The first Phase of theMarvel Cinematic Universehad some on the face of it destitute moments that have proceed on to become quite dismal in the context of the longer series . Compared to otherfilms in the MCU , Phase One was quite darker in tone of voice , not yet touched by the sanitation of Marvel Studios under the Disney standard . Yet afterward film have managed to put a great many cadence from the first five pic into a more somber perspective , darken the early franchise even more .

There are several ways later event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have put specific shot from Phase One into a jarringly sullen context . Sometimes , it ’s bare convenience that set up certain result into a darker perspective when equate to the laterdarkest moment of the MCU . More often than not , however , the serial is very measured about the story beats it seeded early one , make up them off subsequently with some heart - break revelations .

10"I Am Iron Man" Got Better & Darker Years Later

Iron Man (2008)

Perhapsthe single most iconic line interpret in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe , Tony Stark ’s admission price of being Iron Man at the end of his debut cinema sent shockwaves through the franchise for years to come . Not only is it impressive thatRobert Downey Jr. extemporise the line , but it did out with mystic identities ( for the most part ) being a cardinal component of the MCU ’s drama . As ofAvengers : Endgame , the quote " I am Iron Man " reach even more grievous signification .

Iron Man has made a vast encroachment on the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his words , with each movie appearance sport its own standout pipeline .

After Thanos seemingly is about to get away with perform his snap with the Infinity Stones for a 2nd meter , he smugly declare " I am inevitable " , only to realize Iron Man pickpocketed the Stone from under his olfactory organ . In reply , Tony repeats the same railway line he said at the pressure conference all those years agobefore lose it away the excited Titan along with his army . Looking back , the original line has now become a chilling portent of Tony ’s own death .

MCU Tony Stark Iron Man helmet on and off custom image

9Thor’s Early Conflict With Odin Constantly Looks Different In Hindsight

Thor (2011)

Thor has had quite a tumultuous journeying throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe . While the God of Thunder may have once been a surefooted warrior , his proscription to Earth and the captivation of Mjölnir to only tolerate itself to be repeal by the worthy was but the beginning of his long road to humbleness .

Odin ’s antipathy for Thor ’s foolhardy behavior , which prompted this reception , seems all the more grave believe what he knew to be coming in late film . InThor : Ragnarok , Odin reveals that he seemed to live his time was coming , and with his death would get along his autocratic secret tike , Hela .

Odin seemed to be ashamed of his crashing past , hoping Thor could become the passive , beneficent , yet strong ruler he never was before Hela ’s arrival .

The Title Treatment for Avengers Doomsday

A afflictive ghost of Odin ’s past sprightliness as a savage conqueror himself , Hela being on the horizon makes it more obvious why he was so desperate to mature his Logos into a wise , capable , and genial leader . In hindsight , Odin seemed to be ashamed of his bally past , hoping Thor could become the peaceful , benevolent , yet strong rule he never was before Hela ’s reaching .

8Loki’s Debut Got Darker & Darker As The MCU Continued

The Avengers (2012)

Few figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are as tragical as Loki , the God of Mischief . Despite being the earliest multi - movie baddie of the series , as early as his first appearance , Loki is given some variety of sympathy by the story , represent as someone who could ’ve been a much kinder god under dissimilar circumstances .

His story only becomes more tragical with the later implication that he may have been being manipulated by Thanosinto committing the atrocity he does inThe Avengers . harmonise to one hypothesis , Loki was creative thinker - controlled by Thanos , at least part , into invading New York inThe Avengers .

Using the Mind Stone as a conduit , Thanos was supposedly able to convince Loki to invade Earth with his Chitauri Army , set into movement the events of the Infinity War . The MCU has since confirm this theory as being exact , ready his villainous visual aspect in the first crossover affair far more terrific than it earlier seemed .

Halle Berry as Catwoman crouching on a fire escape in Catwoman

7Iron Man’s Journey Through The Portal Began His Dark Paranoia

If it were n’t for Iron Man , it ’s ruffianly to say if The Avengers would ’ve won the Battle for New York in their debut film . Directing a monumental missile into the portal opened by the Chitauri , Iron Man was able to detonate the sinewy load directly on the alien ' mothership , invalid all of their cybernetic warrior in one brutal slide .

Tony has a terrifying near - death experience as his system wink out , barely grapple to fall back through the portal vein before it closes through sheer luck . This event went on to give Tony Stark significant PTSD , the symptoms of which were explored in the underratedIron Isle of Man 3 .

Not only that , but his experience in outer space and brush with the aliens ' leadership made him more impassioned than ever to make a " suit of clothes of armor around the world " that could protect the Earth from succeeding invaders such as Thanos . This idea finally gave way to the innovation of Ultron , another event that well-nigh destroy the satellite .

Black Widow Loki Phase One MCU Custom Image

Custom Image by Alex Valentino

6Bucky Barnes' Fall Had Some Grisly And Wide-Reaching Results

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Though it might not have seemed like it at the prison term , Bucky ’s " end " inCaptain America : The First Avengerhas had some of the darkest and widest - reaching effects of any outcome in the entirety of Phase One . Steve Rogers ' puerility protagonist , Bucky Barnes became a highly - decorated sniper and especial ops soldier who got the chance to campaign alongside his onetime crony in the Howling Commandos .

However , this career would stop in tragedy as his bungled rescue take to his unmistakable destruction and seize at the hand of HYDRA.Under HYDRA ’s cruel experiment , Bucky becomes the Winter Soldier , an event that went on to have a tremendous impact on the residuum of the series .

Most importantly , The Winter Soldier ’s murder of Howard and Maria Stark specifically played a massive role in the split of The Avengers inCaptain America : Civil War . Knowing what the future has in storage forBucky ’s MCU journeymakes the deal of him disappearing into the blow inCaptain America : The First Avengera chilling one indeed .

Captain America- Brave New World - Poster

5The Tesseract Turned Red Skull Into An Immortal Guide

It is n’t just hoagie in the MCU who are thrown into bizarre , painful circumstances , peculiarly inCaptain America : The First Avenger . Red Skull is far from a sympathetic scoundrel , a Nazi and HYDRA agent haunt with harnessing the power of ancient artefact like the Tesseract .

However , it ’s not fun to suppose the realness he experienced after being teleport across the world by the very power he seek to command . According to Red Skull inAvengers : Infinity WarandAvengers : Endgame , the Cosmic Cube turns him into an almost spiritual guide , clad in flow robes that , when added to his skeletal countenance , give the appearing of an avatar of death .

It ’s hard to guess what he get going through being bent , ostensibly unwillingly , into a mouth for the Infinity Stones themselves . The decades of closing off on Vormir ca n’t have been pleasant , with only unworthy seekers of the Soul Stone and foreign rocks to keep his saneness from fret more than his clothes .

Thunderbolts (2025) Official Poster

4Loki’s Words At The End Of Thor Are Echoed In His Own Finale

Once again , Loki ’s tragic journey through the MCU colors his former appearance in tragedy . Nowhere is this more designed than with the end ofThor , Loki ’s very first appearance in the franchise , which eventually stop up echoing his last .

Dangling from the Bifrost Bridge , Loki implore his don for understanding , insisting that he only did what did for the welfare of all of Asgard , stating " I did it for you , for all of us " . Loki ends up enjoin the accurate same word to his unexampled friends inthe time of year finis ofLoki , which deliberately cite Loki ’s Phase One appearances .

Not only does the finale ’s deed , Glorious Purpose , evoke Loki ’s words inThe Avengers,“I am burned with splendiferous purpose " , but he ends up repeating his same line from the ending ofThor . It ’s in truth tear - saccade to look out Loki go through his early struggle for acceptance and acknowledgement , have sex where his path through the series ultimately leads him .

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3Iron Man And Black Widow Are The First Two Original Avengers To Meet, And The First To Die

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Easily the most - pick at moving-picture show of Phase One , it ’s no wonder thatIron Man 2isn’t incisively drown in poignant scenes that remain relevant far subsequently into the MCU ’s story . But if there ’s one moment in the picture show that ’s almost operose to watch with the knowledge of future films , it ’s Black Widow ’s debut .

The scenery is quite playful and humourous in a agency the MCU most likely would n’t attempt now , withTony Stark meeting Natasha Romanoff under her imitation identity , clearly smitten with her good looking at and skills . Though it is n’t celebrate with much fanfare , this moment marks the first fourth dimension in the MCU that two Avengers in reality take on .

Avengers : Doomsday has tote up another major Marvel Cinematic Universe star to its cast , and it connects to Chris Evans ’ scandalous return .

Avengers 5 Concept Poster

unhappily , Black Widow and Iron Man are not only the first two original Avengers to match , but also the first two to die , both expire inAvengers : Endgame . It ’s problematic to see Natasha ( or Natalie , as she choke by here ) and Tony Stark get together so nonchalantly know the tragic history they ’d both portion out in the previous Infinity Saga .

2Black Widow And Hawkeye’s Budapest Reference Became Way Darker Than It Seemed

Almosta recurring joke in early phase angle of the Marvel Cinematic Universe , Hawkeye andBlack Widow ’s infamous bungled commission in Budapestis referenced several time . The first of these references occurs in the Battle for New York , in which Black Widow remark to Hawkeye about the similarities between the two missions , only for Hawkeye to coldly shut her down , claiming that the two of them commend it otherwise . It ’s only inBlack Widowthat the reliable setting of the Budapest mission is in the end reveal .

As it turn out , Budapest was a true low tip in both the careers of Black Widow and Hawkeye . Being the mission of unspoiled faith that finally allowed Natasha Romanoff to defect from the Black Widow programme , in Budapest , the two detonate explosives that assassinate the man behind the Red Room , General Dreykov , alongside his innocent daughter . Even if Antonia ended up go and becoming Taskmaster , get a line Black Widow computer address the event so unfeelingly inThe Avengersmakes Hawkeye ’s response quite perceivable .

1Tony’s Weapons Testing Is Put Into Perspective By Wanda And Pietro Maximoff

Part of what made the early MCU body of work so well was Tony Stark ’s captivating arc from uncaring war profiteer to altruistic hero . In the opening moments ofIron Man , Tony ’s ego goes on full display as he tests one of his latest " Jericho " missile , holding out his branch like a revengeful god as the shockwave from the blowup roils around him .

It take a near - dying experience at the hired hand of the Ten Rings for Tony to realize the mistake of his ways , but shots like the Jericho missile examination make it clear in hindsight that Tony has genuine blood on his hands .

It ’s a captivate image , but it ’s important to remember that weapon like these had a very substantial effect on the lives of other graphic symbol in the series , even other Avengers . InWandaVision , the verity behind Scarlet Witch ’s words inAvengers : Age of Ultronis show , watching as aStark Industries dud lodges itself in her home , nearly killing her and her brother .

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It lead a near - dying experience at the hired man of the Ten Rings for Tony to understand the mistake of his way , but shot like the Jericho missile testing make it clear in hindsight that Tony has real blood on his workforce . Complicated character like this are a vast part of what made the earlyMCUso successful .

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