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If you were following Popverse's coverage of this year's at this year's San Diego Comic Con, you might recall us decoding the strange runes on the jacket Robert Downey Jr. wore to Marvel Studios' Hall H panel. Though it wasn't actually spoken about on stage, the message contained therein was clearly an intentional bit of cloak-and-dagger marketing, hinting at what could be Victor Von Doom's motivations as he makes his main MCU entrance this winter. And now, that wily hero-turned-baddie appears to be up to the same kind of tricks...

Once again, via a fashion statement.

We caught a glimpse of yet another Doom-themed jacket RDJ was wearing from photos reportedly taken at the D23 exhibition in Anaheim, California. As shared by the @cosmic_marvel social media account, the images show RDJ in a Latverian green, mechanic-style jacket absolutely covered in patches that reference well-established elements of the MCU. Patches for "Reed's Repairs" and "Rogers Roto-Rooters" are pretty obvious nods to Reed Richards and Steve Rogers, respectively, along with more that you can see in the pictures below.

The patch that has the internet buzzing right now is the one that hints at a character called "Boris," who as you may know if you've been following Doomsday rumors, is the supposed code name of a wizard in Doctor Doom's employ that might turn out to be one Dr. Strange (that's only a fan theory, mind you). But what we'd like to draw your attention toward is the patch that's just to the right of the Boris patch - one that depicts a name you might've thought the cinematic MCU was done with:

Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame villain Thanos.

Written out in the Big Bad's characteristic purple, the patch is an ad for "Thanos Stump Grinder," a business that comes with the number 1-800-GAUNTLET. Even the most casual MCU fan knows the connection between Thanos and a 'gauntlet' - it was the cosmic weapon Thanos used to harness the power of the Infinity Stones and rewrite reality according to his whim. But what does the "Stump Grinder" bit mean? Well let me ask you this, reader - if the heroes of Infinity War managed to separate Thanos and his Infinity Gauntlet in the most efficient, sharpest of ways, what would he be left with?

We're diving deep into speculation territory now gang, so remember that as we plunge ahead. Is it possible that the patch on RDJ's jacket is a reference to Thanos losing his Infinity Gauntlet and, as a result, the hand that wore it? And if there were someone to separate the Mad Titan from his most iconic piece of armor, who would make more sense than the next Big Bad that Marvel's films have been leading toward? What we're asking here is - will Avengers: Doomsday (or perhaps Avengers: Secret Wars) see Doctor Doom wielding the Infinity Gauntlet?

I know, I know, it's an out there proposition that we're literally basing on a single photograph. It also hinges on the idea of Thanos featuring in either of the next big two Marvel tentpole films, a concept that Marvel has absolutely not confirmed. And yet, with all the intentionality behind Marvel's previous Doomsday easter eggs, would it be so crazy to propose that at least one of the patches above hints at an upcoming plot point?

I can't say fir certain, but I'll definitely be continuing to keep an eye on what Robert Downey Jr. wears to this type of events. The second I see runes on a sock, I'm diving in.

Avengers: Doomsday comes to theaters December 18. 

Consider this a meta post-credits scene for Marvel fans - the four key articles you need to read next to continue the thrills:

• All the upcoming MCU movies, TV series, and specials on the horizon
• How to watch the Marvel Cinematic Universe in release or chronological order
• The best Marvel Comics stories of all time
• All the MCU movies ranked from best to worst