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Revision as of 15:06, 23 October 2024 by Jontesta (talk | contribs) (Completely unsourced, but condensing it instead of removing it.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) Fictional country in Marvel Comics Not to be confused with Latvia.It has been suggested that this article be merged into Doctor Doom. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2024. |
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Latveria | |
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Fantastic Four location | |
A rendition of the nation of Latveria (in green) and its capital Doomstadt. Symkaria borders along the south. | |
Flag of Latveria | |
Created by | Stan Lee, Jack Kirby |
In-universe information | |
Type | Autocracy |
Ruler | Doctor Doom |
Location | Europe |
Locations | Doomstadt (capital) |
Characters | Doctor Doom Lucia von Bardas Dreadknight |
Currency | Latverian Franc |
Latveria is a fictional country appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted within the storylines of Marvel's comic titles as a small, isolated European country ruled by the fictional Supreme Lord Doctor Doom, supposedly located in the Banat region. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, and borders Symkaria (home of Silver Sable) to the south. Its capital is Doomstadt.
Publication history
Latveria first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #2, published in 1964. Victor von Doom is the ruler of Latveria. Though he has been dethroned on numerous occasions, he has invariably managed to return to the throne of his country within a matter of months.
Doom also has a Council who obeys him entirely. In Fantastic Four #536 (2006), he kills his own Prime Minister for claiming control of Latveria in his absence and threatens to kill two other ministers if they failed to locate Thor's hammer.
Doctor Doom's style of rule can best be described as an absolute monarchy. Doom has surveillance devices planted throughout the country and has hidden force fields to prevent its residents from leaving without his consent.
Fictional history
Located in southeast Europe, Latveria was formed out of land annexed from southern Hungary centuries before, and possibly land from Serbia as well as Romania.
Latveria under the Fantastic Four
When Doom descends into Hell, the nation is targeted by neighbouring countries, forcing Reed Richards to take control. He disarms Doom's technology and imprisons him in a pocket dimension of his own design. Although Doom uses his consciousness-switching abilities to escape, the death of his host body seemingly kills him as well, and the Fantastic Four pull out of the country. Doom survives and rules Latveria for a time with a 'puppet' Prime Minister and robotic enforcers.
Series of takeovers
After the Fantastic Four leave, the United States attempt to fill the void left by Doom by establishing a democractic government, with Lucia von Bardas as Prime Minister. However, when it is revealed that von Bardas was employing the Tinkerer to give Doom's technology to various tech-based villains in the United States, S.H.I.E.L.D. Commander Nick Fury takes action.
During Secret War, Fury and several superheroes invade Latveria and attempt to kill von Bardas. She survives, but is disfigured and seeks revenge before being killed by S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Daisy Johnson.
Country-wide disasters
Much of Latveria is destroyed and the population severely reduced by an attack executed by the Marquis of Death.
S.H.I.E.L.D., under the leadership of Iron Man and his team of sanctioned Avengers, invade Latveria after discovering Doom's unintentional involvement in the release of a symbiote virus on New York. The country is devastated and Doom imprisoned for crimes against humanity. However, Doom is released with help from Norman Osborn and He restores his nation using his time travel technology.
Statistics
Latveria is a small nation located where Hungary, Romania and Serbia meet in real life. The capital city of Latveria is Doomstadt, formerly Hassenstadt, which is located north of the Kline River and was renamed when Doom seized power.
Points of interest
- Castle Doom - An ancient castle with modern-day technology where Doom lives.
- Doomstadt ("City of Doom") - The capital of Latveria, replacing on the map the real-life Romanian city of Timișoara.
- Doomsport - The sole airport of Latveria, located on the southern outskirts of Doomstadt.
Demographics
The population consists of mixed European stock and Romani people, in whose welfare Doom takes a particular interest. Doom, being Roma, has declared the Romani a protected class and attempts to benefit them. However, due to Latveria's poor economy and oppressive rule, their lifestyles hardly outshine other ethnicities, and the Romani by and large live in the same fear of their own government as do fellow Latverians.
Law enforcement
Latveria relies largely on Doom's robotic sentinels, the Doombots, to keep law and order. One of the few known Latverian superhumans is Dreadknight, who became an enemy of Doom after he punished him for hoarding ideas.
Economy
Much of Latveria's economy depends on Doctor Doom's high-tech inventions. The country's official currency is the Latverian franc - because Doctor Doom refuses to join the European Union or adopt the euro. The Latverian franc is still considered to be reasonably strong against the United States dollar.
State
Latveria is generally depicted as a rural nation with a primitive economy and medieval lifestyle. Nonetheless, the state itself is consistently depicted as a global superpower, largely due to Doom's scientific genius. Doom also proudly claims that the country is free of poverty, disease, famine and crime and while citizens of the nation are commonly shown to be oppressed and to live in fear of their monarch, they are also shown to be relatively well cared for, so long as they do not cross Doom. Other occasions suggest that Doom is at the centre of a self-propagated personality cult and is admired and worshipped by other segments of the populace in spite of his mistreatments and he is often demonstrated to be at least a more stable and less corrupt ruler than other Latverian leaders.
Known inhabitants
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Latveria has largely been ruled by Doctor Doom after killing the tyrannical King Vladimir. The nation includes figures loyal to Doom, including scientists, political leaders such as Lucia von Bardas, and henchmen such as the Seven Daggers of Doom. In one story, the scientist Dreadknight turns against Doom. In the distant past, Doom is supported by his Zefiro guardian Boris, whose granddaughter Valeria becomes Doom's teenage love. Doom's family also have story arcs in the nation, including his parents Cynthia and Werner, his adopted child Kristoff Vernard, and his alleged son Alexander Flynn.
Oher versions
Further Information: Doctor Doom#Other versions
In other media
Television
- Latveria appears in Fantastic Four (1994).
- Latveria appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Pedicure of Doom!".
- Latveria appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "The Private War of Doctor Doom".
- Latveria appears in Ultimate Spider-Man (2012).
- Latveria appears in Avengers Assemble episode "The Doomstroyer".
- Latveria appears in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.
Film
- Latveria appears in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. This version is not led by Doctor Doom, who is instead a wealthy businessman.
- Latveria was to be mentioned in Black Widow before the reference was deleted.
Video games
- Latveria appears in Ultimate Spider-Man (2005).
- Latveria appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance.
- Latveria appears in The Incredible Hulk.
- Latveria appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.
- Latveria appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- Latveria appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
- Latveria appears in Marvel Heroes.
- Latveria appears in Fortnite.
Reception
Screen Rant describes that "Latveria has long been a thorn in the side of Marvel's heroes," with its location in the Banat region of Southeastern Europe adding potential political implications for future stories.
Further reading
- War, Politics and Superheroes: Ethics and Propaganda in Comics and Film by Marc DiPaolo, McFarland (2014)
- Caped Crusaders 101: Composition Through Comic Books by Jeffrey Kahan and Stanley Stewart, McFarland (2006)
- "Latveria's Place in Marvel Geopolitics" by Josh Weiss, Marvel.com (April 1, 2019)
- The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us by Francis Tapon (2012)
References
- Faraci, Derek (August 19, 2020). "Fantastic Four: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Doctor Doom's Country Of Latveria". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2024-02-01.
- The Avengers #21
- Fantastic Four #504. Marvel Comics.
- The Mighty Avengers #7-12 (2007). Marvel Comics.
- Dark Avengers #4 (2009). Marvel Comics.
- She-Hulk vol. 3 #3 (2014). Marvel Comics.
- Collura, Scott (July 16, 2021). "Black Widow Screenwriter on the Reason for the Big Taskmaster Twist, His Quest for a Dr. Doom Easter Egg, and More". IGN. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
- "Be a Marvel Hero in Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 5 Season 4: Absolute Doom!". Archived from the original on October 2, 2024.
- Lanzafame, David (17 November 2020). "Marvel Confirms the Location of Their Most Infamous Country". Screen Rant.
External links
- Latveria at Marvel Wiki
- Article on History of Latveria
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