Five Times Tony Stark Proved He Had a Heart in the MCU
“Genius. Billionaire. Playboy. Philanthropist.” Even when describing himself, Tony Stark sounds like a larger-than-life individual with the ego to match.
With a vast amount of wealth and an even bigger personality, it can be easy at times to reduce Tony Stark’s personality to his quips, genius, money, and the high opinion of himself that he displays. As a central character in nine Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, however, the audience gets to see a more nuanced, vulnerable, and heroic man than perhaps even Tony himself can see at times.
Here are five times in his tenure as Iron Man that Tony Stark proved he has a heart.
Guiding the nuclear missile into space
When New York City is under attack from Loki and his Chitauri army provided by Thanos, the Avengers comes together as a team to save the city and the world at large. Recognizing the seemingly insurmountable odds, the government decides that the best approach is to contain the threat by sending a nuclear missile to wipe the army, and consequently New York City itself, off the map.
During a heated exchange prior to the long-awaited Avengers team-up, Steve Rogers tersely tells Tony, “You’re not the guy to make the sacrifice play, to lay down on the wire and let the other guy crawl over you.” Even then, Tony defers to his tendency to retort with a snarky reply, saying he would probably just cut the wire. As the missile heads for the city and threatens the millions of people that call it home, Tony proves both Steve and himself wrong when he recognizes that there is only one way to prevent what would ultimately be a tragic outcome.
Only One Play Left
Instructing Natasha to be wait to close the portal that the Chitauri army continues to pour out of, Tony grabs a hold of the missile. Steve tells him that it’s a one-way trip, which Tony is all too aware of. Facing almost certain death, Tony maintains his hold on the missile, redirects it toward the portal, and rockets into space with it. In the end and against all odds, Tony tumbles back to Earth through just as the portal closes and is able to reunite with his fellow Avengers over some well-earned schwarma.
When Tony makes the decision to redirect the missile from New York City and guide it into space to destroy the Chitauri army, he proves not only Steve, but himself as well, entirely wrong. Almost instinctively, Tony reveals that he is in fact the one that will make the sacrifice play when it is the only play left.
His journey with trauma and anxiety
There is more to demonstrating true heart than what you do for others; part of being human is experiencing major setbacks and acknowledging your vulnerabilities and struggles.
Following his brief journey to space with the missile meant for New York City in The Avengers, Tony struggles with his mental health throughout Iron Man 3. He spends hours isolated in his workshop, has vivid nightmares, and even experiences anxiety attacks. In spite of having a good support system in his best friend James Rhodes and his partner Pepper Potts, it takes an attack on his home and an unintended vacation to Rose Hill, Tennessee for Tony to begin to contend with his trauma and the relationship that he has with his suits of armor as a form of avoidance.
He continues to struggle with his feelings of powerlessness and anxiety during his time in Rose Hill without his usual technology at his disposal, but begins to process his trauma because he does not have those distractions. He is forced to recognize that his greatest asset and form of protection is his ability to persevere even in challenging circumstances. He even goes so far as to destroy the army of suits that he built in his desperate attempt to feel safe, recognizing that true security is found within his innate resilience and his solid support system.
He gives suits to those he cares about the most
First conceived as a means to escape his enemy captors during his debut film, Tony’s suits take on different incarnations and meanings during his time as Iron Man. They are weapons, testaments to his genius, a means to acts of incredible heroism, and a form of protection. While the protection angle is explored at length in Iron Man 3 and even Avengers: Age of Ultron as an unhealthy coping mechanism and obsession, Tony also uses their ability to protect and empower as an act of love and loyalty.
Three of the most important people in Tony’s life are his best friend Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes, his eventual wife and mother of his child Pepper Potts, and Peter Parker, who becomes more like a ward and a son than a fellow super hero as Spider-Man. Although Rhodey first gets the suit under conditions that were less than agreeable to Tony at first, he ultimately embraces having his best friend as a heroic partner. Tony uses his wealth of resources, both financial and mental, to construct suits that play to the strengths of their wearer and keep their personal safety in mind.
Tony is Iron Man. His suits and all that they stand for are an extension of who he is as a person; they are his legacy. Sharing that with those that he cares about the most is an undeniable act of love.
His love for his family
One of the great joys of Avengers: Endgame for many viewers was getting to see Tony Stark, a larger-than-life figure in the MCU, settle down in a small house far away from civilization and Avenging with Pepper and their daughter, Morgan. Tony Stark, so long synonymous with fame, fortune, and fighting, has shed his armor to provide a life for his child and family that he felt he did not have growing up.
Tony remains very much himself in his new, simplified role as a husband and father, but is noticeably softened by it: His biting sarcasm becomes clever quips to amuse his daughter, his tendency to break rules comes in the form of sneaking popsicles with Morgan after bedtime and using adult words in front of her instead of blowing past national and international regulations, and his devoted nature is redirected from his tinkering and world-changing endeavors to the his partner and the little girl that loves him 3,000.
Although being Iron Man is what made Tony Stark a hero, some of the very best parts of who Tony is comes out in this role, allowing him to connect in a real and meaningful way with the people he loves. The love and mutual respect that Tony shares with Pepper and the tenderness and joy he displays as Morgan’s father demonstrate humility, healing, and heart in a way and to an extent that Tony had not previously reached.
“I am Iron Man.”
In Avengers: Endgame, in spite of his hesitance and fearing what it might end up costing him, Tony is able to crack the code on time travel to give himself and his fellow Avengers a chance to undo Thanos’ snap and bring back everyone that they had lost. With the Infinity Stones in their possession following their respective “time heists” and the Nano Gauntlet created by Bruce Banner, Rocket Raccoon, and Tony Stark, Bruce is able to bring those that had turned to dust five years ago back, just as they had left.
With the Avengers assembled, the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe take on Thanos’ army. When Thanos gets ahold of the Nano Gauntlet and the Infinity Stones, Tony makes eye contact with Doctor Strange from across the battlefield. Doctor Strange holds up one finger, hearkening back to their conversation on Titan in Infinity War during which he stated that there was only one scenario that would lead to victory.
One Last Sacrifice
Tony realizes what this means and seemingly attempts to wrestle the Gauntlet away from Thanos. Thanos throws Tony aside, and snaps his fingers only to find nothing happens. Bruised and seemingly down for the count, Tony reveals that he had a gauntlet built into the Mark LXXXV that is now outfitted with all six Infinity Stones. He delivers the iconic line, “I am Iron Man,” snaps his fingers, and Thanos’ army turns to ash. The victory comes with a high cost; Tony pays with his life.
Tony was aware going into this fight that he might be the man to ultimately save the day, and he knew what that might entail. By building a gauntlet into his armor and recording final words to his loved ones, it is clear that he went in with his eyes wide open, knowing that death is, at times, “part of the hero gig.” An instinctive, immediate choice to lay down his life to save the world would have been an act of great courage and love in and of itself; the fact that he was aware of this, prepared for it, and recognized that “part of the journey is the end,” is a moment that Tony Stark’s growth as a hero and a person with a truly good heart comes full circle. He integrates his identity as the human being Tony Stark with the hero Iron Man, and in doing so, he is able to have his final act be one of courage, selflessness, and love.
Fans got to spend over ten years watching Tony Stark’s story unfold. They witnessed his hubris turn to humility, his need to protect himself evolve into real connection, and throughout it all, even in his most challenging moments, the proof that he has a heart was always there.
What are your favorite Tony Stark moments in the MCU? Celebrate Stark Week and join the conversation with other Marvel fans over at Sideshow Social Network or in side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!
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