We joke often about how the MCU should really be titled the “Tony Stark Cinematic Universe”–but, the more I think about it, the more I think it’s true. Not just because Tony in the founding character, but because the writers deliberately chose him to be the central character. He’s the hero of not just the Iron Man trilogy, but the underlying narrative of this entire universe.
One fact in particular that tells me Tony is the key hero is that all the Avengers villains have reflected him in some way. Generally, in fiction, a good villain holds a mirror up to the hero. They are a foil. They present facets of the protagonist that have become warped or overblown.
Marvel Studios itself is notorious for this as most of their villains have, in some way, mirrored the hero of each titular film, as usually they’re a darker incarnation of the same powers (ex: Red Skull was the serum magnifying the darkest aspects of humanity, while Steve was the result of the best aspects of humanity; both Scott Lang and Darren Cross used the Pym Particles; Doctor Strange faced another sorcerer; etc.).
But, when looking at the ensemble ventures, the villains tend to reflect Tony specifically.
In The Avengers, Tony is able to pinpoint where Loki is going to be because Loki is, in some respects, flamboyant as Tony:
Tony: “Loki’s a full-tilt diva. He wants flowers, he wants parades, he wants a monument built in the skies with his name plastered… [realizes] sonofabitch.”
It’s also Tony who gives Loki the “hero meets villain” confrontational speech, wherein he says the iconic, “Because if we can’t protect the Earth, you can be damned well sure we’ll avenge it” line.
In Avengers: Age of Ultron, there’s many parallels driven between Ultron and Tony–and it’s actually a point of crisis for Ultron:
Ultron: “What?! I’m not…! I’m not. You think I’m one of Stark’s puppets, his hollow men? I mean look at me, do I look like Iron Man? Stark is nothing! […] I’m sorry, it’s just I don’t understand. Don’t compare me with Stark! It’s a thing with me. Stark is, he’s a sickness!”
And, of course, in Avengers: Infinity War, we have Thanos being almost like a Shadow of Tony’s in the Jungian sense. Both of them were compelled to prevent calamity to a degree they went to extremes.
Thanos: “You’re not the only one cursed with knowledge.”
Even in Captain America: Civil War, though none of the heroes reflected Helmut Zemo, the emotional thrust of the story was encapsulated in Tony’s arc. Even though it was a Captain America film, the climax of the film occurs when Tony is at his emotional breaking point–when his heart is literally and figuratively shattered.
What’s amusing is that, while Tony hasn’t physically appeared in all of them, there are still plenty of references to his presence. He’s mentioned in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Ant-Man and Thor: Ragnarok. While he wasn’t in Captain America: The First Avenger, his father played a major role. He’s definitely one of the more ever-present characters. It’s very hard to escape his influence.
All of this together? Means that this is Tony’s story to end. While I don’t know for sure what role Tony will play in Avengers 4, I guarantee it will be a central one.
This has been his story. He’ll be the one to finish it.
