Robert Downey Jr. Helped Increase Marvel’s Final Marvel Gross sales

Later this 12 months, Robert Downey Jr. returns to the MCU as Doctor Doom for Avengers: Doomsday. However proper now, he’s everywhere in the comics—or fairly, his paintings is.

On New 12 months’s Eve, Marvel Comics launched Ultimate Endgame #1, the primary of a five-part miniseries telling the ultimate story of its relaunched Final Universe. To assist promote the occasion, the writer launched a True Believers Blind Bag program, the place readers can purchase a bagged-up bodily copy that might have one of many e book’s variant covers or 500 hand-drawn sketches by main Marvel artists like Pepe Larraz or Peach Momoko. Two of these artists are Downey and Kevin Feige. No, actually, and Downey’s drawn 4, two every for his former and future turns as Iron Man and Physician Doom with signed and unsigned variations.

In line with the Hollywood Reporter, Downey’s drawings have led to Final Endgame #1 doubtlessly changing into Marvel’s top-selling comedian in years. On the time of writing, it’s unclear what which means, since there aren’t any exhausting gross sales numbers like DC just lately gave for its Absolute books, but it surely’s a notable milestone regardless.

It’s additionally a enjoyable little bit of destiny: Endgame is being written by Deniz Camp, who additionally writes Ultimates, and for that e book’s fourth issue—which targeted on that world’s Doom, evil Reed Richards (the Maker), and the shortage of the Incredible 4. Within the lead-up to that situation, he joked it’s the e book to seize “if you wish to perceive Robert Downey Jr. as Doom.”

Marvel’s already seeking to increase its blind bag program with the upcoming Daredevil relaunch in March. In the meantime, Downey will tackle Doom in Avengers: Doomsday on December 18, and Final Endgame continues with its second situation on February 4.

Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and the whole lot it’s essential to learn about the way forward for Doctor Who.