ship_manifesto

Title: I've been dying just to feel you by my side
Fandom: Marvel Comics
Pairing: Dr. Doom/Princess Python (Victor von Doom/Zelda DuBois)
Author: Mipp

mississippienne

I've recently discovered a new OTP in the pages of Paul Tobin's mini-series, Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil. I am usually a sucker for a good supervillain caper story, but this one comes complete with a tantalizing and surprisingly romantic pairing between Dr. Doom and Princess Python. Also, this manifesto is IMAGE HEAVY, sorry dial-uppers.

The Beautiful Princess

This is Zelda DuBois, aka Princess Python. A solid D-list supervillainess who possesses no powers other than a reasonably well-trained snake, Python is a longtime member of the Circus of Crime.

The Good Doctor

This is Victor von Doom, aka Dr. Doom, the most dangerous and formidable supervillain on the planet. Doom has conquered the world on several occasions, defeated gods and demi-gods, and his only rival is Reed Richards, Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four, the world's most brilliant mind. Doom is also a powerful sorcerer and rules his own nation, Latveria, with an iron fist.

In Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil #2, Doom recruits several supervillains to assist him in locating a powerful being called Quinn. Python is among those he has recruited, and from the start she makes it clear that she respects and fears Doom's abilities.

I would like to point out that the number of people that Doom respects or cares for could be counted on one hand, with fingers left over. And yet it's clear that Doom respects Python, even considering her lack of great power. He considers her to be very important and worth his time and attention, which is exceptionally rare.

This is notable to me because Doom REQUESTS that Python join him, he does not order her. Doom perceives almost everyone as pawns that exist to do his bidding. The fact that he gives Python a choice in the matter of following him is amazing.

This playful homage to Shaft needs no further comment.

Doom sends Baron Zemo to protect Python and keep her safe from dangerous aliens. When Python gripes that Doom's reason for keeping her out of the fight is probably because she's "a pretty girl" (and thusly needs protecting), Zemo points out that Doom allows the Norse goddess Enchantress (who's reason for existing is to be appealing to men) to fight. Obviously it is not merely Python's pretty face that makes Doom want to keep her safe.

When Doom finds Zemo using Python as bait, he becomes angry and warns Zemo not to fail him again (or, 'if you put her in danger, you will SUFFER'.)

Here Python expresses her thought that Doom might "like" her, and even laments that he doesn't share his feelings much at all. Obviously she's picked up that Doom's interest in her is more than purely academic.

Doom saves the day using a special gas to cast an illusion over their alien attackers. Here we see Python by his side as she will be for much of the rest of the series. They are almost always standing together and talking to one another. Once again, Doom does not have confidants, nor does he normally allow someone to question him.

With danger about, Doom grabs Python's hand and flees with her, abandoning the rest of his cronies. He's fully prepared to leave everyone (except for Python) to die alone and unmourned on an alien world.

Python appeals to him to save their team. For someone to talk to Doom the way she does is tantamount to suicide. People have been killed for less than calling Doom's actions 'absurd'. And yet Doom not only doesn't become angry with her, he does as he's asked, and goes back to save the others.

As they make good on their escape, Python sits beside Doom (and in the third panel, it would appear that she places her hand on his seat. Doom seems to be tolerating this invasion of his personal space with rare good humor) to thank him for saving the other supervillains from Blastaar. She shares with him her thoughts on being needed as Doom's "conscience".

Doom cuts her off, but acknowledges that she's almost right.

I haven't gotten issue #4 yet, but this scene from the preview confirms that Doom and Python continue to be ship-worthy. Accompanied by Magneto, they drop in for a tea party with immortal supervillainess Selene. When Python goes to shake Selene's hand, Doom snatches her back to protect her from Selene, who is a psychic vampire. Here once again we see Doom's protectiveness of Python.

What I think I love about this pairing is that Doom truly seems to respect Python's courage and abilities, even though she's weak and powerless compared to himself or almost anyone else that he interacts with on a regular basis. He respects Python enough to request her presence on this mad caper; he makes sure she's protected and not abandoned or exploited during battle, and he allows her to question him and demand things of him that Doom wouldn't accept from anyone else. Python is naturally awed by this man, who is a legend in his own time and possibly the most intelligent man alive. And yet she's brave enough to stand up to him and demand that he not abandon their teammates, brave enough to speak her mind about her role in his life.

I highly recommend picking up Dr. Doom and the Masters of Evil, which is an enjoyable and action-packed mini-series. It's last issue came out just a couple of days ago.

As for fic and other fannishness, your bet best would be one of the general Marvel comics comms like