Does This Marvel Comic Reveal How Robert Downey, Jr. Will Become Doctor Doom?

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As a long-time comic book enthusiast and Marvel fan, I find the potential connection between Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom origin story and the Ultimates #4 comic intriguing. The idea that loss could play a significant role in shaping Downey’s Doom aligns well with my personal belief that pain and adversity often serve as catalysts for transformation in characters, both on the page and off.

2021’s San Diego Comic-Con left Marvel enthusiasts in a whirlwind when Kevin Feige and the Russo Brothers disclosed that Robert Downey Jr. will be rejoining the MCU, this time as the malevolent Victor von Doom, also known as Doctor Doom. Fans were quick to wonder how Downey could assume the role of Marvel’s upcoming main antagonist given his previous portrayal of its most revered hero, Tony Stark/Iron Man who tragically passed away. This speculation sparked discussions about the existence of multiple universe versions.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t wait for September 4th! That’s when you’ll get a glimpse of Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doom in Ultimates 4. Don’t miss out on this exciting revelation!

— Deniz Camp (@DenizCamp) July 28, 2024

A short while later, Deniz Camp, a writer for Marvel Comics, shared a mysterious hint about his forthcoming comic series on Twitter, saying, “To truly grasp Robert Downey Jr. as Doom, you absolutely need to read Ultimates 4 on September 4th.” Now that issue #4 of The Ultimates has been released, let’s delve into it and uncover the secrets about the man under the iron mask who will torment Earth’s mightiest heroes in the upcoming movies, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars.

Ultimates Is About a Twisted Version of the Marvel Universe

The ‘Ultimates’ is a fresh comic book series that revolves around Marvel’s reimagined Ultimate Universe, which was brought back by a villain named the Maker. This antagonist is actually a malevolent counterpart of Reed Richards from the original Ultimate Universe. To secure his dominion over this new realm, the Maker manipulated time travel to prevent Marvel’s mightiest heroes from ever gaining their superpowers.

Despite the Creator’s utmost attempts, some heroes eluded their grasp. Howard Stark transformed into Iron Man and subsequently handed over the mantle to his child, Tony Stark, who adopted the name Iron Lad. Tony assembled a group of Avengers to confront the Maker, one of his confederates being Reed Richards, who in this altered universe became Doom rather than Mister Fantastic. In Ultimates #4, we unveil the storyline that explains how a hero such as Reed Richards could transform into his classic adversary, Doctor Doom.

The Maker Corrupted the Ultimate Doom

In issue #4 of “Ultimates,” we delve into the origins of Ultimate Doom and reveal how a minor manipulation drastically altered the destiny of the Fantastic Four. As Reed Richards prepares for the team’s initial space voyage, the Maker covertly intrudes on his lab through time travel and tamperers with one of Reed’s equations scribbled on a whiteboard. This seemingly insignificant action triggers a chain reaction that leads to a disastrous outcome for the mission. Rather than bestowing them with extraordinary abilities, the team suffers gruesome fates that mirror their potential powers.

In this rephrased version:

He remarks, ‘I can compress millennia of suffering into mere fleeting instances.’ The Creator subjects Reed to agonizing electrocution, disfiguring him similarly to Palpatine. Then, he places a scalding-hot metal mask over Reed’s face. Furthermore, he mentally torments Reed with the perceived guilt of his actions that led to the despair of his family. Overwhelmed, Reed breaks mentally and embraces the name Doom to finalize his transformation.

How Ultimate Doom Could Explain RDJ Becoming Doctor Doom

The tale of Ultimates #4 seems to provide intriguing insights into Downey’s Doom. Although the comic illustrates how Reed, not Tony, becomes Doom, it still highlights how a significant shift in a character’s origin can radically reshape their life and lead them towards destruction. It’s plausible that the new character Downey is portraying hails from an alternate universe where Tony Stark’s origin unfolded differently, resulting in him exiting the cave as a villain encased in armor instead of a hero. After all, it’s not impossible for him to reinvent himself by purchasing a castle in Eastern Europe and adopting the name Victor von Doom?

Intriguingly, the plot of Ultimates #4 invites us to ponder the notion that Downey’s character wasn’t originally destined to be Doom. Instead, a malevolent entity may have manipulated him into becoming Doom. This concept could potentially play out in the MCU as well. It’s plausible that a sinister mastermind, observing how Tony Stark rose to become Marvel’s top hero in one universe, decided to transform him into its most notorious villain in another. If Marvel were to adopt this narrative, it would imply the existence of a hidden villain pulling the strings above Doom, guiding his transformation.

In a potential scenario, if Marvel intends to resolve the ongoing Kang the Conqueror saga, it’s plausible that Kang might assume the role of ‘The Creator’ within this narrative. Given his expertise in time manipulation, such a move wouldn’t be unexpected. If Kang were to fabricate MCU Doom, it wouldn’t shock anyone if Doom eventually betrayed Kang and emerged as the next formidable adversary the Avengers must confront. However, it’s also possible that Marvel could introduce ‘The Maker’, a malevolent counterpart to Pedro Pascal’s Mr. Fantastic, who might be unveiled in the upcoming “Fantastic Four: First Steps” next year. This twist could align well with our future encounter with Mr. Fantastic.

Will the MCU Really Get Robert Downey, Jr.’s Doctor Doom Origin Story From the Ultimates Comic?

It’s enticing to speculate that the clues about Marvel Studios’ upcoming villain, Doctor Doom, might be hidden in the pages of Ultimates #4. Yet, it seems unlikely that Feige would reveal Kevin Feige’s grand scheme for Downey’s Doom in a comic book before the next Avengers films have even begun filming. Therefore, Deniz Camp’s story in Ultimates #4 might be hinting at a thematic sneak peek into Downey’s Doom, rather than a literal one. The story emphasizes the concept of loss as a crucial aspect of Doom’s character.

In essence, Reed Richards transformed into a villain known as Doom following the loss of his loved ones. Similarly, Victor von Doom became Doctor Doom after suffering the loss of his parents. It seems that the portrayal of Downey’s Doom emphasizes the significance of loss in shaping his character. One can speculate how Tony Stark might have turned out differently if characters like Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan had met a sad fate. Without their support, he could have potentially followed a path to villainy, perhaps even becoming Doctor Doom. Only time will tell what actually unfolds in the future.

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2024-09-10 23:32