One of the most haunting sounds in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ comes during the final moments, when the familiar sound of metal being hammered echoes over Tony Stark’s funeral. At the time, it feels like a simple callback to Tony building the original Iron Man armor and a fitting tribute to where his journey began.
However, the new ‘Endgame Encore’ footage reportedly sets up ‘Avengers: Doomsday’; that sound suddenly feels very different.
Tony Stark Built Iron Man But Doom Built Something Else
Robert Downey Jr. is returning to Marvel as Doctor Doom, a character who also wears a powerful metal suit that he forges himself. Suddenly, the image of someone hammering metal no longer belongs exclusively to Tony Stark. Tony’s armor was always more than a suit.
Related: Marvel Has Huge Plans For Nova, Hulk, Daredevil And The MCU After ‘Secret Wars’
It represented his ability to create something from nothing, constantly improving it until he could turn himself into a weapon capable of protecting others. Doctor Doom has a surprisingly similar relationship with his armor.
In the comics, Victor Von Doom is an inventor who constructs his own armor and combines advanced technology with his mastery of magic. His metal mask and armor are inseparable from his identity, just as the Iron Man suit became inseparable from Tony. That makes the ‘Endgame’ hammering sound an interesting parallel.
Tony spent years building armor to become a hero. Doom could be building armor to become something much more dangerous. And considering the multiverse is now heading toward ‘Secret Wars’, the contrast could become even more meaningful.
The Same Face Could Represent Two Completely Different Legacies
The strangest part of Marvel’s decision to cast Downey as Doom is that audiences will inevitably see Tony Stark whenever Victor Von Doom appears. That creates an opportunity for Marvel to deliberately mirror Tony’s story while completely changing its meaning.
In case you missed it: Chloe Bennet Isn’t Over Marvel Leaving ‘Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ In MCU Canon Limbo
Tony’s journey began with a man building armor because he wanted to survive. Eventually, that armor became a symbol of sacrifice. Doom’s journey could go in the opposite direction. He built his armor not to protect the world, but to control it.
That’s why the hammering sound feels so different now. Originally, it was a nostalgic reminder of Tony’s first step toward becoming Iron Man. After ‘Doomsday’, fans may hear something else entirely: the sound of metal being forged for the next great Marvel villain. It would be a pretty clever full-circle image.
You might like to read: Marvel May Have Hidden Doctor Doom’s Biggest Hulk Connection In ‘Avengers: Endgame’
