Wow, my very first opinion piece! Amidst the film reviews on this website, I would like to write more opinion pieces going forward, and I couldn’t think of a better subject matter for my first piece than the biggest reveal that we were treated to at Comic-Con 2024. I could discuss Invincible‘s new blue suit, or the upcoming spinoffs we’re getting from The Boys universe, or the news we finally received on Marvel’s other projects such as Fantastic Four: First Steps and Thunderbolts* (Marvel still refuses to tell us what that asterix on the Thunderbolts title card means.), or even the strides James Gunn is making with the upcoming DC Studios. However, Robert Downey Jr. being revealed as the next big bad of the of the MCU, Dr. Doom, was the biggest reveal for me and most likely plenty of other Marvel fans such as myself. Let’s discuss.
What’s Happening With Kang?
For those who don’t know, before Dr. Doom, the original successor to Thanos in terms of the MCU’s next big bad was Kang, a time traveling conqueror played by Jonathan Majors. There were even a couple of projects in the MCU already pointing to Kang’s looming presence, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantamania and Loki. This change does seem quite sudden, but I’m here to explain why it isn’t too far fetched. You see, following the MCU’s Infinity Saga which ended in 2019, we are now currently in the Multiverse Saga, with the original plan of Kang being the main villain of Marvel’s next big event following Endgame, Secret Wars. There have been many iterations of this story told in the comics, but it is safe to assume that the iteration that they sought to adapt, and still plan on adapting, was the latest version told in 2015. In this version, multiple universes are forced to collide into one another to create one known as Battleworld.
However, you could probably guess who the big bad of this event ended up being, and it wasn’t Kang:
With this knowledge, the pivot from Kang to Doom is understandable, outside drama aside. I could definitely understand wanting to use Kang, as he has been a menace to countless timelines throughout the comics, but to stay authentic to the story of Secret Wars itself, I think this is the right move. As to how this change is going to be written into the MCU going forward, I have no clue. I have faith that Marvel can pull it off, though. Now, to address the elephant in the room.
Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom
For those not familiar with this character, he is easily one of Marvel’s greatest villains. He’s cold, calculating, has mastery in both sorcery and technology, owns his own country in eastern Europe known as Latveria, and gives trouble to the Avengers and the Fantastic Four on occasion. Avengers 5, which was formerly known as Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, will now be called Avengers: Doomsday, with Avengers 6 keeping its original title of Avengers: Secret Wars. In terms of the casting choice, I’ve heard opinions from both sides of the fence. Some are beyond ecstatic to have Downey Jr. back in the MCU, no matter what form he takes. Others are skeptical, saying that this casting choice could’ve gone to another actor and that Marvel only played this card out of desperation. I’m somewhere in the middle, contemplating the potential of other actors in the role but also excited at the concept of a Tony Stark variant being Victor Von Doom himself. (Doom’s real name, by the way.) There was even a storyline where Doom became Iron Man for a short period, so maybe this had somewhat of a part to play in the casting choice.
With the right writers, this could provide some real drama and turmoil amongst our characters as they’re forced to fight their former friend, especially from Peter Parker’s perspective. Whatever they decide to do, I’m sure it’ll be excellent. The directors of some of the greatest MCU films to date such as the last two Captain America films and the last two Avengers films, The Russo Brothers, are coming back to direct Doomsday and Secret Wars, so I have faith.
Noah Robinson 