After appearing briefly in the MCU, it’s actually OK that Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom has already broken comics canon ahead of his feature-length debut in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars. These movies are slated for release on December 18, 2026, and December 17, 2027, respectively.

Speculation has been running rampant ever since Robert Downey Jr. was announced to be portraying the new arch-villain of the Multiverse Saga, Doctor Doom. Given RDJ’s inexorable ties to the Infinity Saga’s de facto protagonist, Iron Man, the biggest question surrounding his return concerns whether his Doctor Doom will be a Tony Stark variant.

This has been the cause of some concern among comic book fans. Doctor Doom is one of Marvel Comics’ most sacrosanct characters, with a defined backstory that is not tied to Tony Stark in any way. Doctor Doom’s true idenтιтy is Victor Von Doom, the ruler of Latveria, who attended university with his arch-rival, Reed Richards.

In those early days, Doctor Doom’s face was horribly scarred after a machine he was working on exploded. His obsession with perfection, however, compels him to don a metal mask and never take it off. Nevertheless, it seems as though the MCU is about to flout this defining characteristic, shaking confidence in RDJ’s rendition of Doom.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps Set A Precedent For RDJ’s Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom finally appeared for the first time in the post-credits scene of The Fantastic Four: First Steps​​​​​. The scene takes place four years after the main events of the movie, showing the MCU’s newest, most powerful character, Franklin Richards, as a toddler being read to by his mother, Sue, whom he resurrected.

Doctor Doom appears while Sue has turned her back, crouching before Franklin with his face obscured by his green hood. One of the most notable aspects of this appearance is the fact that he holds his mask in his hand, exposing his face to Franklin as the young mutant reaches out to touch it.

The fact that the first scene in which Doctor Doom appears shows him removing his mask seems to set a precedent for the character. A prevailing theory about Doctor Doom’s first scene is that Franklin, who has mind-bending reality-warping powers, is healing Doom’s scars, negating the need for his mask.

Whether this is what is occurring remains to be seen. Nevertheless, it makes sense that Marvel Studios will wish to capitalize on Robert Downey Jr.’s visage, as his star power is second to none. While this has stoked concern about Doom’s characterization in the MCU, it nonetheless has some precedent in Marvel Comics within an applicable storyline.

Doom’s Face Healing Is Actually Comics-Accurate

Doctor Doom’s face has been healed multiple times in Marvel Comics. Two of the most applicable instances, however, occur in both of Marvel Comics’ Secret Wars runs. Given that Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars directors, the Russo brothers, stated that they will be drawing from both runs for their movies, this feels particularly pertinent.

While Doctor Doom’s face is admittedly healed at the very end of the 2015 run of Secret Wars, it becomes a key plot point in 1984’s Secret Wars comics. In this run, Doctor Doom acquires the godlike powers of the Beyonder and swiftly uses this power to heal his scars.

Doctor Doom’s scars return once Doom loses his new godlike powers. However, the fact that he is devoid of scars at the peak of his villainy within the run feels particularly pertinent for the upcoming Avengers movies. What’s more is that some recent information suggests that Doom will already boast Beyonder-level powers.

Recent Announcements Suggest That Doom Will Already Be At His Most Powerful In Avengers: Doomsday

The first wave of confirmed cast members for Avengers: Doomsday revealed that the movie will star a who’s-who of Marvel superheroes. Alongside the expected inclusion of Avengers like Captain America and MCU newcomers, the Fantastic Four, were several actors from Fox’s X-Men franchise. This signifies that several superhero teams will be teaming up in the movie.

In fact, Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige went on to confirm this, stating that the Avengers, Wakandans, Fantastic Four, New Avengers, and the X-Men will team up to face the movie’s arch-villain. Needless to say, this consтιтutes some significant firepower to go up against one villain. What’s more is that their ranks are to be bolstered by more heroes.

The combined might of such characters as Thor, Loki, and Sentry suggests that Doctor Doom will be a particularly formidable foe within Avengers: Doomsday. This, in turn, suggests that Doctor Doom may immediately boast the Beyonder-like powers he acquires in both his Secret Wars comic book appearances.

If that is the case, or if Franklin Richards aided him with his own powers, then it’s feasible that Doom will heal his face as he did in the 1984 run. The fact that this has a comic book precedent consequently numbs the sting of having Doom appear without his mask.

Why It Is OK That Doctor Doom Removes His Mask In His MCU Debut

Fans expected Doom to make an appearance in the Multiverse Saga as soon as the тιтle of Avengers: Secret Wars was announced, given his centrality to the plot in Marvel Comics. Nevertheless, after he was announced to be replacing Kang in the fifth Avengers movie in 2024, it became apparent that there was little room to establish the character beforehand.

Instead, audiences will presumably be introduced to RDJ’s Doom at the height of his villainy in Avengers: Doomsday. With Robert Downey Jr. embodying the role, it’s fair to say that his talents will shine best with his mask removed. It is additionally likely to help elevate the Multiverse Saga by homing in on Doom (or Tony Stark) being a variant.

It is unlikely that RDJ will portray Doctor Doom in the future of the MCU, which is confirmed to be rebooting after the Multiverse Saga. Instead, if Doom’s MCU debut sees him remove his mask, then a new, probably lesser-known actor can portray the newest rendition of the character.

If that is the case, then the MCU can delve into an entirely comics-accurate portrayal of Doctor Doom and flesh out his backstory. Ultimately, with Doom’s mask removal being true to the Secret Wars comics, it makes sense that he would do the same in Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, with RDJ sure to do the character justice.