From Green Goblin to Thanos the Mad Titan, Marvel Studios has brought an entire rogue gallery of iconic villains from the page to the screen for years. Although some are more dangerous than others, one has towered above the rest in terms of a successful career and adoring fans.
Loki, brother of Thor and god of mischief, might not be as deadly as someone like Venom, Carnage, or Galactus, but he definitely has some of the most vocal supporters. However, his reign is about to come to an end as Marvel finds its next big bad.
Related: Tobey Maguire Makes History: ‘Spider-Man 4’ Surfaces
It was recently announced that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the MCU with a new metal suit as he trades Tony Stark for Doctor Victor Von Doom. He might be the next Avengers-level threat, but he might not follow in the footsteps of Thanos, Ultron, or even Kang the Conquerer. He might be the next green-clad villain who makes the fangirls drool.
Doctor Doom Steals Loki’s Limelight
After the massive controversy surrounding Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conquerer, Marvel activated the ultimate power play by bringing RDJ back into the fold. Doctor Doom is easily one of the most powerful and dangerous figures Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have had to face in the comics, but some fans suggest that his arrival is stunt casting that ignores the core of the character,
Related: ‘Hulk’ Movie Finally in the Works at Marvel
An article from The Gamer shared the following take that summarizes the situation.
“Doctor Doom is much closer to Loki or Magneto. He’s a recurring threat who, when push comes to shove, may work with the heroes against a stronger foe. He’s the kind of villain who appears time and time again, never truly defeated, always recuperating his losses and learning for next time as he claws for power. RDJ as Doom is stunt casting that will only undermine that idea by chasing the coattails of Thanos, desperately clinging to that excitement we all felt in 2019 when the portals ripped open, and an army of familiar faces walked out to pummel the big bad we’d been anticipating for ten years.”
That’s not an inaccurate assessment, but it also overlooks a major detail in the grand scheme of the MCU. By the time Doom finally makes his debut, fans will have seen their favorite heroes battle entities like Thanos, Kang, and The High Evolutionary, all villains that rely on world-destroying plots in the name of some twisted higher calling or skewed morals. Whatever happened to the classic, over-the-top supervillains the comic book world was known for?
Malice, Mischief, and Marvel
Those familiar with the comic books know exactly what type of plots Doctor Doom can imagine. From mad scientist to benevolent dictator, the character is more flexible than some might realize.
In a way, Marvel is getting back to basics by revisiting the archetype introduced by Loki in the MCU. Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of Doom will likely have more personality than some of the antagonists that have come before, and that might be for the best.
Related: Marvel Restarts ‘Black Panther’ Franchise Two Years After Boycotted MCU Sequel
Thanos and Kang might’ve been villains, but Doctor Doom is a supervillain. With his hooded cloak, long flowing cape, and metallic mask, he’s a different flavor of evil that the MCU has lacked for some time.
Like Loki before him, he will steal every scene he’s in and try to conquer the world/galaxy/realm/Multiverse/whatever, and he’ll do it with a smile on his face and a snarky line to follow. Instead of looking for the next complex and sympathetic bad guy, Marvel needs a villain who just enjoys playing the role.
Do you think RDJ will wear the mantel of Doctor Doom well? Tell Inside the Magic in the comments down below.