Doctor Doom Annihilates Iron Man in New Art Ahead of Robert Downey Jr.’s MCU Debut

Doctor Doom proves himself to be truly superior to Iron Man in all-new official art celebrating the villain’s arrival in the MCU. Tony Stark and Victor von Doom have often been paired together in some way, shape, or form in the comics. But they’ve especially been in the same conversations recently ever since former Iron Man actor Robert Downey Jr. was cast as Doctor Doom for the MCU.

Marvel has unveiled Mike McKone’s variant cover for Iron Man #1, starring Doctor Doom. This cover, seen below, is one of 21 all-new Doom variant art covers that Marvel is rolling out this October. Each of the variant covers depicts the Latverian dictator decimating the heroes of the Marvel Universe.

The RDJ news is just one element of a massive 2024 that the Doctor Doom character is having both onscreen and on-panel. This art project unveiling from Marvel teases that Doom’s big year is bound to get even bigger by year’s end.

Doctor Doom Dismantles Iron Man

Iron Man #1

The news about Robert Downey Jr. returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe not to reprise his role as Iron Man, but to play Doctor Doom, has merely been a cherry on top for the character. In the comics of the Marvel Universe, the summer has belonged entirely to Victor von Doom, as recent storylines revolving around Doom have managed to elevate him significantly up the Marvel power rankings. Most notably, the Blood Hunt event just culminated with Doctor Doom taking the Sorcerer Supreme mantle from Doctor Strange.

In a last ditch effort to save the world, Strange lends his Sorcerer Supreme power to Doctor Doom. Miraculously, Doom saves the world, but in true Doom fashion, refuses to give up the mantle he borrows, bringing readers to the current state of affairs. At the same San Diego Comic-Con where Robert Downey Jr. was first unmasked as Doctor Doom, Marvel revealed the character’s next story: One World Under Doom, which will take the Marvel Universe by storm in 2025.

Doctor Doom is Primed to Become Marvel’s Biggest Villain Ever

Or a New Age Hero Repainting the World in His Image

With a newfound spotlight beaming on him, the sky is the limit for Doctor Doom, in every sense of the phrase. Particularly with this list of variant covers showcasing Doom destroying every hero imaginable in the Marvel Universe, it’s safe to assume that Doom is about to be more unruly than ever. On the other hand, Doom could shock everyone if he instead uses the opportunity to genuinely try to become a hero, even if it means taking out other heroes like Iron Man while shifting the world in his image. Doctor Doom on top of the world could get utterly complicated.

Source: Marvel