Fantastic Four’s introduction to the MCU brings surprising new relationships

The Marvel Cinematic Universe just can’t stop messing with Peter Parker’s identity as a character.

The Fantastic Four’s addition to the MCU has been highly anticipated and almost equally as highly scrutinized. Since the casting reveal from San Diego Comic-Con, where we found out that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning as Dr. Victor von Doom, comic fans have been anticipating a Spider-Man-related twist. You can’t just bring back the face of Peter Parker’s friend and mentor as a villain and expect nothing to come of it.

Well, according to insider MyTimeToShineHello on Twitter, we can expect the Avengers films, Doomsday and Secret Wars, to feature an important relationship between Doom and Spider-Man. The post makes sure to reference that Doom and Reed Richards will also interact and have an important relationship, but that Peter and Doom’s relationship will be more important.

I hate this.

In MCU’s Spider-Man solo movies, all of the featured Spider-Man villains actually had a vendetta against Iron Man, and now we’re being told to expect an important relationship for Spider-Man with a villain whose primary adversary is the Fantastic Four. Why can’t Spidey have his own villains? Why is the MCU allergic to treating Tom Holland’s Spider-Man with any kind of comic accuracy?

Spider-Man does have a relationship with the Fantastic Four, so some crossover is definitely to be expected. It would make sense if Reed Richards took over for Tony as Peter’s mentor, it would make sense if Peter found solace in Susan as a kind of maternal figure, and, of course, we can expect fun things from Peter’s relationship with Johnny Storm. But Doom? Victor and Peter never had any kind of relationship. There is no comic basis for whatever they’re going to try and pull in the upcoming films. The only tie these two could have is that Victor von Doom looks like Tony. And that’s just weak sauce, man.

The MCU wants to have its cake and eat it too. Doctor Doom is generally considered one of the best Marvel villains in history and certainly a fan favorite, but with the lackluster response to the last Fantastic Four movie, it’s clear the studio doesn’t trust Doom’s main heroes to sell movie tickets. They’re trying to play it safe by shoehorning a fan-favorite villain into an opposing role against a fan-favorite hero. But it doesn’t work like that. You’re changing the roots of the characters to try and maximize fan response instead of actually getting to the core of why these characters and their journeys are so beloved in the first place. And it’s exhausting.

Every MCU announcement that comes out, I feel more like I have to stand in front of my favorite comic characters and protect them with a machete. Stop trying to change them—we love them for who they are. Let Reed keep his relationship with Doom. Leave Spidey out of it.