5 Times Tony Stark Didn’t Save the Day in Avengers: Infinity War

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As dedicated, unshakeable Marvel fans, we’ve endured 10 years’ worth of grueling battles, devastating betrayals (okay, mostly by Loki), and heroic team-ups filled with enough witty quips to keep us from ripping our hair out along the way.

The latest addition to the MCU, Avengers: Infinity War, has become famous for breaking away from Marvel’s light-hearted, crime-fighting style to reveal a darker truth in the films. You know, just your typical bad guy thinking he’s doing good by wiping out half of the universe’s population.

5 Times Tony Stark Didn’t Save the Day in Avengers: Infinity War

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Because Tony Stark is usually our charmingly arrogant yet reliable savior, we look to him, just like we have for the past 10 years, to save the world from Thanos. However, Infinity War defies expectations once again by not giving him all the answers.

Here are 5 times that Tony Stark didn’t save the day in Avengers: Infinity War.

*****WARNING SPOILERS BELOW*****

The New York battle with Doctor Strange & Co.

While Tony definitely wins in smack-talking and his viral “Get lost, Squidward,” he definitely relies on the other characters’ help to defend New York from Maw in one of the first battles of the film. While he’s normally the one doing the saving, our beloved hero wouldn’t even get to chance Thanos’ algorithm if it weren’t for Wong. He even says, “Wong, you’re invited to my wedding,” after he is saved.

avengers infinity war ironman spoilers

When he can’t tell Pepper everything

The subplot of Pepper and Tony’s argument about whether or not they should have children emphasizes just how out of the blue this whole Thanos ruling the world thing came up. Pepper tells Tony that he wouldn’t have gotten the arc reactor in his chest (and, by implication, become Iron-Man) if he truly wanted to have a family.

Tony almost smooths everything over after he promises no more surprises; unfortunately for Stark, that’s the least reliable promise he can make, leaving him to be promptly whisked off by Doctor Strange and Bruce Banner.

When he leans on the Cauldron of the Cosmos

Nothing like getting cloak-slapped, am I right? Tony Stark definitely meets his match in Doctor Strange, as they both have the quick wit and confidence to hold their own. However frustrating they find it to work with each other, they can’t help but admit that they’re an outstanding crossover.

avengers infinity war ironman spoilers

When Tony loses to Thanos

As we’re watching, we think, “Yes, finally! Tony can just take care of all this mess. He was the first one to draw Thanos’ blood, and he’ll be the first to celebrate after he takes him down.” The shock sets in when we realize that Tony’s fighting is in vain—Thanos is going to ruin him. It becomes even more sobering when Doctor Strange exchanges the Time Stone for Thanos to spare Tony’s life, leaving the great, invincible face of the MCU indebted to the very being determined to destroy it.

When Peter Parker says “Mr. Stark, I don’t wanna go.”

How dare Tony Stark not somehow find a loophole to everything that’s happened prior to this tear-jerking scene to keep Peter from disintegrating into the red sky on Titan? Rather than somehow finding a way to be even more superhuman than he already is, Stark just tells Peter that he’ll be okay as he holds him in his arms. With the father-son archetype the two characters play for each other, we definitely know that this death in particular hits Tony hard. Maybe Peter really should have stayed on the bus.

Luckily for us, Avengers: Infinity War is coming out on DVD and Blu-Ray next Tuesday, August 14, 2018, so we can torture ourselves all over again until the second installment of the film next year!

Avengers Infinity War Blu-ray Box Art

BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):

Blu-ray & Digital:

  • Strange Alchemy (5:08)– Share the thrill of characters from across the MCU meeting for the first time—and discover why some were teamed up together.
  • The Mad Titan (6:34) – Explore the MCU’s biggest, baddest villain, his trail of influence through the stories, and the existential threat he represents.
  • Beyond the Battle: Titan (9:36) – Dive into the climactic struggle on Thanos’ ruined world, including the epic stunts and VFX, to uncover the source of its power.
  • Beyond the Battle: Wakanda (10:58) – Go behind the scenes to find out how the filmmakers pulled off the most massive and challenging battle Marvel had ever attempted.
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes (10:07)
    • Happy Knows Best (1:23) – Tony and Pepper spar over the details of their upcoming wedding—until a hassled Happy Hogan pulls up with an urgent request.
    • Hunt for the Mind Stone (1:24) – On a darkened street, Wanda Maximoff and the wounded Vision attempt to hide from Thanos’ brutal allies.
    • The Guardians Get Their Groove Back (3:20) – As Peter Quill and Drax quarrel over their failed mission to Knowhere, Mantis interrupts with news.
    • A Father’s Choice (4:00) – Thanos confronts Gamora with a vision from her past—and with lying to him about the Soul Stone.
    • Gag Reel (2:05)– Watch your favorite Super Heroes make super gaffes in this lighthearted collection of on-set antics.
    • Audio Commentary (approx. 149 min.) by Anthony and Joe Russo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely.

Digital Exclusive:

  • A Directors’ Roundtable (approx. 32 min.) – Eight amazing directors reflect on how their movies contribute to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s larger storytelling adventure.

I was sent an advance copy of the DVD for purposes of this article.

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