Warning: contains spoilers for Doctor Doom #10
In Marvel Comics, there exists a nearly infinite amount of alternate realities, universes, and worlds, each having their own unique stories, characters, and dangers. While the main and primary universe most generally featured in Marvel Comics carries the designation of 616, it's become apparent that that doesn't mean it's the best universe. As Doctor Doom realizes in the final issue of his series from Christopher Cantwell and Salvador Larroca, the 616 universe might even be a nightmare.
In previous issues of Doctor Doom, Victor von Doom was attempting to save the world from a black hole that was threatening to destroy the entire planet. Doom constructed a complex satellite that would negate the effects of the black hole, manipulating it so that it would feed on itself instead. Afterward, Doom fully intended turning himself in for his past crimes as a major Marvel villain, in the hopes that once his time was served he could start a new chapter as a hero. However, Doctor Doom's ego and paranoia got in the way as they always do. When his rival Reed Richards messaged him and wished him luck, Doom grew suspicious that Reed must have known that something was wrong, causing him to make panicked and rushed last-minutes adjustments to his satellite, which resulted in a massive explosion.
Upon waking up in another reality at the start of Doctor Doom #10, Doom learns that the black hole was in fact a wormhole, and the explosion transported him to this new world where a mirror version of himself arrived to greet him. This mirror Doom did not wear the same armor or mask as the original Doom and also lead an extremely advanced version of Latveria. This entire reality has long been at peace and existing in an improved state years beyond anything readers have seen in the main 616 universe. Doom sees this as well, coming to the realization that his own reality is the darker reflection, including Doom himself.
This better version of Doom is everything the 616 Doom has been hoping to be and more. However, this Doom also reveals the cost, and sadly the price is one that the darker and original Doom is unwilling to pay. In order to save his world and be the hero he's been striving to be, Doom would have to forgive and reconcile his rivalry with Reed Richards. Even worse, the improved Victor starts pressing Doom and pointing out his failings, claiming that his "entire mode of being is ludicrous". While this was meant to motivate Doom to make a change and become a better Victor himself, it only enraged him. Doom killed the better Doom, but he didn't stop there: he mercilessly destroyed the entire reality before returning to his own universe, resolved to be the villain he's always been, if not darker.
Unfortunately, Doom's unwillingness to change and forgive proves that the 616 universe could never become the better and brighter version seen in the final issue. Likewise, neither can Doom himself, and all of his attempts to become a hero have seemingly been abandoned by its conclusion. Regardless, while it might not be the best universe in the Marvel Multiverse, the 616's trials, crisis, and conflicts are what make it the most interesting and entertaining for readers of Marvel Comics overall.
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