Doomsday Merch Reveals RDJ’s Menacing Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom looks scary, at least in new merchandise.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Doctor Doom appears to be menacing in new Avengers: Doomsday‘s merchandise. Promotional activities for Marvel Cinematic Universe’s next culminating film hits theaters continue beyond the release of its intriguing teasers Marketing for Avengers: Doomsday started back in December with the confirmation that Chris Evans is coming back as Steve Rogers. Since then, Marvel Studios has offered different looks for the confirmed heroes in the film, but nothing yet for its main villain.

Marking Downey’s return to the MCU since the record-breaking Avengers: Endgame, which wrapped up his run as Tony Stark/Iron Man, the Joe and Anthony Russo film is poised to begin the end of the Multiverse Saga. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film will feature some of the most notable characters in both the MCU and adjacent Marvel universes for the ultimate Avengers: Secret Wars set-up.

As the wait for a trailer debut for Downey’s villain continues into the new year, a fresh piece of Avengers: Doomsday merchandise (via @RealJoseObregon) offers a fresh look at Doctor Doom, and he looks frightening. Unlike previous releases, where the character appears like it was illustrated, this one seems like it was lifted from live-action footage and printed in the keychain. Check it out below:

Admittedly, the quality of Doctor Doom’s image is far from decent. It’s grainy and blurry, and is not exactly a replacement for even a one-sheet for the character. Still, considering Marvel Studios’ marketing efforts for the project focusing on the heroes of the film, this is better than not having anything for the big villain. At this point, it’s uncertain when Disney is planning to roll out a proper trailer Avengers: Doomsday for the film, since the Russos cautioned that the previously-released clips aren’t exactly that, as they are supposedly “stories” and “clues.”

Despite the poor quality of Doctor Doom’s image on the keychain, it’s impressive that Marvel Studios and Disney are able to make it look imposing — especially since it doesn’t even include the character’s whole body. While Downey played a masked hero for 11 years in the MCU as Iron Man, Kevin Feige and his team found a way to show his face as frequently as possible. It’s curious how they’re able to do that with Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday, if they’re even looking to replicate that storytelling trick.

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Understandably, there are comparisons to this particular Doctor Doom look to Black Order member, Ebony Maw, primarily because of the color of his face and its overall structure. This is something that will hopefully be rectified in Avengers: Doomsday, or when a better image of Downey’s villain is finally revealed. In any case, it’s also possible that the comparison is primarily due to the emotion conveyed by the aforementioned photo. As previously-hinted, there will likely be other Doctor Doom variants in the movie.

Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters on December 18, 2026.