Cynthia von Doom is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Comics'' in 19 ...
. She is the mother of
Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the f ...
. She has magic-based abilities, such as a knowledge of spells which allowed her to contact demons and make deals with them for power.
Publication history
Cynthia von Doom first appeared in ''
Astonishing Tales
''Astonishing Tales'' is an American anthology comic book series originally published by Marvel Comics from 1970 to 1976. Its sister publication was ''Amazing Adventures'' (vol. 2).
In 2008 and 2009, Marvel produced 11 webcomics starring differ ...
'' #8 and was created by
Gerry Conway
Gerard Francis ConwayThomas, Roy. "Roy's Rostrum" (" Bullpen Bulletins") in '' Marvel Super-Heroes'' #43 and other Marvel Comics cover-dated May 1974. (born September 10, 1952) is an American comic book writer, comic book editor, screenwriter, t ...
Cynthia was a sorceress. She was part of the Zefiro tribe, a group of
Romani people
The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sig ...
that reside in
Latveria
Latveria is a fictional country appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted within the storylines of Marvel's comic titles as an isolated European country ruled by the fictional Supreme Lord Doctor Doom, suppo ...
.''Fantastic Four Annual'' #2
Cynthia was trained in sorcery by a Latverian mystic who would later use the alias of "Dizzy the Hun."''Marvel Comics Super Special'' #1
Cynthia later married Werner von Doom, where Torval of the Zefiro played the fiddle.
Cynthia was later imprisoned in the tower by the Baron (the future King Vladimir). She had an encounter with a prisoner named Lucas Cross whom Cynthia recognized as being dangerous, since the prison was overrun by vampires. Some decades later in the future,
Doctor Doom
Doctor Victor Von Doom is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appeared in '' The Fantastic Four'' #5 in July 1962. The monarch of the f ...
(upon learning of his mother's history) sent
Blade
A blade is the portion of a tool, weapon, or machine with an edge that is designed to puncture, chop, slice or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they are to be used on. Historica ...
back in time to free her. Even when he freed her with the help of Lucas Cross, they worked together to fight off a group of vampires. Afterwards, Cynthia made her escape.
Cynthia later gave birth to Victor von Doom.
For a time, Cynthia led the Zefiro with a blend of power and compassion.''Iron Man'' #150
One midsummer evening, Cynthia cast a spell which summoned
Mephisto
Mephisto or Mephistopheles is one of the chief demons of German literary tradition.
Mephisto or Mephistopheles may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' Méphisto'', a 1931 French film
* ''Mephisto'' (1981 film), a German-Hungarian film based ...
. She made a deal with him in exchange for the power to give her people a deserving homeland, unaware of what the pact with Mephisto would bring. She stormed into the Baron's castle, telling the guards that the Baron has until sunrise to repay the people who he had committed crimes against, or she will level the entire castle. When one of the guards mocked her about that, she fired an energy bolt at him, with the other guards dying as well. Cynthia realized that she had no control over this magic. Cynthia was then wounded by a dying guardsman and fled into the woods. Werner later found her body and she told him what happened before she died. Werner buried her body in an unmarked grave.''Marvel Graphic Novel: Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange: Triumph and Torment''
Dizzy the Hun later spoke the eulogy over her grave.
At Cynthia's funeral, Boris and the other romani told Werner to take Victor and flee before the Baron found out what happened.''Books of Doom'' #1
Werner led the Zefiro to flee before the dawn. Werner tried to drop Cynthia's trunk of arcane objects into the river, but it reappeared in his wagon three nights later.
Due to her dying unconfessed, Cynthia was cursed to an eternity of damnation.''Iron Man'' #150
Over the years, Werner tried to destroy Cynthia's trunk through various ways, but it could not be destroyed. He gave up and tried to lose Cynthia's trunk among his meager belongings.
At some point, the young Victor von Doom discovered his mother's trunk filled with potions and strange scientific secrets, thus spawning his interest in the arcane. While attending Empire State University, Victor invented the "Necrophone" and used it to contact his mother. His spirit saw that his mother was being tortured by Mephisto before being brought back to Earth where the machine exploded, scarring Victor's face and getting him expelled from the university.
Doctor Doom used magic to summon Mephisto and agreed to duel him in exchange for his mother's soul.
Every midsummer evening, Doctor Doom would cast a spell calling up demons (even the worst demon-king) and battling them in a duel that he lost. His latest duel was with Kagrok the Killer. Though they fought to a standstill, Doctor Doom was defeated anyway.
Doctor Doom allied with
Morgan le Fay
Morgan le Fay (, meaning 'Morgan the Fairy'), alternatively known as Morgan ''n''a, Morgain ''a/e Morg ''a''ne, Morgant ''e Morge ''i''n, and Morgue ''inamong other names and spellings ( cy, Morgên y Dylwythen Deg, kw, Morgen an Spyrys), is a ...
to gain magic powers in order to help free his mother.''Iron Man'' #150
On one midsummer evening, Doctor Doom sent his Swarmbots to abduct Franklin Richards from
Four Freedoms Plaza
Four Freedoms Plaza is a fictional structure appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted as being located in the Manhattan of the Marvel Universe; it served as the replacement headquarters for the Fantastic Four ...
and bring him to Latveria. Doctor Doom then summoned Mephisto and offered to trade Franklin Richards in exchange for his mother's soul. The meeting was interrupted by
Kristoff Vernard
Kristoff Vernard (formerly known as Kristoff von Doom and Dr. Doom) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The adoptive son of Victor von Doom and biological son of Nathaniel Richards (and half-br ...
, who had convinced the Doombots that he was the real Doctor Doom. Mephisto managed to take Franklin Richards anyway. At that point, Franklin Richards' powers surfaced, and he threatened to destroy Mephisto. Mephisto could not handle Franklin and banished him back to Earth. From a distance, someone that might be Cynthia was shown watching Franklin's encounter with Mephisto.
Having taken second place in the Aged Genghis/Vishanti contest, Doctor Doom was given a prize to make a boon with Doctor Strange. He made a request to Doctor Strange to take him to Hell to confront Mephisto and his legions. Doctor Doom appeared to have double-crossed Doctor Strange to offer him to Mephisto in exchange for his mother's soul. After Doctor Strange was in Mephisto's clutches, Cynthia's body was recreated by Mephisto and Cynthia learned of what Doctor Doom had to bargain with, causing the body to return to a statuesque state. Mephisto appeared to have the souls of Cynthia, Doctor Doom, and Doctor Strange until a device that Doctor Doom brought shattered Mephisto's crystal, freeing Doctor Strange. The three of them attacked Mephisto, who mocked their attacks and unleashed energy that would be enough to destroy them. Doctor Strange shielded Cynthia from the effigy. Doctor Strange then allowed Mephisto's attack to destroy it. Having refused to leave Hell under Doctor Doom's pact, Cynthia began to go through redemption enough to purify her soul. Mephisto could not tolerate Cynthia's now-pure soul and allowed her to ascend to a higher plane. Mephisto then allowed Doctor Doom and Doctor Strange to return to Earth.
When Doctor Doom decided to take on the mantle of Iron Man, Cynthia von Doom watched him do that through her cauldron.''Infamous Iron Man'' #1
Powers and abilities
Cynthia von Doom had magic-based abilities, such as a knowledge for spells which allowed her to contact demons and make deals with them for power.
In other media
* Cynthia von Doom appears in ''
The Super Hero Squad Show
''The Super Hero Squad Show'' is an American superhero animated series produced by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the Avengers, the X-Men, and various other characters ...
'' episode "Mother of Doom", voiced by
Charlie Adler
Charles Michael Adler (born October 2, 1956) is an American voice actor and voice director. He is known for his roles as Buster Bunny on ''Tiny Toon Adventures'', Ed and Bev Bighead on ''Rocko's Modern Life'' and Ickis on ''Aaahh!!! Real Monst ...
. This version is shown in a female version of Doctor Doom's armor and was shown as imprisoned in Chthon's dimension. She is also shown to have nagging-related powers rather than mystical powers. After Doctor Doom conquers Chthon's dimension, he frees his mother, who changed her first name to Coco (as Cynthia was too "drab"). While Doctor Doom attends to some business, he instructs the
Abomination
Abomination may refer to:
*Abomination (Bible), covering Biblical references
** Abomination (Judaism)
*Abomination (character), a Marvel Comics supervillain
* Abomination (''Dune''), from Frank Herbert's ''Dune'' series, a fetus who has become con ...
and
MODOK
MODOK (also written as M.O.D.O.K.; an acronym for Mental/Mobile/Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first MODOK is George Tarleton, a former ...
to monitor his mother and tend to her. While she is out in Super Hero City with the Abomination and MODOK, she uses her nagging abilities on the Hulk, who is unable to attack a female. When the Super Hero Squad members that are not in Chthon's dimension arrive, the Hulk manages to strike back. Doctor Doom's deal with Chthon has Coco withdrawn into Chthon's dimension. She is seen playing cards with
Galactus
Galactus () is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Formerly a mortal man, Galactus is a cosmic entity who consumes planets to sustain his life force, and serves a functional role in the upkeep of ...
' mother and an elderly version of Morgan le Fay. Coco von Doom tells them that she has found another way to contact her son. After receiving many invites from his mother on MaskFace, Doctor Doom comments that his mother is "evil". The character later appears in "Pedicure and Facial of Doom", where she uses Chthon to help turn Castle Doom into a spa that has
Doombot
The Doombots are fictional robots appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
History
The Doombots are robots that are modeled after their creator Doctor Doom. They are exact replicas of the real Doctor Doom and were created ...
s as its staff by the time Doctor Doom, MODOK, and the Abomination return. The Super Hero Squad were able to defeat Coco von Doom and Chthon, who are remanded to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, but Doctor Doom, MODOK, and the Abomination escaped.