WritingDoctor Doomforces you “to bring your A game,” according to author Ryan North, who has become deeply acquainted with the powerful Marvel villain, as both the writer ofFantastic Four, and theongoing epic event seriesOne World Under Doom, which has featured the character at his most ascendent.
Speaking with Popverse, North explained that Doom’s eloquence is among the draws of writing the character. “Doctor Doom is a person who’s never said ‘um’ in his life,” the author noted, and he’s not joking.
Doom’s diction is a signature part of making himmore than just a great Marvel villain, but a memorable character that transcends the good/bad divide.
Doctor Doom’s Trademark Way Of Talking Makes Him A Marvel Mainstay As Much As His Strength
What distinguishes Doctor Doom from most Marvel characters? According to Ryan North, it is his particular pattern of speech, the regal way of communicating that he has retained even as most characters' dialogue has become increasingly casual over the years. North said:
Writing Doctor Doom is a joy because, every other character, you write their speech kind of like how a person talks, but Doctor Doom is a person who’s never said ‘um’ in his life. Everything he says is so formal, so you get to write speechesallthe time.
I think it was in One World Under Doom #2, when the Thing loses his powers, any other person would say, ‘The Thing was transformed because of his error.’ Doom says, ‘Behold the Thing! A man by error and ineptitude transformed.’ There’s just so much more grace when he speaks, so he’s just fun to write. You always have to bring your A game when you write him.”
In other words, Doom has a singular voice that is as enjoyable to write as it is to read.
When Doctor Doom was introduced to Marvel in the 1960s, as anearly villain of the Fantastic Four, speech in general, and comic book dialogue in particular, was more formal. As language usage has relaxed over the past sixty years, most Marvel characters have kept up with the times, while Doom has retained a more archaic mode of expressing himself.
Over time, Marvel writers like Ryan North have learned to lean into this character trait, playing up Doom’s verbosity. Why is that? In large part,it is the most effective way to signal the way that Doctor Doom conducts himself, as though he is leagues above everyone else.On the page, the best expression of this is through dialogue.
Doctor Doom’s Dialogue Is An Essential Part Of What Defines Him Among The GOATs Of Marvel Lore
As Ryan North noted, no one else in Marvel Comics speaks like Doctor Doom, and this is an asset for the character. Just like Spider-Man’s trademark quips, or Wolverine’s gruff way of talking, Doom’s dialogue is part of what makes him stand out, as much as his visually iconic design, or hisprowess in combat as a certified Marvel powerhouse.
Comics are, in essence, a dialogue-driven medium. As much as action is important to superhero stories, it is how characters talk, and what they say, that truly defines them as characters. ForDoctor Doom, his unique style of speaking is an essential ingredient in what makes him so fun to write, which translates to unforgettable stories for fans.
