Doctor Doom is set to threaten the entire Marvel multiverse in Avengers: Doomsday, forcing heroes from different realities to unite against him. A new What If…? novel provides an early look at the kind of multiversal conflict the film may explore.
Random House has published books based on Marvel’s What If…? concept since 2024. Earlier stories have imagined Loki exiled to Earth and Kitty Pryde taking on the Phoenix Force.
DaVaun Sanders’ What If… The Multiverse Was Doomed? brings that book series to a finale. In its story, Doctor Doom crosses the multiverse in search of Franklin Richards, hoping to harness the young hero’s power and remake reality.
America Chavez takes responsibility for stopping him. She travels across dimensions to recruit Loki, Scarlet Witch, Kitty Pryde and a version of Moon Knight bonded with Venom. Their mission is to defend Franklin and prevent Doom from conquering the multiverse.
That combination of heroes and the central threat make the novel sound strikingly close to the broad setup of Avengers: Doomsday, even though the characters and details are not identical.
Sanders has described America Chavez as a key part of the book’s appeal. The story gives her the chance to step forward when other heroes hesitate, while also challenging the criticism and hostility the character has faced.
A Loki story set years after Thor’s death
The book is scheduled to reach bookstores and other outlets on 4 August. Its preview follows a version of Loki a decade after Thor’s death. This Loki has become worthy of wielding Mjölnir and is helping Jane Foster raise his niece, Quinn.
Quinn wants to become a hero, but her rebellious behaviour and growing confidence create friction at home. Loki tries to control her training by arranging contained dangers in the city, while balancing Jane’s approval and Odin’s anger over the hidden heir linked to the family’s past.
The excerpt centres on a tense confrontation between Loki and Quinn. When Mjölnir responds to Quinn’s challenge, the hammer begins moving between them and appears to recognise her influence. The struggle grows dangerous as the weapon starts to fracture, before Jane arrives to investigate the disturbance.
Quinn eventually claims the hammer and turns the incident into a joke, but the encounter leaves Loki facing uncomfortable questions about his place in Thor’s legacy. The scene also establishes the mix of family tension, mythology and multiverse-scale consequences that defines this alternate Marvel story.
Why it matters for Marvel fans
What If… The Multiverse Was Doomed? is not a direct retelling of Avengers: Doomsday. Its plot instead offers another example of Marvel using alternate realities to rearrange familiar heroes, relationships and powers.
For Australian fans following the wider Marvel universe, the novel’s Doctor Doom storyline makes it a particularly relevant companion read while anticipation builds for the film. Readers interested in the broader world of games and interactive entertainment can also browse RETROCADE’s arcade news and gaming coverage.
The book’s multiverse premise may also appeal to collectors who enjoy bringing superhero themes into a dedicated games room. RETROCADE’s arcade machines, compact bartop arcades and virtual pinball machines offer different ways to build an entertainment setup around favourite genres and characters.
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