her application to join the Avengers was denied, Squirrel Girl waited for her moment to pick a fight with the ruler of Latveria to prove her worth. The Donnybrook proved one of Doom's most humiliating defeats while it secured Squirrel Girl's debut on the Avengers' roster.
8 Doom Is Outmaneuvered By A Simple Trick
Doom tried to forcefully take control of Earth's remains from Maestro in Maestro: War & Pax #5 by Peter David, Javier Pina, and VC's Travis Lanham. The battle was between two of the Marvel Universe's foremost minds, each with the strength of titans to match. Doom had several contingency plans but failed to use any of them.
During the fight, Doom was outmaneuvered and locked inside an electromagnetic chamber, which tore apart his suit and left him mangled. The effects of magnets on metal is simple science, but Doom fell for this trick and ended up humiliated.
7 Doom Suffers An Ill-Fated Wedding
One of Doom's more tragic humiliations is one of his most recent. In Fantastic Four #33 by Dan Slott, R.B. Silva, Luca Maresca, Jesus Aburtov, and VC's Joe Caramagna, the ruler of Latveria suffers one of the worsts embarrassments of his life.
During Doom's wedding to Victorious, she reveals she slept with Johnny Storm immediately before Doom's proposal. Doom reacts by ordering the execution of all the guests in attendance. The fallout from this adulterous encounter is still developing and could spawn several devastating outcomes due to Doom's unpredictable nature.
6 The Leader Took Away Doom's Most Prized Gift
Doctor Doom's claim of being the most brilliant mind in the world was challenged in the pages of The Incredible Hulk #606 by Greg Pak, Danny Miki, Paul Pelletier, Frank D'Armata, and Simon Bowland.
In this issue, the gamma-powered villain, The Leader, sends a Hulk robot after Doom to drain his neural power, which makes Doom nearly incompetent. Unable to cast spells or operate his armor, Doom is forced to solicit help from his goddaughter, Valeria, who performs emergency brain surgery to restore the villain back to his former mental capacity.
5 Doom Was Beaten Up Over An Unpaid Debt
In one of Marvel's more controversial storylines, several Doombots escape to the U.S. and disguise themselves as African Americans. In Luke Cage, Hero For Hire #9 by Steve Engleheart, George Tuska, and Billy Graham, Doom hires Luke Cage to track down and destroy the Doombots.
Cage agrees to the job at the meager price of $200 and destroys all the Doombots. He later arrives at the Latveria embassy to collect his pay, only to learn Doom has refused to cough up. Cage borrows a ship from the Fantastic Four and flies to Latveria where he sieges Doom's castle walls and beats the monarch into submission.
4 Black Panther Depowers Latveria
Doom is known for his dictatorship of the small country of Latveria. It's one of the few places he successfully conquered during his steps towards world domination, which is what makes Black Panther's power play that much more humiliating.
After Storm and Black Panther got married, Doom invited them to Latveria to discuss an alliance between his country and Wakanda. When his offer was rejected, Doom belligerently commanded his Doombots to attack the newlyweds. Black Panther defeated Doom by using an EMP that instantly depowered the country within seconds.
3 Susan Richards Lays Waste To Doom's Fortifications
Susan Richards requested Doctor Doom's help following a strained pregnancy with her second child Valeria. After Valeria's birth, Doom developed a fondness for the child and was even named her godfather. Valeria later traveled to Latveria to spend an extended sabbatical with Doom following tensions at home between her parents.
Susan became enraged by the two's closeness and traveled to Latveria to confront Doom and take her daughter home. A fight ensues after Doom is unwilling to release Valeria. As a result, Susan lays waste Doom's castle and rips apart his armor from the inside out, leaving him completely defenseless.
2 Doom Is Brought Low By Thor
Victor Von Doom is known for his immense vanity. Doom first donned the mask to hide the scars that made his once handsome face less than perfect. On one occasion, Doom decided to kidnap a doctor who he believed could restore his mutilated face.
In The Mighty Thor #182 by Stan Lee, John Romita, John Buscema, and Artie Simek, Doom kidnaps Doctor Donald Blake. Doom is unaware Blake is the human alter-ego of Thor. The Norse demigod confronts Doom, who foolishly attempts to lift Mjolnir but fails. Doom is humiliated in battle while simultaneously learning he has to live with the fact his appearance won't ever be restored.
1 Doom Fails To Become Sorcerer Supreme
Doctor Doom is a practitioner of the mystic arts as well as the wielder of several mystical weapons and paraphernalia. As a result, it's no surprise he's often crossed paths with Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange. In Triumph and Torment by Roger Stern and Mike Mignola, Doom challenges Strange for the title of Sorcerer Supreme.
Doom is ultimately usurped from taking the role but is granted a favor for his near win. The ruler of Latveria asks Strange to help him rescue the soul of his mother Cynthia, who's being held in Mephisto's hell realm. Strange agrees and the two descend into hell to rescue Doom's mother.