Warning: SPOILERS for Black Adam #6In the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom might be a threatening villain, but a recent encounter between Black Adam and Batman shows that if Doom were in the DC Universe, he probably wouldn’t have the same stature.
This theory all stems from what has been going on with the dictator of Kahndaq, the magical villain and sometimes hero Black Adam. In his current ongoing series, Black Adam has had to deal with being sick and having his mantle as champion transition to one of his ancestors, who is called White Adam. Additionally, Black Adam also had to deal with some political ramifications for his actions as a dictator. He’s even had to testify before a committee on the subject.
In Black Adam #6 by Christopher Priest and Eddy Barrows, Batman even steps up to try and stop Black Adam’s tyrannical activities. Wearing a suit of armor, Batman confronts Black Adam and tries to goad him into a fight. Before facing off in a showdown, Black Adam condemns Batman’s interventions in his country. Bruce Wayne has been funding rebels within Black Adam’s borders to try and overthrow his government and impose democratic elections. Black Adam retorts by stating that Bruce Wayne doesn’t know what he’s talking about and that it is more difficult and nuanced to suddenly grant a people self-rule who have never had it before.
Black Adam Faces More Political Pressure Than Doom
This conversation is very telling as to how Doctor Doom would be treated in the DC Universe. For the most part, Doctor Doom is a sovereign leader within the Marvel Universe. The Avengers and other heroes think twice before entering Latveria’s borders and interfering in Doctor Doom’s country. Captain America did it recently, but it had nothing to do with Doom. He was chasing someone else who just happened to be in the country, though Doom did not take kindly to the illegal entry. Also, when Doom was fighting the Mech Avengers, he retreated to within his borders, and the Avengers wouldn’t follow him.
Batman would have nowhere near the same respect for Doom’s sovereignty. It’s become clear that he’s perfectly fine funding rebels within Black Adam’s borders, so he would most definitely do the same for Doom. Batman declares that freedom is never negotiable, so he would consider Doctor Doom an eternal enemy until he was overthrown. Batman doesn’t have the same respect for international law that Marvel heroes have, and so Doctor Doom would never be allowed to sit back and just plan for domination the same way he can in the Marvel Universe. Batman‘s treatment of Black Adam shows that if he were in the DC Universe, Doctor Doom would constantly be under threat of invasion and so wouldn’t be nearly as powerful a villain.
Black Adam #6 is now available from DC Comics.
