Kristoff Vernard

Kristoff Vernard
Kristoff Vernard. Art by Paul Ryan and Dan Bulanadi.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	As Kristoff: Fantastic Four vol. 1 #247 (October 1982) As Dr. Doom: Fantastic Four vol. 1 #278
Created by	John Byrne
In-story information
Alter ego	Kristoff Vernard
Team affiliations	Fantastic Four
Notable aliases	Dr. Doom, Victor Von Doom, Kristoff Von Doom
Abilities	Skilled scientist and magician Powered armor grants: Minimal superhuman strength and durability Flight Energy projection

Kristoff Vernard (formerly known as Kristoff von Doom and Dr. Doom) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He has been involved mainly with the Fantastic Four, as enemy, ally and even short-term member.

Kristoff first appeared in John Byrne's "back to the basics" Fantastic Four run in issue #247 in October 1982. Kristoff served as heir to Doctor Doom, occasional ruler of Latveria, a probationary member of the Fantastic Four, and temporal adventurer alongside Nathaniel Richards.

The character next appears in Fantastic Four #258-259 (September–October 1983) and first appears as the second Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four #278-279 (May–June 1985). After a few scattered appearances, Kristoff Vernard becomes a semi-regular cast member in Fantastic Four #400 (May 1995). He recently reappeared in FF #2 ruling Latveria in Doom's absence.

An alternate future version appeared as an adult in the MC2 universe, beginning in A-Next #5 (1998), followed by scattered appearances, but was only featured regularly in Fantastic Five #1-5 (September–November 2007).

Doctor Doom received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #2, and the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #12 (2007).

After being ousted as leader of Latveria, Dr. Doom returned to the country with the Fantastic Four to overthrow its leader Zorba. Doom met the young Kristoff and his mother. While conversing with them, Kristoff's mother was killed by one of Zorba's robots for violating curfew. Furious at the death of a woman who was standing in his presence and therefore should have been regarded as being under his protection, Doom destroyed the robot and defeated Zorba. Dr. Doom adopted Kristoff as his heir and took him to live in Castle Doom.