Doom’s mention of the heroes living “stolen lives” may be one of the most significant hints in ‘Avengers: Doomsday.’ The term seems like a standard villain’s speech. However, when you consider the MCU and the X-Men’s past, it feels perfect.
Doctor Doom’s “Stolen Lives” Line May Explain The Entire ‘Doomsday’ Story
So many of Marvel’s most significant characters have somehow acquired, rewritten, maintained, or lost lives that never existed in their original timelines. Steve Rogers is likely the most obvious. Steve returns the Infinity Stones, but decides not to return and remains in the past, where he eventually forms a life with Peggy Carter.
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This also ends in them having a child, James Rogers, who wouldn’t exist if Steve had returned. Thor creates another unusual branch when he uses Gorr’s wish to save Love, ultimately taking responsibility for the child himself. Tony Stark decides to reverse Thanos’ Snap, without erasing his own family and life.
Then there is Loki, whose 2012 variant escapes the events of ‘The Avengers’ and eventually becomes the God of Stories. Wanda’s kids fit the idea, too. She magically gives birth to Billy and Tommy, who don’t really exist in the normal world.
Another heart-wrenching example is Peter Parker’s story. Doctor Strange’s spell causes the world to forget Peter’s identity, and he can go on living, but without the relationships that he had in his past.
Wolverine Stole His Future From the Timeline
The X-Men add to the complexity of the idea. Wolverine literally travels into the past and changes history, stopping the terrible future that was depicted in the opening of ‘Days of Future Past’. That altered timeline saves the lives of characters such as Jean Grey, Scott Summers and Professor X.
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That is, there are already people in the multiverse who shouldn’t be alive. That’s why Doom calling them “stolen lives” could be more than a cool line. These characters have faced destiny head-on and defied it over and over again, rewritten timelines, or escaped death. Maybe Doom isn’t simply criticizing them. Maybe he knows exactly what they took, and intends to take it back.
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