The Fantastic Four Just Gave Hope to Doctor Doom’s Most Devious Creations

While saving the multiverse from one cataclysmic event after another might seem like a burden, the Fantastic Four made its career off of proving that to be wildly untrue. Of course, just because the superhero team has turned the tide of battle against unfathomable forces doesn't mean Marvel's First Family is immune to everything the universe throws its way. In the case of Reed and Sue Richards, their latest hurdle has come in the form of an army of mechanical monstrosities known as Doombots.

In the wake of the still undisclosed disaster that destroyed the Baxter Building and made pariahs of the eponymous family, Fantastic Four #2 (by Ryan North, Iban Coello, Jesus Aburtov, and VC's Joe Caramagna) finds Reed and Sue enjoying the fare offered by a small town diner. Like Ben and Alicia, Reed and Sue have taken to the road to escape their troubles only for entirely new ones to find them nonetheless. In this particular case, trouble has come in the form of nothing less than an entire town of Doombots, and for once their prime motivation isn't killing the Fantastic Four.

The Fantastic Four Gives Doctor Doom's Doombots a New Lease on Life

Although Reed and Sue are set upon by the town's robotic residents shortly after being identified, they also discover that the Doombots aren't there to hunt them down. Rather, they have instead made it their mission to protect a single member of their community against all harm. As it turns out, the elderly Mary was something of a maternal figure to Victor Von Doom at some point. For her kindness, Victor made sure that she would never come to any harm by leaving behind an army of his mechanical henchmen to keep watch, something they never stopped doing even after Mary's death.

This is a far cry from normal as far as Doombots are concerned. First introduced in 1962's Fantastic Four #5 (by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby), the Doombot is the standard in terms of henchmen for Doctor Doom. While his first prototype was more akin to a Life Model Decoy than anything else, various iterations over the years have culminated in the quintessential killer robot. Doombots are also more than just super strong steel cans -- they are also capable of fooling most telepaths into believing they are genuine human beings at first glance. This coupled with their ability to disguise themselves as needed makes them the perfect choice for almost any scenario Doctor Doom might find himself in. However, it has also led more than a few Doombots down particularly awkward paths.

Doctor Doom's Doombots are Actually More Human than Most Think

The Doombots that protected Mary aren't the only ones that have found themselves taking on what may as well be a genuinely human life. In fact, most Doombots operate under the assumption that they are the embodiment of Doom until proven otherwise. Most Doombots are programmed to believe such things, however, one was so convinced of his innate humanity that he ended up on She-Hulk's doorstep looking for legal counsel because of it.

That particular Doombot's story might not be as heartwarming as those Reed and Sue have recently encountered, but it still lends credence to the idea that Doom's walking machinations are more than just robots. If left to their own devices, there is no telling what they could accomplish, and not just for their creator. If nothing else, Reed and Sue's latest encounter leaves no doubt that Doombots have always been more than meets the eye.