Robert Downey Jr’s latest Doctor Doom comic inspiration makes one major MCU theory for Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars look all the more like it’s set to happen. While The Fantastic Four: First Steps‘ mid-credits gave us our first glimpse at the MCU’s Doctor Doom, there’s much we still don’t know about how the franchise will handle the character.

With Doctor Doom now an established part of the MCU timeline thanks to this moment, it seems like elements of the overarching MCU Doom story are starting to come together. Interestingly, Robert Downey Jr’s teases about what comics are inspiring his Doctor Doom performance seem to support the theories that this story will move in a specific direction.

Robert Downey Jr’s Latest Doctor Doom Comic Inspiration Is A Unique Story

Robert Downey Jr’s latest Instagram post sees the Doctor Doom actor listening to music while prominently displaying two comics on a table. One of these comics is an omnibus of the original Secret Wars comic – which is fairly self-explanatory, given Avengers: Secret Wars is on the horizon. The other is a little more unusual.

Alongside the Secret Wars comic sits another collection – namely, Iron Man: Legacy Of Doom, which contains all four issues of that respective comic. This story is notable both in that it sees Doctor Doom and Iron Man (reluctantly) join forces, and in that aspects of its narrative seem easy for the MCU to adapt.

Legacy Of Doom focuses around Doctor Doom stealing a magical tome from an evil being from another dimension. Upon realizing the danger he’s put the world in from doing so, Doom seeks to fix this by making a deal with Mephisto, handing Iron Man over to the demon, though Tony eventually breaks free and helps fight this extraplanar being.

Interestingly, the story also references Doom and Iron Man previously combining their armors, and sees Iron Man sacrifice himself to deal with the being, though this turns out to not be as lethal a fate as he previously imagined. Altogether, this fascinating chapter of Doom & Iron Man’s history seems to further support one big movie theory.

Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom Comic Tease Makes A Big MCU Theory Seem More Likely

While Doom’s actions aren’t exactly dazzlingly moral throughout this story – given sacrificing someone to Mephisto isn’t squeaky clean morally – they are ostensibly in antihero territory. Doom’s motivation throughout is to protect the world from the being he has unleashed on Earth, and while his methods are ruthless, they are such to save innocent lives.

In the build-up to Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, there has been considerable discussion about whether Robert Downey Jr’s Doctor Doom will be an out-and-out fully evil villain, or someone seeking to protect his home world or universe from wider threats. Ultimately, this comic supports the theories that this second option will hold true.

Though it’s unlikely the MCU will be bringing the many-eyed enтιтy into the movies, the idea of a threat from another world causing Doom to go into emergency mode seems very plausible for the Multiverse Saga to adapt in Avengers: Doomsday. From there, Avengers: Secret Wars following the aftermath of a multiversal conflict like in the comics seems straightforward.

Previously, Robert Downey Jr. has also posted Doom #1 and described it as a “Doom workstation essential“. Doom #1 details Doctor Doom standing against another Marvel threat – namely a berserking Galactus. Combined, these comics suggest the MCU will be leaning into a Doom who is trying to do the right thing, even if his actions likely won’t be as noble.

Why The Doctor Doom Theory Coming True Would Be Huge For The MCU

The MCU has historically made villains who attempt to do something evidently evil but for what they deem to be the greater good some of their most compelling stories. While figures like Thanos are obviously still villains, the fact they believe themselves to be the heroes of their own stories makes their motivations and conflict with the heroes more engaging.

Given Robert Downey Jr. is best known to MCU fans for his previous role as Iron Man, it also makes sense to have a more morally complicated Doom. Not only does this allow RDJ’s Doom to tug on heartstrings more, it also may allow his Doom and Iron Man performances to have far more in common, potentially sharing similar motives.

How exactly the MCU intends to explain Iron Man and Doctor Doom looking the same is still as of yet unclear, though Legacy of Doom presents ways it could be pulled off, such as this being some part of Doom’s deal with Mephisto. However this is done, though, giving Avengers: Doomsday‘s villain a more understandable mission would still make sense.

Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars are the MCU’s biggest upcoming movies – and, in some ways, its biggest risks, since much of what made previous films work is not currently possible for the franchise to replicate. As such, giving Doom a story that can repeat prior MCU successes while feeling fresh does seem like it would be a practical move.