Warning! This article contains major SPOILERS for The Fantastic Four: First Steps

One of the main concerns with Doctor Doom’s arrival in Avengers: Doomsday just got a lot more real with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. With The Fantastic Four: First Steps being the penultimate MCU movie before Avengers: Doomsday, concerns over how the iconic arch-villain will be depicted are especially pertinent as his MCU debut on December 18, 2026, edges closer.

If the Russo Brothers, who are directing Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, follow The Fantastic Four: First Steps director Matt Shakman’s lead, then the character should be in good hands. The Fantastic Four: First Steps delivered a comics-accurate rendition of the тιтular characters, complete with the optimism and family-centric themes for which the team is largely known.

Nevertheless, concerns about Doctor Doom’s portrayal in Avengers: Doomsday arose almost as soon as the character was announced to be the Multiverse Saga’s arch-villain. The fact that Robert Downey Jr., whose Iron Man is synonymous with the MCU, will be portraying the villain comes with significant implications regarding how he will be handled.

Doctor Doom is one of Marvel Comics’ most beloved characters, which engenders high expectations for his MCU debut. Somewhat worryingly, however, The Fantastic Four: First Steps might have established that the MCU is taking a worrying step in the wrong direction.

Doctor Doom Appeared In The Fantastic Four: First Steps Mid-Credits Scene With His Mask Off

Doctor Doom Finally Made His MCU Debut

As many expected, The Fantastic Four: First Steps debuted Doctor Doom in a mid-credits scene. The scene takes place four years after the Fantastic Four defeated Galactus, depicting Sue Storm reading to a now four-year-old Franklin. After turning to find another book, Sue returns to Franklin to discover Doom crouching before him.

Doom’s face is obscured by his hood as he kneels before Franklin and allows the MCU’s youngest, most powerful character to reach out and touch his face. To do this, Doctor Doom is shown to have taken off his mask, which he carries in his left hand.

This is incredibly unusual for Doctor Doom, who is inexorably connected to his mask in Marvel Comics. Doctor Doom’s relationship with his mask is sacrosanct, as it illustrates his obsession with perfection. After being disfigured, Doom wears his mask permanently to ensure the image he wishes to embody is always projected.

Is The MCU Making A Big Mistake With Doom?

Doctor Doom’s First Scene Sets A Precedent

Doom’s mask is removed in his first scene, which might set a worrying precedent for future appearances. One of the foremost worries about having Robert Downey Jr. portray Doctor Doom concerns the notion that Marvel Studios will wish to capitalize on his star power, flouting one of Doom’s most defining characteristics by having him remove his mask at multiple points.

Although there are methods Marvel Studios could pursue to maximize RDJ’s screen-time, such as replicating what the MCU did with Iron Man by showing a close-up of his face from behind the mask, this first scene is concerning. Doom debuting in the MCU with his mask off feels like a statement of intent, practically normalizing the action ahead of time.

Then again, there are many questions surrounding the credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. Audiences were not made aware of why Doom approached Franklin or the specific reason why he decided to remove his mask in front of him. With that in mind, the action could be extraordinary and not a habit of RDJ’s Doom.

The mid-credits scene for The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be directly setting up Avengers: Doomsday. As such, this scene may continue to play out in Avengers: Doomsday, with Doom placing his mask back on his face before turning.