What If … Robert Downey Jr. Didn’t Show His Face as Doctor Doom?

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As a longtime fan of Marvel Comics, I can’t help but feel nostalgic when reminiscing about the intricate relationship between Tony Stark and Doctor Doom. Growing up with the grittier, more serious Stark in the comics, it was indeed a breath of fresh air when Robert Downey Jr. brought his charismatic charm to the big screen.

Ever since the Marvel Panel at San Diego Comic-Con last Saturday, I’ve been struggling to process the news that Robert Downey Jr. will be stepping into the role of Victor von Doom. The reactions have ranged from excitement, dismay, and bewilderment over his return, and I can’t deny that I too have my thoughts about it. However, regardless of our feelings, it seems that “Avengers: Doomsday” is on its way with Robert Downey Jr. leading the charge. Naturally, we all have our speculations as to why this decision was made, but let’s focus on the practicalities instead. So, using the comic books as a guide, how will Downey’s portrayal of Doctor Doom fit into the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

It’s generally accepted among Marvel Comics enthusiasts that Doctor Doom outranks other villains, even though Thanos gained significant fame due to the Infinity Saga in the MCU. Prior to this, following his introduction in Invincible Iron Man #55 (1973), Thanos was often portrayed as a foe of Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock. His most notable appearance was in The Infinity Gauntlet (1991), written by Jim Starlin, George Perez, and Ron Lim. However, Doctor Doom was created more than a decade before Thanos, debuting in Fantastic Four #5 (1962). Since then, there’s been no doubt that Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s original powerhouse villain stands alone at the top.

Born to a Romani healer and a Romani sorceress in the fictional Eastern European country of Latveria, Victor von Doom grew up in poverty. Tragedy struck when his mother was taken to hell by the demon Mephisto for her witchcraft. Determined to bring her back, young Doom dedicated himself to self-improvement. This led him to receive a scholarship to an American college, where he encountered Reed Richards and Ben Grimm, future members of the Fantastic Four. Seeking a way to communicate with his deceased mother, Doom constructed a machine capable of crossing dimensions. Despite warnings from Richards about potential errors, Doom persisted in his project. Unfortunately, the machine malfunctioned, causing a catastrophic explosion that scarred his face.

Leaving academia behind, Doom journeyed to the towering Tibetan mountains to master occult practices and dark enchantments. To shield himself from society, he commissioned monks to forge him an armor that caused chronic discomfort and a fiery mask, which seared his remaining facial features upon first wear. Adopting the title Doctor Doom, he seized Latveria, governing with benevolence while aiming to dominate the globe and free his mother from the clutches of hell.

Since the Russos Bros., directors of the Avengers films, announced at Comic-Con that Downey would play Victor von Doom and claimed he was the only suitable actor for the role, it seems unlikely that Doom will be a Stark alter ego. It’s plausible that Downey might embody the character accurately, including the mask and scarred face beneath. If this is true, it would be more fitting if Downey didn’t resemble himself at all, with the healed visage from Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic’s Secret Wars (2015) being achieved through prosthetics to change his appearance. However, one might wonder why hire Robert Downey Jr., reportedly paid $80 million upfront for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, if his face will be concealed.

As a long-time fan of Marvel comics and films, I have always been intrigued by the multiverse concept, where various alternate realities coexist. Given my extensive knowledge of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I find it plausible that Downey’s Doctor Doom could hail from the same world as the upcoming Fantastic Four: First Steps, set in an alternate version of Earth. Although it seems odd, it is not entirely implausible for Victor von Doom to resemble Tony Stark on this parallel Earth.

As a longtime comic book fan and moviegoer who has spent countless hours immersed in the Marvel universe, I must say that the idea of characters from different realities looking alike is intriguing but can be tricky to execute effectively. In the case of Deadpool & Wolverine, it worked because Chris Evans played Johnny Storm prior to Captain America and for a shorter period, and the film was a comedy. However, in the instance of Victor von Doom being portrayed as Tony Stark, I find it hard to imagine this working seamlessly due to Downey’s instantly recognizable likeness with Iron Man.

Among the comics highlighted by fans lately is the standalone issue from 2010 titled “What If? Iron Man: Demon in Armor” by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, and Graham Nolan. In this tale, Tony Stark crosses paths with Victor von Doom at college instead of Reed Richards. Impressed by Stark’s wealth and family lineage, Doom creates a mind-switching device to take over Stark’s body. As a result, Stark ends up in Doom’s body, losing all memories of his past, while Doom inhabits Stark’s. Although he continues to excel as a scientist in the new body, Stark uses his knowledge and Iron Man suit for humanitarian purposes such as healing and rescue services. Conversely, Doom, now in Stark’s body, turns into a relentless inventor and business magnate but can’t match the success of his former self who developed the arc reactor. When presented with the opportunity to return to their original bodies, Stark, still residing in Doom’s body, declines, claiming he’s given the name Doom a positive connotation, while the reputation of Stark has been tarnished. Essentially, this storyline combines elements of “The Prince and the Pauper” and “Freaky Friday“, creating a complex and messy plot that seems difficult to adapt into a movie.

Following the recent reveal on Saturday, there’s been an increasing curiosity about the dynamic between Doctor Doom and Iron Man. Typically, Doom is used as a rival to Mr. Fantastic, but he’s also been portrayed as both foe and ally to Iron Man. However, their relationship didn’t develop until the early ’80s, in the comic series titled “Doomquest“, which was part of issues 149 and 150 of Iron Man (published in 1981). Tony Stark’s objective to keep Stark Tech away from Latveria leads to both Iron Man and Doom landing on a time pad, causing them to be flung back in time to the era of King Arthur and Camelot. To return to their own time, Stark and Doom are forced to collaborate, albeit reluctantly, to construct a time machine. At that point in history, Doom was unaware that Iron Man was Tony Stark; he only recognized Iron Man as his bodyguard. Upon returning home, they parted ways as adversaries, but with a newfound respect for each other’s technological prowess.

The similarities between the two characters in those decades and beyond are intriguing, as Tony Stark, before his portrayal in Iron Man (2008), was a much grimmer character compared to Downey’s depiction. He lacked the wit, salesmanship, arrogance, and high-spiritedness that Downey brought to the role. Essentially, Stark seemed less compelling than Reed Richards as Doom’s primary rival. Despite numerous encounters over the years, characters such as Doctor Strange, Black Panther, and Kang appeared more captivating as adversaries for both heroes and villains.

In essence, the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe influenced how Tony Stark’s character was portrayed in subsequent stories. Although no actor could quite capture Downey Jr.’s tone as Stark, the comics version of Stark became more flamboyant. This contrasted with Doctor Doom, who was more serious and preferred to operate in the shadows, a dynamic seen in Brian Michael Bendis’ 2015 series, “Invincible Iron Man,” which led to the 2016 series, “Infamous Iron Man.” In this storyline, Victor von Doom, after the temporary demise of Tony Stark, took on the mantle of Iron Man in an attempt at redemption. Some fans speculate that the MCU might reverse this scenario, with a variant of Tony Stark assuming Doctor Doom’s identity and name. However, given that Doctor Doom has yet to appear in the MCU, such a move would be similar to having von Doom play Iron Man in the 2008 film. The instances where Iron Man and Doctor Doom swap roles are rare in comic book history, and both characters tend to be more intriguing when they aren’t swapping identities.

It’s quite possible that when we finally watch the movie in 2026, we might find out that the Russos were leading us astray, and a wicked version of Stark will initially present himself as Doctor Doom. Only later, with a different actor playing him, will the genuine Doctor Doom appear to handle his imposter. This could make for an entertaining twist, though it bears resemblance to the Mandarin reveal in Iron Man III (2013). After all, comic books are known for repeating similar plotlines. Why should movie adaptations be any exception?

In essence, although films like “Doomsday” or “Secret Wars” might have provided an explanation for Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doctor Doom, the comics indicate that Doom is a multidimensional character who doesn’t require such an explanation to make him distinct from Tony Stark. While some fans might yearn for scenes like a battered Peter Parker asking “Mr. Stark?” or Thor questioning “Tony?”, only to have Doom respond with “Who the hell is Tony?”, these moments may not fit well within the intricate Multiverse Saga, given its complex new characters, variants, and events such as anchor points, beacons, and incursions. To avoid overwhelming audiences and to maintain the integrity of both characters, it would be best to portray Doom as dissimilar to Tony Stark, even though they are played by the same actor.

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2024-08-01 16:25