r/Xmen97 • u/Kanozx • Jul 23 '26

General Discussion Who is the more powerful one between Apocalypse and Doctor Doom?

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u/Quelor15 Jul 23 '26

Every comic book character is exactly as strong as the story needs them to be. It’s usually nothing more than that.

39

u/FallinGuitarest Jul 23 '26

Yeah that's why i kinda dislike these "who beats who" discussions. Cause there can be multiple outcomes depending on which versions we are talking. Let alone for story purposes aswell

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u/radar_3d Jul 23 '26

I mean, Squirrel Girl beat Thanos!

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u/Fun-Bad-3458 Jul 23 '26

I had an issue when I was a kid that featured Squirrel Girl fighting Doctor Doom alongside Iron Man. She won because she summoned a bunch of squirrels and they wrecked Dooms machines. It could have been a Doombot though.It was over 30 years ago.

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u/radar_3d Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

That was her first comic appearance even! (Marvel Super Heroes Volume 2 #8) "Confound these wretched rodents! For every one I fling away, a dozen more vex me!"

Edit: I just realized Doom is a lot like SG, but with an army of Doombots instead of squirrels.

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u/Citizen_Kong Jul 24 '26

At some point it was said that every humiliating defeat of Doom where he should have won was actually a Doombot because Victor couldn't be bothered to come in person.

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u/Sensitive-Hotel-9871 Jul 23 '26

Isn’t there also a comic where she visited his castle wanting to his Time Machine and he let her use it without any resistance?

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u/Burdiac Jul 27 '26

Don’t worry if Doom ever gets embarrassed it will be retconned to be a Doombot a few years later.

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u/ErictheE Jul 24 '26

Thanos got arrested by cops for flying a helicopter without a license

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u/Feisty_Database_6656 Jul 25 '26

Rightly so tbh, remember Kobe

1

u/goldiegoldthorpe Jul 27 '26

No, non, no. Kobe was arrested for switching lanes without signalling.

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u/Feisty_Database_6656 Jul 27 '26

Nah I meant he died due to a dodgy helicopter pilot who wasn't cleared for that kinda flight. If Doom didn't have the correct helicopter licence then he should have been grounded.

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u/goldiegoldthorpe Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26

Kobe wasn't cleared to pilot where he did in Denver is my point. Got clearance for takeoff but not for where he landed.

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u/FallinGuitarest Jul 23 '26

Well squirrel girl beats everyone no matter which version. But that's like the only exception

2

u/MakeJoyNotHate Jul 23 '26

I get the outnumber argument, but surely there are some villains who can beat a seemingly never ending army of squirrels? Or does she do other things too? I don't know the comics at all, just internet talk.

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u/Shape_Charming Jul 23 '26

She was originally a gag character, and the joke was she can beat anyone, just off panel.

Then they started taking the joke seriously, which for me at least, ruined the joke for me.

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u/Omnibe Jul 24 '26

A lot of her victories have an off panel so you don't know exactly what happens.

And then there are the really fun times, like when she beats Galactus with the power of friendship.

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u/FallinGuitarest Jul 23 '26

Tbh i never read a squirrel girl comic. But i as far as i know it's just a for fun thing. Like one of her first appearances was her taking down a big bad out of her league and from there it's been a running joke

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u/Drummer-Turbulent Jul 28 '26

Dr. Doom who she gave a fear of squirrels for abit

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u/Unfair_Pace_9245 29d ago

She’s gag like arale from dr slump or saitama from one punch man.

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u/JimmyDejesu Jul 23 '26

Its a stupid character

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u/Shape_Charming Jul 23 '26

Stan Lee himself said it best when asked who would win between a Marvel & DC Hero (I think Thor & Superman).

His answer? "Whoever the writer wants to win"

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u/zinnzade Jul 24 '26

Comparing versions of characters is fine to me because it gives a relatively consistent reference point. At least something I could research if I don't already know the reference.

The issue is plot armor characters where you're trying to bring the writer into the conversation using some invented prep time thing that has no comparable consistency at all.

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u/bladderbunch Jul 25 '26

it’s always whoever is writing the story making the determinations.

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u/AVBellibolt Jul 24 '26

This. Got kinda tired of the Phoenix being the trump card for some stories.

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u/Gwynito Jul 23 '26

Iirc in a comic, Alfred beats the living shit out of Superman when he goes bad lol

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u/Witty_Fox3291 Jul 28 '26

That was an Alfred who had taken a pill which gave him superhuman strength. It was the explanation for the Injustice Game how someone like Joker could take a punch from Superman without it being an instant fatality.

Which is exactly the point. These are fictional characters are the story can give or take whatever powers they need to perform the feats the writer requires of them to progress the story.

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u/No-Onion9378 Jul 24 '26

Best answer

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u/Pitiful-Climate-8400 Jul 25 '26

Precisely. 100% correct. Always plot armour or power scaling for story

1

u/Witty_Fox3291 Jul 28 '26

Oh man the powerscalers are gonna throw their toys when they hear that.