Star Wars: Who Is Commander Doom?

When Alec Guinness spoke a throwaway line about the "Clone Wars" in the original Star Wars, there was probably no plan to expand on that concept. Now, decades later, fans have seen huge portions of the intergalactic conflict in multiple mediums. The animated Clone Wars TV series was among the freshest outpourings of creativity in the franchise. The numerous battles created plenty of heroes and villains, many of whom shared the same face. Sometimes, with a character like Commander Doom, only a set of armor can help them stand out.

The DNA of Star Wars is inherently referential. So much of the original trilogy comes in whole or in part from existing media. Tons of narrative trappings and design elements leaped off of the pages of history books. George Lucas borrowed heavily from the art that inspired him, peppering in a combination of visual references and elevated ideas. It only seems fitting that any future creator who got to put their stamp on Star Wars would slide a ton of their favorite stuff into the margins.

Who is Commander Doom in Star Wars?

First Appearance	The Clone Wars Season 6, Episode 1: "The Unknown"
First Appearance Date	March 7, 2014
Voice Actor	Dee Bradley Baker

Commander Doom is one of countless clones of Jango Fett who joined the massive Galactic Republic army. Fans know next to nothing about the character. His rank puts him in charge of no less than 2,304 troopers. Each clone corps reports to a Jedi General. Doom would be one of 16 commanders in his corps. Doom's distinctive armor featured dark gray plates under a mostly green set of cloth. His unit was marked with a yellow triangle. In combat, Doom usually wields a pair of matching blaster pistols. His unit wore matching green armor, making them stand out among clone units.

Doom joins the plot of The Clone Wars in the sixth season premiere, "The Unknown." Doom and his unit, under the command of Jedi generals Tiplee and Tiplar, fought in the Battle of Ringo Vinda. They engaged in a massive conflict to capture a space station over the eponymous planet, which remained under the thumb of CIS Admiral Trench. Initial exchanges exacted a heavy toll on Doom's unit. He joined Anakin Skywalker and the legendary 501st Legion to continue the push against Trench. Anakin assigned several of his soldiers, including Fives and Tup, to work alongside Doom and Tiplar. Unfortunately, a freak accident activated the dormant biochip inside Tup's mind. This resulted in Tup enacting the Order 66 protocol prematurely, leading him to assassinate Tiplar. Doom and his unit continued fighting, but with the loss of a general and the resulting confusion, they eventually mounted a successful retreat. Doom mourned the loss of Tiplar and never really appeared again.

What is Doom based on?

Doom is based on Doctor Doom from Marvel Comics. The character's name is actually never said aloud in the episode. His name only appeared in a later guide, which made the reference clear. Doom's color scheme matches Victor Von Doom's closely. The distinct green with yellow patches looks just like the cape and tunic Doctor Doom wears over his silver armor. Commander Doom's armor is also a bit more silver than traditional trooper gear, matching the lusterless iron look of some of Doctor Doom's suits. The other clear point of inspiration is Commander Doom's posture. When he isn't fighting, he usually stands bolt upright with his arms crossed, communicating the level of regal disdain fans would expect from the leader of Latveria. Funnily enough, Dee Bradley Baker, the voice of all the clones in The Clone Wars, also portrayed Reed Richards in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

Are there other Marvel references in The Clone Wars?

There are a couple of other clone troopers with some elements of Marvel source material behind them. The other obvious candidate is Thorn, who takes heavy inspiration from Marvel's Thor. Thorn might be a reference to the mythical Thor, but both suggestions apply. Thorn appears in The Clone Wars season 6, episode 7, "Crisis at the Heart." He is a shock trooper who wields a massive rotating minigun that he calls "Hammer." His helmet bears a wing design that also references Thor's signature headwear. A slightly more subtle (and potentially unintentional) reference comes in Echo's armor. Echo is a better-known clone in both The Clone Wars and The Bad Batch. His armor bears a distinctive handprint. Captain Rex placed it there as a comment on his rookie status, and Echo kept it there for years. This brings to mind the Marvel Comics character Echo, who also has a prominent handprint design on her face.

Commander Doom is little more than one of many clones in a cool suit of armor. If Boba Fett proved nothing else, it's that all one needs is a suitably cool costume to stand out. Doom fills that desire while also reminding the world of one of the finest comic book villains of all time. Commander Doom might not accomplish much, but he still looks cool enough to be worth remembering.