AsRobert Downey Jr.returns to the MCU to play Doctor Doom, Marvel has the chance to pay off his very first scene inIron Man. 2008’sIron Manstarts out with a scene where Tony Stark - in Afghanistan to demonstrate a new weapon system - attempts to put his military escort at ease. It’s a great scene that establishes Tony’s personality and outlook, rudely interrupted when the convoy is attacked andTony finds himself injuredby one of his own missiles.
The moment gets a dark reflection in Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato Jr.‘sDark Avengers #1. The comic includes a similar scene where a military escort return the villainous Doctor Doom to the country of Latveria. One of Doom’s escorts asks for a photograph with the legendary figure, but Doom replies with a vicious scare that strikes terror into the heart of his ‘fan.’ The first time Doom speaks to his escort is to warn,“If you continue to speak, there will be no end to your suffering.”
It’s the perfect inversion ofIron Man’s movie scene, where Tony’s personality is communicated through the same interaction. With Robert Downey Jr. now coincidentally set to return to Marvel’s movies as Doctor Doom,adapting this scene is the perfect way to show the major differences between the characters.
Robert Downey Jr. Can Recreate His First MCU Moment as a Villain
Doctor Doom Doesn’t Pose for Photos
Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Tony Starkwas a game-changer for Marvel’s movies, credited by many as the true seed of the MCU’s success and the instigator of a career resurgence for the actor.Iron Man’s opening scene (set to AC/DC’sBack in Black) establishes Stark as an arrogant but charming playboy who takes very little seriously. When one of his military escort asks to take a picture, Stark agrees, quipping throughout - at least until the moment is interrupted by the Ten Rings’ attack on the convoy.
It’s an important scene because it helps to establish who Tony is before he discovers his new purpose as Iron Man, as well as instantly persuading the audience to like a character who still has a lot of growing to do before he can be considered heroic.Dark Avengerscompletely flips everything about the moment, turning it into a showcase of Doctor Doom’s disdain for others and intense aura of menace.As a way of bringing Robert Downey Jr. back to the MCU as a very different character, it’s shocking Marvel already has a scene so perfect for showcasing Doom and Stark’s differences.
Robert Downey Jr. going from playing Iron Man to Doctor Doom isn’t totally out of left field. The two characters have always been connected, reflecting each other’s flaws and virtues.
Dark Avengerstook placeduring Marvel’s ‘Dark Reign’ era, during which Norman Osborn (aka the Green Goblin) had replaced Nick Fury as the leader of world security. Osborn used his new status to form a group of powerful villains known as the Cabal, trading favors with the likes of Loki, Namor and Doctor Doom, who needed help reclaiming Latveria after a period of violent upheaval. Doom’s arrogance is essential to the character, and even while receiving vital aid from his new allies, he has nothing but loathing for what he considers Osborn’s peons.
Tony Stark Becomes “The Iron Swordsman” as New Iron Man Armor Debuts Its Gigantic Weapon
Tony Stark becomes the Iron Swordsman, as his desperate new era burns away every advantage, revealing Iron Man’s purest form.
Iron Man and Doctor Doom Have Always Been Linked
Victor von Doom Actually Admires Tony Stark
It’s wild thatDark Avengerscreated the perfect Robert Downey Jr./Doctor Doom scene in 2009,longbefore Marvel was ever discussing the actor’s MCU exit, let alone his return. While the originalIron Manscene was obviously fresh in pop culture at the time, there are other reasons this isn’t quite a coincidence.Doctor Doom and Iron Man have long been dark mirrors in Marvel continuity, and there are few Tony Stark scenes that couldn’t be flipped to show Doctor Doom in the exact opposite light.
As rich geniuses who ascended to ‘superhuman’ levels using powerful armor, Victor von Doom and Tony Stark have a lot in common. Marvel has contrasted the two across many different stories, with titles includingExiles,Marvel Team-UpandWhat If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armorshowing Tony literallybecomingthe new Doctor Doom, with the two swapping minds in the latter title. However, the most famous example of Stark and Doom trading places is2016’sInfamous Iron Man, where (following Tony Stark’s supposed death)Doctor Doom seeks redemption as a new version of Iron Man.
In this sense, Robert Downey Jr. going from playing Iron Man to Doctor Doom isn’t totally out of left field.The two characters have always been connected, reflecting each other’s flaws and virtues. TheDark Avengersmoment showcases Marvel’s longtime habit of switching Doom and Stark’s circumstances and using that to reveal their major similarities and crucial differences.Dark Avengersgave Marvel the ideal way to introduceRobert Downey Jr.as Doctor Doom, takingIron Man’s first scene and showing how it would play out with a vicious dictator rather than an arrogant playboy.
Iron Man
TheIron Manfranchise is a cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), marking the beginning of the interconnected superhero films that have become a global phenomenon. The franchise follows Tony Stark, a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor, who creates a suit of armor to become Iron Man. His journey from a self-centered playboy to a self-sacrificing hero plays a pivotal role throughout the MCU’s Infinity Saga.
