Proper now, MCU followers in every single place are eagerly awaiting the discharge of Avengers: Judgment Daynot simply because it's the franchise's subsequent large occasion movie, however as a result of it would see the return of the long-lasting Iron Man actor, Robert Downey Jr. RDJ's Tony Stark sacrificed himself in Avengers: Endgamehowever this is not going to be sufficient to stop his return in Avengers: Judgment Dayparticularly since he received't return as Tony Stark, however as one other character: Physician Doom. And if the MCU needs to do that story proper, it must lean on a forgotten story. Iron Man storyline in Marvel Comics.
THE Iron Man plot in query is And if? - Iron Man: Demon in an armor by David Michelinie, Bob Layton and Graham Nolan. On this one-shot And if? story, Tony Stark and Victor von Doom are school roommates. Stark is a supply of fixed annoyance to Doom, however Victor can't deny that Tony is a genius – and he's wealthy. So Victor methods Tony into serving to him construct a tool that can swap their minds, and when Doom prompts it, he turns into Tony Stark.
Demon in armor includes a model of Physician Doom who 'wears the face' of Tony Stark. Like Stark, Doom shortly kills Howard Stark, takes management of his firm, and aggressively expands whereas eliminating any and all types of competitors. Doom is on a mission to build up as a lot world energy and affect as doable, and with the face of Tony Stark, that mission is less complicated than ever. Nevertheless, there's a misstep in Doom's plan: he lets the unique Tony Stark dwell.
When Physician Doom took over Tony Stark's physique, the reverse additionally occurred. Stark's thoughts turns into trapped in Victor von Doom's physique. Nevertheless, Tony Stark proves how sensible he's whereas in Victor's physique by turning into simply as profitable as 'Tony Stark' with none of the benefits. This inevitably results in a closing battle between 'Doom' and 'Stark', the place good prevails over evil. However what if that didn't occur? What if Doom stole Tony Stark's face and life and suffered not one of the penalties? That's a query the MCU ought to ask – after which reply.
MCU's Physician Doom Ought to Steal Tony Stark's Face Earlier than Going To The Multiverse
The MCU should comply with Demon in armorhowever let Physician Doom win
It's all however confirmed that the model of Physician Doom followers are getting within the MCU is from one other universe separate from the primary MCU continuity. It isn't but recognized whether or not he will likely be from the identical universe as the brand new Unbelievable 4 or not, however it's clear that this Physician Doom comes from one other actuality. It's additionally no coincidence that the brand new Physician Doom appears precisely like Tony Stark, and there needs to be a extra substantial cause than Marvel Studios merely eager to carry again Robert Downey Jr.
Maybe in any new Physician Doom universe, occasions would have performed out equally to what followers noticed in Demon in armor. Tony Stark was wealthy and conceited (identical to he was within the MCU), and Victor von Doom noticed a chance to steal every part he had by tricking Stark into switching our bodies. At this level, maybe Physician Doom didn't permit the unique Tony Stark to dwell in his previous physique and determined to kill him proper after the change was profitable.
Doom's ruthless brilliance fused with Stark's affect and wealth meant that Victor can be free to rule the world in his dwelling universe. However possibly that's not sufficient for Doom. This establishes Doom's obsession with the multiverse and buying actual energy - not simply the wealth and affect he received from Stark. Tony Stark might be the primary individual whose 'energy' was stolen by Physician Doom, however as comedian e book followers know, he wouldn't be the final. And with that, the MCU has an ideal new villain, whereas additionally making sense for RDJ to play Physician Doom in a satisfying (and comic-accurate) approach.
The MCU might additionally look to the definitive new universe for Physician Doom for inspiration
Reed Richards is the brand new Final Doom, reflecting the potential of Tony Stark being the MCU's Doom
Whereas Demon in armor can be the proper supply of inspiration for the MCU's model of Physician Doom (with the aforementioned story tweaks, after all), that's not the one place Marvel Studios might look to create a narrative round Robert's Physician Doom. Downey Jr. In the new Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160followers are launched to a wholly new model of Doom – who is just not Victor von Doom, however Reed Richards.
Clearly, the circumstances surrounding Reed Richards taking up (or reasonably, being pressured into) the position of Doom within the Final Universe don't have anything to do with Tony Stark, however they do introduce the concept Physician Doom doesn't essentially must be a variant of Victor von Doom. Even in Demon in armorVictor von Doom remains to be the villain, he's simply sporting Tony Stark's face. Within the Final Universe, nevertheless, Victor von Doom has nothing to do with the nickname 'Doom', as Reed adopted it with out Victor's affect.
Maybe the identical might be true for the MCU. Perhaps (once more, in one other actuality), Tony Stark is simply evil. Perhaps he'll use his place as one of many richest and most influential individuals on Earth, combined along with his pure brilliance at technological development, to mainly take over the world. He might suppress the rise of different superheroes, extinguish villains earlier than they grew to become an issue, basically purchase S.H.I.E.L.D. and management Hydra, and - after all - create his iconic armor to make sure his bodily type matched his customary of energy. - armor bearing extra putting resemblance to what followers affiliate with Physician Doom.
The Final Universe Can Supply Inspiration, However The MCU Ought to Look At The Satan In An Armor
Demon in armor remains to be the perfect potential piece of supply materials for the MCU's Physician Doom
The Final Universe introduces the concept a model of Physician Doom can exist with out Victor von Doom, which might be translated into the MCU by presenting a model of Tony Stark who's evil and who takes the nickname Doom for himself. Nevertheless, if the MCU have been to go this route, it must provide a fairly convincing clarification for why Tony Stark would change into Physician Doom with zero affect, reasonably than merely being an evil model of Iron Man (like what followers noticed with Superior Iron Man).
No, the best choice remains to be the story proven in Demon In An Armor. It will keep true to Physician Doom's origin, permitting Victor von Doom to nonetheless be the person behind the masks, would clarify why Robert Downey Jr. Physician Doom within the MCU, and it will be an ideal adaptation of a forgotten Marvel Comics story. After all, some changes can be wanted, however for probably the most half, this Iron Man plot needs to be the MCU's supply of inspiration for Avengers: Judgment Day.