Doomsday: Marvel or DC? The Monster That Killed Superman, the 2008 Film and Doctor Doom

The word has been everywhere since the next Avengers film was announced, and it is causing confusion. Comic readers think of the DC creature that brought Superman down, film buffs of a 2008 British film, and Marvel fans of Victor von Doom. Here is what each “Doomsday” refers to, where the word comes from and what links the web-slinger to Victor von Doom.

Doomsday: Marvel or DC?

Doomsday is a DC Comics monster, but Avengers: Doomsday is a Marvel Studios film. The film's villain has nothing to do with the DC creature: he is Victor von Doom, whom French translations of Marvel comics call Docteur Fatalis. The character was born in The Fantastic Four #5, cover-dated July 1962, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

DC's Doomsday is the Superman foe who kills the hero in Superman #75, cover-dated January 1993. Marvel also has a robot called Doomsday Man, which no source links to the film. Finally, DC published a series called Doomsday Clock, unrelated to the monster, and Doomsday is also the title of a 2008 British action film.

Avengers: Doomsday – the title of the Marvel film

The title was announced at San Diego Comic-Con, in Hall H, on 27 July 2024. It replaces the planned The Kang Dynasty, and the announcement came with the return of the Russo brothers as directors and of Robert Downey Jr, this time in the role of Doctor Doom. The film comes out on 16 December 2026 in France and on 18 December 2026 in the United States. The part the web-slinger might play in it is examined in our article on Spider-Man and Doctor Doom, and the first trailer in our shot-by-shot breakdown.

As of 28 October 2026, no official explanation of the subtitle has been found: neither the Russos, nor Kevin Feige, nor the studio have said what the word means. The JustWatch website offers two readings, unconfirmed: a pun on “Doom's Day”, the day of Doom, and a nod to the end of the world brought about by the Incursions between universes. In Brazil, Disney settled the matter in its own way: there the film is titled “Vingadores: Doutor Destino”, Doutor Destino being the Brazilian name of the character that French comics call Docteur Fatalis. Disney confirmed this to the Brazilian website Omelete on 17 December 2025.

In France, the film keeps its English title, and its French-language version keeps the name Doom too: in the French trailer, the character says “Je suis Doom” (“I am Doom”). The name Fatalis remains that of the translated comics. To place the film in the timeline, our list of MCU films in order sets things out, and our guide to what to rewatch before Doomsday suggests a route so you arrive at the cinema ready.

A multiverse film without the DC monster

The film is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, and Disney's official page credits the screenplay to Stephen McFeely. Its official synopsis promises heroes from three distinct universes facing an unprecedented existential threat. The announced villain is Victor von Doom and, as of 28 October 2026, no official announcement links the DC creature to the film.

The cast brings together MCU heroes, the X-Men and the Fantastic Four; the web-slinger, however, is not confirmed as of 28 October 2026. The chances of seeing the three actors together again are weighed up in our investigation into the three Spider-Men and Doomsday, and the boundary with the hero's other multiverse in our article on Doomsday and Beyond the Spider-Verse.

DC's Doomsday: the monster that killed Superman

A Superman foe at DC Comics, Doomsday is the monster that killed the Man of Steel. The creature is credited to five creators: Dan Jurgens, Brett Breeding, Jerry Ordway, Louise Simonson and Roger Stern. Only its fist, striking a wall, is glimpsed in Superman: The Man of Steel #17, cover-dated November 1992. It appears in full in #18, cover-dated December 1992, which opens the “Doomsday!” crossover. In the story, it is Booster Gold, a member of the Justice League, who names it, in Justice League America #69.

Its origin was told later: Doomsday was born on prehistoric Krypton, where the scientist Bertron carried out cruel experiments on a humanoid infant, killed and cloned over and over until it became the monster. The duel culminates in Superman #75, cover-dated January 1993: Superman and Doomsday kill each other in front of the Daily Planet. Put on sale in the United States in mid-November 1992, the issue, written and drawn by Dan Jurgens and inked by Brett Breeding, sold more than six million copies and was the best-selling comic of 1992.

And what if the Man of Steel met the web-slinger? Our analysis of Spider-Man versus Superman compares their strengths, and our history of Marvel and DC crossovers recounts the times the two publishers really did bring their heroes together.

From Batman v Superman to Superman & Lois: Doomsday on screen

On the big screen, Doomsday bursts into Zack Snyder's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, released on 25 March 2016 in the United States. Lex Luthor creates the creature in the Genesis Chamber of the Kryptonian ship by mixing his blood with General Zod's corpse, and Superman kills it with a Kryptonite spear before succumbing to the blow it deals him. Robin Atkin Downes provides its voice and movements.

On television, season 8 of Smallville comes up with its own version of Doomsday, Davis Bloome, played by Sam Witwer; Clark faces him in episode 22, “Doomsday”, aired on 14 May 2009 in the United States. Superman & Lois brought the creature back in turn. In the season 3 finale, Lex Luthor turns Bizarro into Doomsday. The two-part episode that opens season 4, aired on 7 October 2024 in the United States, then sees the monster kill Superman, rip out his heart and hand it to Luthor; the hero is resurrected in those same episodes.

In animation, Justice League Unlimited features Doomsday in the episode “The Doomsday Sanction”, voiced by Michael Jai White. In video games, the creature is playable in the fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us (2013). On the Marvel side, it is the web-slinger you will find in our Spider-Man figures and on our posters.

Doomsday Clock: nothing to do with the monster

Doomsday Clock is a 12-issue DC Comics maxi-series, written by Geoff Johns, drawn by Gary Frank and coloured by Brad Anderson. Issue #1 came out in the United States on 22 November 2017, issue #12 in December 2019. It brings together the Watchmen characters, created by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, and the DC universe, centred on Superman and Doctor Manhattan.

Doomsday (2008), Neil Marshall's film

Before the Avengers, Doomsday was also the title of a 2008 British feature film blending action and science fiction, written and directed by Neil Marshall. Rhona Mitra plays Major Eden Sinclair, alongside Bob Hoskins and Malcolm McDowell. A virus ravages Scotland, which England seals off behind a wall; years later, the virus reappears in London, and a commando team sets out to find a cure. The film was released in France on 2 April 2008, distributed by SND.

And at Marvel? Doomsday Man, the Silver Surfer's robot

Marvel really does have a character called Doomsday Man: a robot created by Stan Lee and John Buscema, which first appeared in Silver Surfer #13, cover-dated February 1970. In the story, it is linked to Dr John Kronton, who dies in that same issue. No official announcement connects this robot to the film Avengers: Doomsday. To make sense of the three universes mentioned in the film's synopsis, our simple explanation of the multiverse lays the groundwork, and our article on Avengers: Secret Wars covers the planned sequel.

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What does “doomsday” mean? Meaning and translation of the word

In French, “doomsday” is translated as “jour du Jugement dernier”, “jugement dernier” or “apocalypse”. In English, the word first refers to that Day of Judgement at the end of the world and then, by extension, to any day of judgement or disaster. It comes from the Old English dōmesdæg, formed from dōm, judgement, and dæg, day. The word therefore breaks down into doom, 's and day, which makes possible the “Doom's Day” pun that some attribute to the film's title.

An old foe of the web-slinger, since 1963

Victor von Doom is not just the film's villain: he is also an old foe of the web-slinger. They first meet in The Amazing Spider-Man #5, cover-dated October 1963, where the tyrant of Latveria tries to recruit the young hero against the Fantastic Four. Their clashes are told in our account of this battle of wits with Doctor Doom, and the hero's ties to Reed Richards' family in our story of his alliance with the Fantastic Four.

Doom has his place in our guide to Spider-Man's enemies, even though he belongs first and foremost to the Fantastic Four's universe, and the other figures of the web-slinger's world are introduced on our page on the character universe. To head into December in costume, our fancy dress costumes and masks come in several versions of the web-slinger.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Doomsday a Marvel or DC character?

The monster Doomsday is a DC Comics character, famous for killing Superman in Superman #75 (1993). The villain of the film Avengers: Doomsday, on the other hand, is Victor von Doom, a Marvel character.

Is DC's monster Doomsday in Avengers: Doomsday?

No. The monster Doomsday belongs to DC Comics, and as of 28 October 2026 no official announcement links it to the Marvel Studios film. The villain of Avengers: Doomsday is Victor von Doom, whom French-language comics call Docteur Fatalis.

Are Doomsday and Fatalis the same character?

No, they are two separate characters. Doomsday is the DC monster that killed Superman; Fatalis is the name French editions of the comics give to Victor von Doom, the Marvel villain of Avengers: Doomsday.

Why is the Marvel film called Avengers: Doomsday?

As of 28 October 2026, Marvel has given no official explanation. The website JustWatch sees it either as a play on “Doom's Day”, the day of Doom, or as a nod to the end of the world brought about by the Incursions between universes: two unconfirmed readings.

What does “doomsday” mean?

“Doomsday” means Judgement Day, the Last Judgement or the apocalypse. The word comes from the Old English dōmesdæg, formed from dōm, judgement, and dæg, day.

Is Doomsday Clock linked to the monster Doomsday?

No. Doomsday Clock is a 12-issue DC Comics maxi-series, written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Gary Frank, that brings the Watchmen characters together with the DC universe.

Key takeaways

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