All throughout November, guest writers will be weighing in on fandom, specifically guest writers who identify strongly with characters, teams, or franchises online. Each piece will feature a personal look at why a writer gravitates to a character, what keeps their interest, and — most importantly — a set of reading recommendations for folks looking to better understand that character.

Today, @jjschach wrote about his relationship with one of the greatest villains in comics history, Doctor Doom…

I’ve often thought the best superhero characters in comics are the ones we can most relate to. Slightly enhanced, but real world applicable. You hear this often when referring to characters such as Batman, Ironman, or even Wolverine. A lot of time these characters get banished to street level story arcs. Doom is the best of all these human characters. It just so happens he’s bad. Meh.

Doom has the mental acuity of Bruce Wayne. He has the scientific knowledge of Tony Stark. Now, throw in occult powers just a tick below Stephen Strange. He is driven like no human. He refuses to feel pain. He will never relent. He regularly takes on four to his one. He has overcome the Beyonder. He has stood toe to toe with Galactus. Now, yes Doom is mad. Quite so, in fact, This type of relentless pursuit of perfection brings about his greatest flaw – ego. But, if you KNEW you were the greatest, would you waste time being humble? Doom is mad, but he is also bound by honor.

He wants to be the best, but he won’t cheapen the victory. He’d rather leave the fight than win on a technicality. Doom is, in my opinion, the single most versatile character in the Marvel Universe. Human. Villain. Monarch, Sorcerer. Hero. God.

Doctor Doom Reading Recommendations

Some of the books that shaped my thoughts on the Latverian Despo:

Books of Doom #1 - #6 (2005)
Doctor Strange and Doctor Doom: Triumph and Torment (1989)
Secret Wars #1 - #12
Fantastic Four #258 Byrne’s Doom Opus

Finally, if you’re a Doom fan, you have a favorite page such as Doom telling Namor he’s no man’s second choice or his owning of Kilgrave in removing his helmet, or even more recently when he flat out punked Thanos, leaving him a nothing but a skeleton (see below). You just don’t mess with the King.