The unveiling of Robert Downey Jr. as the new Doctor Doom at San Diego Comic-Con sent ripples of speculation throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe fanbase. The announcement coincided with the impending release of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, leading many to believe that the film would provide some much-needed context.
However, The Fantastic Four: First Steps has arrived, and for the most part, Victor von Doom is conspicuously absent. There's no mention of Latveria, his home nation, and the question of how and why Doctor Doom now resembles Tony Stark remains unanswered. That is, until a pivotal post-credits scene. The scene shifts the tone, introducing a metal-masked figure lurking in the Baxter Building's living room.
So, what exactly is going on? Here's a breakdown of the post-credits scene and a discussion of the possibility of Doctor Doom's origins within Earth-828.
Decoding the Post-Credits Scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The scene opens in the aftermath of Galactus' defeat, with New York City on Earth-828 enjoying a period of peace. Four years have passed, and a young Franklin Richards is playing in the Baxter Building with his mother, Sue Storm (played by Vanessa Kirby). Sue leaves to retrieve a favourite book of Franklin's, only to return and find a cloaked figure kneeling before her son.
The figure's face is obscured by the hood of a forest-green cloak, but they hold the unmistakable mask of Doctor Doom. This scene seems to confirm that Robert Downey Jr. will indeed be portraying Doctor Doom.
The Mystery of Doom's Absence and Stark's Face
Throughout most of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Doctor Doom is largely ignored, barring a vacant seat for Latveria at the United Nations. The film doesn't clarify whether the Doctor Doom in the post-credits scene is the ruler of Latveria on Earth-828. Crucially, it also leaves hanging the question of why Victor von Doom might bear the likeness of Tony Stark from Earth-616.
Could This Doctor Doom Be From Earth-828?
While the multiverse opens up countless possibilities, there's a certain poetic justice in the idea that Earth-828's Doctor Doom is, in fact, a version of Tony Stark. Perhaps one who harbours deep-seated resentment at playing second fiddle to the universally admired Reed Richards.
First Steps establishes the Fantastic Four as beloved global figures, celebrated as symbols of human progress. Reed Richards, in particular, is lauded as a genius. This level of adoration could be a bitter pill for a narcissist like Tony Stark to swallow. Regardless of Stark's intellect, he might crave the recognition and admiration Reed Richards receives.
From there, it's possible to imagine Tony Stark transforming into Doctor Doom. He could leverage his intelligence, cunning, and vengeful nature to gain political control over Latveria – something Reed Richards would never consider. Instead of creating an Iron Man suit, he might build a Doom suit, resulting in an Iron Man/Doctor Doom hybrid unique to the MCU.
Comic Book Precedent
This concept isn't entirely without precedent in the comics. In 2016, Marvel published Infamous Iron Man, where Victor von Doom assumes the Iron Man persona after Tony Stark's death in Civil War II. It's conceivable that Doom's costume design in future films might draw inspiration from his appearance in Infamous Iron Man.
Multiversal Fluidity
While it's been stated that Robert Downey Jr. will play Victor von Doom, not Tony Stark, in Avengers: Doomsday, the multiverse allows for flexibility in character identities. Character names and established backstories are no longer fixed points. They can shift and evolve to suit the narrative. The possibilities are virtually limitless.
The exact nature of Robert Downey Jr.'s Doctor Doom and his impact on the MCU remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: his arrival promises to be a significant event.
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