“Different Mask, Same Task!” – Is RDJ Hinting That He Will Be Back as Iron Man but Wearing Doom Mantle? There’s a Comic Run That Makes It Possible!
The MCU is currently going through its Multiverse Saga, marked by incursions, variants, and reality-hopping, and the big villain of the entire saga was supposed to be Kang the Conqueror. His story was set up through several installments, some great and some disappointing. Following Majors’ legal troubles, the actor was dropped as was the villain.
It was during this year’s SDCC that we found out that ‘Avengers: Kang Dynasty’ is being retitled ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ and that Robert Downey Jr. will be taking on the mantle of Doctor Doom.
The announcement was met with mixed reactions with some feeling like the studio should have just recast Kang and some worried that Feige would undo one of the greatest moments in the MCU so far.
It’s clear that RDJ will return as a variant. The actor famously stated “Different mask, same task.” This phrase led fans to speculate how his story will be introduced to the MCU and as it turns out there are several comics that can be adapted as Doom’s origin while also keeping in mind Iron Man.
The first storyline is technically a ‘What If…?’ storyline that focuses on Doom and Iron Man with a twist. They are both in college and after an experiment goes wrong the two accidentally switch minds. Now Doom is Tony Stark’s body and vice versa.
Doctor Doom for the first time in ever has privilege and money, while Tony Stark is faced with going through life as an impoverished Latverian commoner. The title of this story is ‘What If? Iron Man: Demon in an Armor’ and it’s unlikely to be adapted but it’s interesting enough to be mentioned.
The second storyline is ‘Infamous Iron Man’ and between the two, it has more chances of being adapted and it would explain better why Iron Man and Doom are so “connected” if you will, in the MCU.
After the events of the ‘Civil War II’ storyline Doctor Doom visits Tony Stark’s lab and reveals to the Tony Stark A.I. that he is taking over the mantle of Iron Man and will continue Tony’s legacy of protecting the planet. Combining Tony’s technology and his own genius, he sets off toward the path of redemption but there are few who stand between and his redemption arc, notably Ultimate Reed Richards, S.H.I.E.L.D., The Thing, Gwenpool, and several other “villains,” who believe that Doom would eventually attempt to weaponize Latveria again.
While this “origin” story would be fitting, especially in light of the fact that Tony is dead and his lab is up for grabs, it’s likely that his origin story won’t be an adaptation of any specific comic, the MCU will have to go with something far simpler and easier to digest, considering that they have a limited time on setting up Doom, wasting 3 installments on setting up Kang.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!
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