Warning: Contain spoilers forAvengers #19!!
Doctor Doomis a prideful man with the skill, knowledge, and now incredible magic to back up his ego. And yet, despite the depth of his pride, he will occasionally give respect where it is due - just not to theAvengers’currentCaptain America, Sam Wilson. Doom had a different sort of relationship with Steve Rogers, but his fondness does not extend to the man currently holding the shield.
InAvengers #19- by Jed MacKay, Farid Karami, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit - Doom sends his astral form tomeet with the Avengersand discuss the current state of the world. In other words, he’s there to level accusations of failure.As Sam Wilson speaks up in defense, he’s immediately dismissed, with Doom stating that he isn’t interested in “anything Captain America could say.”
This is a stark departure from the Latverian leader’s opinion of Steve Rogers, as he believed the two had much in common. Any lingering respect for the mantle is gone, and it certainly didn’t save the Avengers from the Sorcerer Supreme’s judgment.
Doctor Doom Has No Interest in Sam Wilson as Captain America
Yet He Held His Predecessor in High Regard
From the moment Steve Rogers emerged from the ice, he became the world’s Captain America until passing the mantle onto Sam Wilson a decade ago. Currently, both men claim the title yet wear it differently. Steve has always had a natural gift for speaking to the masses and reaching hearts and minds at the same time, inspiring plenty of loyalty and disdain along the way. Sam is more than capable of filling those shoes, though it takes effort, and shines in teamwork and on the battlefield. YetDoom, who previously viewed Cap as a fellow face of a nation, isn’t impressed.
Doctor Doom and Captain America forged a brief bond inS.W.O.R.D #6, by Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti, after mutants revealed that they had claimed and terraformed the planet Mars.
No real explanation for Victor’s targeted dismissal has been given. He may believe Sam is not as strong as his predecessor, either in spirit or physical abilities, or that he simply hasn’t earned the same kind of respect the original Captain America garners from friends and enemies.Doctor Doom sought Steve Rogers’opinion directly when the mutants terraformed Mars, espousing that they were alike in some ways, yet disregards Sam entirely. In truth, the shift in opinion likely comes from his own status change, as the “face” of the United States seems piddling now that he wields so much power.
Doctor Doom Only Cares About His Own Opinion as Sorcerer Supreme
Any Captain America is Unlikely to Get Through to Him
Doom is currently at the height of his abilities as the Sorcerer Supreme. Consequently, whatever he had in common with Captain America as the representatives of their respective nations wouldn’t be the same, regardless of who wore the stars and stripes. He’s thinking bigger than Latveria now and, consequently, bigger than Captain America. Given the lecture he layson the Avengers, it’s also likely that he’s doubly disappointed in Sam - not only because he isn’t Steve Rogers, but because he’s failing to take advantage of his power as an Avenger and as someone from one of the world’s most powerful countries.
One thing is abundantly clear by Victor’s interaction with the team: he didn’t call them to hear alternatives or take their opinions into account. He had a personal vision of what the Avengers should be, and their input wasn’t warranted. It’s unlikely that Steve Rogers would’ve altered that path, even if he stood in Sam’s place. Steve and Doom previously shared an unexpected bond, but that was long before the Sorcerer Supreme mantle changed hands.Doctor Doombelieves theAvengershave failed, and holds no respect for Sam Wilson asCaptain America, so his own opinion will reign supreme.
