For Marvel fans, Doctor Doom’s arrival is becoming something they can order before they can see him in theaters. KFC has built a global restaurant campaign around the villain, turning his dark-green visual world into sauces, food, packaging and collectible versions of Colonel Sanders.
The November 4 announcement describes the tie-in with Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Doomsday as KFC’s largest global collaboration. It will reach more than 100 participating markets, with the first menus arriving November 9 and activity continuing into January 2027. The United States, India and China are excluded.
The appeal is not simply a superhero logo on a burger box. KFC has made the villain central to the creative idea and translated that same character into the food customers can buy and the objects they can collect.
Table of contents
Jump to each section:
- Doctor Doom takes over the menu
- The ad makes KFC the last restaurant standing
- Five collectible Colonels give the promotion another layer
- Why the global rollout matters for marketers
Doctor Doom takes over the menu
The Doomified range uses flavor and color to make the film partnership visible in the food itself. Doom Cola sauce is described as a caramelized cola glaze with smoky barbecue notes. Smoky Green Mayo adds a second signature condiment, while Doom Dust brings green seasoning with charred lime and chili.
Depending on the country, the range includes a Doom Burger on a black sesame bun, wings glazed in Doom Cola sauce, a Doom Bucket with sauces and seasoning, loaded fries, a shake, a layered green drink and mozzarella sticks. These are market-dependent examples, not a promise that every restaurant will sell every item.
That flexibility matters. The global idea remains recognizable through its colors, character and product names, while individual markets can use formats that suit their menus. Limited-edition packaging extends the visual identity into the takeaway experience with Doctor Doom’s mask and an iron-riveted design.
The ad makes KFC the last restaurant standing
The campaign film imagines Doctor Doom surveying New York after an Avengers battle. Buildings and competing restaurants have been destroyed, but one KFC remains untouched. The punchline is that the chain has survived by creating a menu worthy of Doom.
Agency Mother developed the creative. Little Black Book’s campaign report says it runs across video, outdoor, social, restaurants and packaging, with film versions adapted for participating markets. KFC’s release specifies 15- and 30-second global edits, while LBB also describes a 60-second version.
This is a more specific approach than using a movie character as an endorser. The villain’s personality drives the joke, and the menu gives that joke a tangible payoff. People do not need to understand the entire Marvel timeline to recognize the visual contrast between a ruined city and an intact fried-chicken shop.
Five collectible Colonels give the promotion another layer
In designated markets, qualifying Doom menu purchases can include one of five Colonel Sanders Cosplay Collection figurines while stocks last. The figures reimagine the KFC founder in outfits inspired by Avengers: Doomsday characters.
Five variations create a collection rather than a single souvenir. That may give interested collectors a reason to return, although KFC has not disclosed purchase frequency or sales targets for the promotion. Availability is also limited by market and stock.
The mechanism echoes other restaurant collaborations, but KFC is pairing the collection with unusually extensive menu customization and a single villain-led creative world. Each layer reinforces the same fictional premise rather than functioning as an unrelated giveaway.
Why the global rollout matters for marketers
The campaign arrives ahead of Avengers: Doomsday’s planned December 18 cinema release. Its calendar lets KFC participate in the buildup before opening weekend and, in some markets, continue afterward into January.
Three decisions make this campaign notable. First, KFC chooses the villain instead of the usual hero-led celebration. Second, the character appears in the actual menu, not only advertising. Third, the collectible line gives fans an optional physical extension of the film’s world.
The scale is striking, but it is not proof of success. KFC has announced participation across more than 100 markets, not verified incremental sales or foot traffic. The commercial test will be whether those cinematic details make customers more likely to order, return or talk about the food once the promotion begins.
For marketers, the useful lesson is that licensing works best when the borrowed story changes the product experience. Doctor Doom supplies the creative logic, but the sauces, packaging and figurines are what customers will encounter at the counter.
