Michelinie and Layton, those who first pitted Iron Man and Physician Doom in opposition to one another, did so once more in 2010. The problem was “What If? Iron Man: Demon In An Armor.”
In 1979, Michelinie and Layton wrote essentially the most well-known Iron Man story ever: “Demon In A Bottle,” the place Tony Stark descends into alcoholism. The duvet of “Iron Man” subject #128 depicts Tony, unshaven and haggard, gazing himself in horror at what he is turn out to be. The title and canopy of this subject evoke “Demon in a Bottle,” however whereas it is Tony Stark’s face within the mirror, it is not him behind the eyes.
On this alternate historical past, Tony was Victor’s school roommate as a substitute of Reed Richards. Victor regarded down on the fun-loving Tony, grumbling that: “You have been born to privilege, whereas I’ve needed to battle for each grant, each scholarship. The burden I shoulder would break a lesser man. However my future is to steer, and that inevitability is price any sacrifice!”
After which, just like the Grinch on Christmas Eve, Victor obtained an terrible, fantastic thought. As a substitute of constructing a machine to contact the afterlife, this Victor builds a machine to swap our bodies (and erase the reminiscence of the sufferer). He makes use of it on Tony in order that he would possibly seize the Stark household fortune and firm.
Deported to Latveria, “Victor” spirals even additional till, at some point, he cannot take it anymore. So, proving the true Doom unsuitable, Tony-believing-himself-Victor grinds his option to the highest, working menial jobs to fund his training. This “Physician Doom” really has an accredited PhD, and revitalizes Latveria not as a dictator however as a profitable tech capitalist. Doom Industries turns into so profitable that it threatens the monopoly of Stark Common, main Victor-as-Tony to assault it.
Due to the change, Victor-Tony develops a inexperienced and silver Iron Man armor. In the meantime, Tony-Victor builds a golden set of Physician Doom’s armor with a crimson cloak.
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Physician Doom triumphs, and Iron Man reveals the reality and affords to modify them again. With the paths they’ve taken, although, Tony declines and reaffirms his new life as Victor von Doom, “an honorable man.”
