Marvel’s sprawlingOne World Under Doomcrossover event continues with the first issue ofSuperior Avengers, which contains one big moment in particular that seems deliberately designed to build on the concept of “incursions” in a way that potentially predicts the future of Doctor Doom in theMarvel Cinematic Universe, as it reintroduces to the ominously named “final incursion” and sets Doom up as the last line of defense against it.
Superior Avengers#1, written by Steve Foxe, with art by Lucas Maresca, acclimates readers to the eponymous new squad, led by Doctor Doom, but in due time, the issue’s greatest contribution to Marvel lore may very well be the reprisal of the “final incursion” concept.
Until Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom officially appears on screen with the 2026 debut ofAvengers: Doomsday,speculation about the beginning, middle, and end of his cinematic arc will be rabid among the MCU fandom, and it is possible the “final incursion” could turn out to be important.
Marvel Re-Introduces The Idea Of The “Final Incursion,” As Doctor Doom’s Avengers Debut
Superior Avengers#1, Written By Steve Foxe, Art By Kyle Hotz
The MCU already established Multiversal “incursions” as a threat inDoctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, while Marvel Comics is set to play with the idea further in the upcoming Ultimate Marvel eventSpider-Man: Incursion.The“final incursion”is just the logical extension of this plot device While it still remains to be determined what the short-term implications are for the plot ofSuperior Avengersitself, readers immediately seized on the MCU implications of the concept, with some arguing that it would make an appropriately climactic endgame for the current epoch of Marvel movies.
Avengers: Doomsdayis set to be followed by a sequel entitledSecret Wars, and Marvel fans know the major significance of this title; of the two milestone crossover events calledSecret Warsin Marvel history, the latter involved the “final incursion,” which effectively involved the Marvel Multiverse being wiped out, with only fragments of its two main continuities, the mainstream Marvel Universeand its Ultimate Universe counterpart, surviving and being merged into “Battleworld.” At the center of this story is Doctor Doom; now,Superior Avengers#1 has directly evoked this previous story in a pivotal way.
In the issue, Doom’s Superior Avengers, who are new characterstaking on the forms of classic Marvel villains, reveal they are exiles from a destroyed timeline. In the context of Marvel Comics, this shows that the 2015Secret Warsevent is still tangibly important; for MCU fans,it seems like just the latest reminder that the upcomingAvengersfilms will adapt this storyline for the screen.While how closely it will follow the comic is up in the air, Robert Downey Jr.’d role as Doctor Doom gives fans a sense of what to expect, and this “final incursion” reference adds credence to that.
Here’s How The “Final Incursion” Could Be The Key To Doctor Doom’s MCU Arc
Robert Downey Jr.’s Doom, Hero Or Villain?
The revelation that Robert Downey Jr. would be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but as Doctor Doom, rather than Tony Stark, obviously raised a number of questions that have gnawed at the fandom ever since. Chief among these is whether the MCU’s Doom will, in fact, be a variant of Iron Man; perhaps the second most asked question, then, is whether Downey Jr.’s Doom will be a hero or a villain. Fan speculation on this note often hinges on whether the actor will be willing to portray a bad guy, or if he wants to remain a hero.
Part of the early MCU’s success relied on Downey Jr. actually elevating Iron Man, in terms of depth and complexity; withSecret Wars' Doctor Doom arc, he can play with high-quality material that already has that depth and complexity to it.
As it turns out,2015’sSecret Warsmight tell fans that the answer is…both. If the MCU adapts the series, that would make Doctor Doom a protagonist at first, but ultimately, the final antagonist of the story. Further, it would allow Robert Downey Jr. to sink his teeth into an arguably more complex role than Tony Stark. Part of the early MCU’s success relied on Downey Jr. actually elevating Iron Man, in terms of depth and complexity; withSecret Wars' Doctor Doom arc, he can play with high-quality material that already has that depth and complexity to it.
“Secret Wars” Is A Natural Blueprint For The Next Stage Of The MCU To Follow
The next great chapter in the MCU saga was born of a pivot. Originally, the MCU’s follow-up to Thanos as its next great villain was meant to be Kang the Conqueror, but the dismissal of Jonathan Majors from the franchise forced Marvel to change directions. The result was the surprising return of Robert Downey Jr, and Doom’s ascension as the next great on-screen enemy of the Avengers. WhileSecret Warscomplicates that dynamic, it still firmly places him in that role by the end. Arguably, there isno better Doctor Doom story to adapt.
With Doctor Doom once more ruling the Marvel Universe inOne World Under Doom, much as he lorded over “Battleworld” inSecret Wars, it is clear Marvel wants fans to recognize the parallels, and to start putting the pieces together ahead ofAvengers: Doomsday’srelease next year. Of course, there are sure to be some twists, and recontextualizations of the source material, along the way, butif theMarvel Cinematic Universecan deliver an engaging take onSecret Wars, most Marvel fans will be incredibly satisfied.
