As a long-time comics enthusiast and someone who’s seen the evolution of Marvel characters on both pages and screens, I find this theory incredibly intriguing. The idea of merging elements from the original Victor von Doom’s backstory with an alternate-timeline Tony Stark seems like a stroke of genius to me. It would not only introduce a complex villain but also provide a compelling narrative for Iron Man actor Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom.
2021 saw a popular fan theory about “WandaVision” that didn’t materialize, leaving Marvel Cinematic Universe enthusiasts intrigued. However, as director Matt Shakman later disclosed, Mephisto, Marvel’s version of the devil, was not part of “WandaVision,” contrary to widespread speculation. Yet, in “Agatha All Along” Season 1, Episode 3 – “Through Many Miles / Of Tricks and Trials,” the Mephisto question is rekindled by directly confirming that this character is indeed present within the MCU.
A discussion between Teen (Joe Locke) and Jennifer Kale (Sasheer Zamata) reveals strange snippets and uncomfortable allegations about Agatha Harkness’ (Kathryn Hahn) backstory. According to Jennifer, Agatha traded her own child for her considerable magic powers. The kid has been missing ever since, and may even have turned into an agent of Mephisto. Just like that, the door is wide open for one of the strongest Marvel villains who hasn’t yet appeared in the MCU … and that’s a big problem.
Mephisto, Marvel’s well-known devil figure, is a formidable adversary who should have a significant impact across the entire MCU. However, with so many antagonists currently in play, his influence is spread thin. In 2023, the character portraying Kang, played by Jonathan Majors, was involved in a high-profile domestic violence case and was subsequently removed from his role. This left Phase 4 without a primary villain, yet Kang remains a significant presence across the Multiverse. The MCU hasn’t revealed its plans to address the Kang situation yet. Interestingly, two other powerful villains are joining the roster, with Ralph Ineson as Galactus in “Fantastic Four” and Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom. With so many powerful bad guys, it seems like there’s too much going on… but what if Mephisto’s upcoming appearance is meant to intertwine with the story of MCU’s Doctor Doom?
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Downey’s Doom needs a good backstory, and Mephisto has just the thing
It’s plausible that the series “Agatha All Along” plans to delve deeper into the character of Mephisto and potentially reveal him as a character. As demonstrated by “Loki” Season 1 with the introduction of He Who Remains, a significant debut on a Disney+ show is feasible. If they decide to introduce Mephisto within the Marvel Cinematic Universe at this time, it could make sense only if there are plans to link him to Robert Downey Jr.’s Victor Von Doom’s upcoming appearance.
In the comic books, Doctor Doom and Mephisto have a long history of conflict. Doom aims to rescue his deceased mother, Cynthia, from Mephisto’s realm. Notably, an early endeavor to achieve this results in the scars that mark Doom’s face, as the machine he employed for the purpose malfunctioned. This doesn’t make Mephisto any more favorable towards him and also fosters a hatred for Reed Richards, who unsuccessfully tried to assist with the machine. If the MCU decides to delve into this aspect of Doom’s past, it could imbue the character with a sympathetic side, similar to other well-regarded MCU villains. Additionally, this narrative could provide an explanation for Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doom in the MCU.
In simpler terms, merging elements from Victor von Doom’s dark past (Mephisto aspects) with an alternate version of Tony Stark could create a compelling and identifiable major villain for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This approach would require minimal effort to establish this new character, which is crucial given the need for a quick change in the main antagonist following the resolution of the “Majors” situation.
The MCU Mephisto and Doom could be connected in many ways
Another possibility for introducing Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom in the MCU could be through a Mephisto-related plotline that mirrors previous events on the Sacred Timeline. Since Jennifer mentions “agents of Mephisto” and the character himself, the MCU version of Doctor Doom might become an agent — maybe a resurrected Tony Stark from an alternate timeline, brought back by Mephisto following the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” If the show wants to delve deeper, it could introduce a Tony Stark with a unique backstory, who turns out to be Agatha Harkness’ long-lost son. This would require some creative liberties since, in the comics, Doom’s mother is also a witch, but this could be connected if Agatha’s journey along the Witches’ Road leads to a path towards Hell.
Given that Downey’s time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is limited, and it’s likely that Doctor Doom will return at some point, this scenario could be used to hint at the genuine Doctor Doom. Perhaps he’d peer into Mephisto’s hell with his machine, catching a glimpse of Downey as Doom before disfiguring his own face and embarking on his comic-accurate character journey somewhere within the Multiverse. Interestingly, this strategy would put Downey in a role similar to Ben Kingsley, who portrayed the sham Mandarin in “Iron Man 3,” only for Tony Leung (the real Mandarin) to appear in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” This approach also mirrors Doctor Doom’s well-known comic book habit of using false copies of himself across different storylines.
It’s important to note that until Mephisto officially appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and connects to Doom’s background, these theories are mere speculations. However, it is intriguing that both characters have been announced within a short period, given their significant roles in the comic book lore.
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2024-10-03 21:00