Summary
Robert Downey Jr.shocked the world when he appeared at SDCC this year to announce he’ll be appearing asDoctor Doomin the MCU. Yet while film fans will have to wait a few more years until they get an explanation for why Victor Von Doom will now look like Tony Stark, the writer ofThe Ultimatesrecently teased that it will all be explained in the comics in just a few short months.
In a post to Twitter/X, writerDeniz Campteased that this September’sThe Ultimates#4 will help fans “understand” how Robert Downey Jr. will be appearing as Doctor Doomin the MCU:
It’s a bold claim, and one that is sure to get a lot of attention following the landmark announcement from Marvel Studios’ Hall H panel at SDCC. Considering that thesolicitations forThe Ultimates#4promise a Doom-centric storyline,this issue could wind up containing several clues as to how RDJ might tackle Victor Von Doom in the MCU.
Cover Artists:
Dike Ruan & Neeraj Menon
THE FATE OF THE ULTIMATE FANTASTIC FOUR! Doom’s years of torture at the hands of the Maker finally catch up to him in this secret history of the real Reed Richards! And tensions rise among the Ultimates when Doom might be more fixated on re-creating the life he should have had than the life he’s got…"
DoesThe UltimatesContain the Keys to Understanding Robert Downy Jr. as Doctor Doom?
Marvel introduced a new Ultimate Universe last year withtheUltimate Invasionminiseriesfrom Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch. This new universe is the result of the Maker (the evil version of Reed Richards from Earth-1610)using time travel to eliminate the world’s superheroes and shape a new Earth in his image. Taking place within this alternate history, the newUltimatescomic features a line-up of Tony Stark/Iron Lad,Reed Richards in Doom’s outfit, Thor, Sif, Giant-Man and the Wasp taking on the Maker and his “shadow council” that secretly rules the world.
It’s fitting that this newUltimatesbook would provide context for upcoming events in the MCU, as the original Ultimate line of comics had a profound influence on how superhero movies were made in the new millennium.The originalUltimatesseries by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch in particular provided much of the framework that the MCU was built upon, including the casting ofSamuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Running for fifteen years, the Ultimate line aimed to present the classic Marvel heroes in a fresh new context without having to deal with decades of complex continuity. The original Ultimate Universe was ended in the 2015 eventSecret Wars.
Marvel’s New Ultimate Universe Forges a New Path for the Splinter Universe
Given the prominence of Reed Richards, Tony Stark and the Doom iconography already present in the newUltimates, it will be very interesting to see how the recent MCU news will play into Marvel’s update on one of its most iconic imprints. Tony Stark and Victor Von Doom have tussled more than oncein the comics, so the news aboutRobert Downey Jr.taking on the role ofDoctor Doomin the MCU does make sense, from a certain point of view. If nothing else, Deniz Camp has proved to be very media savvy in bringing attention to his work onThe Ultimates.
