One of the most entertaining elements of the MCU has been the development of the relationship between Spider-Man and Iron Man. Beginning as mentorship, maturing into a quasi-father/son dynamic and ending with a passing of the torch of sorts, this relationship was cut short by Tony Stark's death in Avengers: Endgame and the recent news of the split between Sony and Disney, effectively leaving Spider-Man out of the MCU.
As fans lament the passing of their beloved on-screen partnership, we present the 10 MCU Moments That Will Make Us Miss Iron Man & Spider-Man.
10 Underoos!
Spider-Man’s surprise introduction (in an upgraded costume no less) at the onset of the climactic battle in Captain America: Civil War was electrifying. But more important than snatching Cap’s shield from his hands was Spidey’s endearing reaction to being thrust into the middle of this battle of giants: a mixture of sheepish apprehensiveness, self-doubt, and a sense of being star-struck.
All hallmark personality traits of the character in his early career, these qualities helped popularize him with comic book readers and made him very relatable to film audiences, because in him, people saw themselves. In an MCU filled with Thunder Gods and Sorcerer Supremes, the absence of a Friendly Neighbourhood Audience Stand-In who marvels at fantastic and unbelievable events will be glaringly noticeable.
9 Nice Work, Kid
Iron Man 2 was a fair installment in the Iron Man trilogy, but one particular scene in that film garnered much attention for its heart and cuteness factor. As Justin Hammer's Iron Mongers run rampant through the crowd that gathered to see their unveiling, one little boy stood his ground to protect the innocent bystanders.
With Iron Man mask on and repulsor ray aimed at his approaching foe, the boy does not notice the real Tony Stark popping up behind him to blast the Iron Monger away. Through retconning, it was later revealed that the little boy was in fact, a young Peter Parker, providing an extra layer of history to the two heroes' relationship.
8 As Walnut-Date Loaves Go...
Every great partnership needs a great beginning, and the first encounter between Peter Parker and Tony Stark was no exception. Peter's youthful innocence and naivety shone through Tony's cynical, armor-plated idealism, but even in their first meeting, Tony recognized both Spider-Man's ability to play a pivotal role in the upcoming confrontation and his immense potential to evolve into a great superhero.
Both Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. hit all the major beats of their characters, from Parker's neuroticism to Stark's sardonic wit, but it is their chemistry together in a burgeoning mentor relationship that really shines, setting the stage for all their incredible moments to come.
7 If You're Nothing Without the Suit...
Every healthy friendship has its rough spots, especially if one of the people involved is assuming a mentorship role. It was obvious that Tony was grooming Peter as a potential successor in the superhero/scientific genius game, which is why he was so upset when Peter disobeyed him in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
For his part, Peter felt he was doing the right thing in confronting the Vulture on the Staten Island Ferry, but Tony saw the collateral damage and possible loss of life as too great a risk. The ensuing conflict between youthful, well-placed intentions and seasoned, battle-hardened wisdom was unique to the MCU till this point, and the absence of this dynamic removes a layer of drama that will be wistfully evident to moviegoers.
6 Where's the Kid?
When Peter is called to the Avengers Compound at the end of Spider-Man: Homecoming, it represented everything he had strove to achieve until that point: membership in the elite super-team and reconciliation with his mentor. Tony, having moved past their earlier difficulties, even offered Peter a new suit to celebrate the occasion. Peter's refusal of membership and decision to remain a 'friendly neighborhood Spider-Man' visibly stung Tony, but what followed was a begrudging acceptance and respect of Peter's choices, which represented the courage and autonomy he was looking for in his protege in the first place.
The shift toward equal footing in the mentorship was subtle, but powerful nonetheless, as both men had earned the other's, and the audience's, admiration and respect.
5 Mr. Stark, I'm Being Beamed Up...
In the opening moments of Avengers: Infinity War, audiences were treated to a knock-down, drag-out battle between Black Order members Ebony Maw and Cull Obsidian, and Iron Man and Spider-Man.
From the moment Spidey peeked his head out from behind Obsidian's sizeable sledgehammer of a fist, he and Iron Man proceeded to mount an offense that complimented each other's styles perfectly: quick, coordinated, and full of panache. Thankfully, Infinity War would be replete with many more instances of this slick two-hero team-up 'kicking names and taking @$$,' but sadly, audiences will only have this film (and few short minutes of Avengers: Endgame) to sustain them.
4 Peter VLOGger
After five previous on-screen iterations, Spider-Man's first appearance in the MCU felt new and refreshed, but somehow, at the same time, comfortable and familiar. This was no small feat to accomplish and can be equally credited to Marvel Studios' knowledge of how to depict the character and Tom Holland's youthful and energetic performance.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Spider-Man: Homecoming's opening act, which sees Peter Parker recording a VLOG of his European adventures, including the opening moments of the airport battle in Captain America: Civil War. The sequence is hilarious and showcases Spidey's humor and youthful exuberance- elements that will be missed with his departure from the MCU.
3 That's Not a Hug...
Tony Stark is the undoubted king of the MCU's comedic one-liners. This is most probably Robert Downey Jr.'s contribution to the character, as in the comics he is usually depicted as somewhat serious and not altogether prone to cracking wise. When partnered with Spider-Man, who has a reputation for impromptu humor, the onscreen combination is pure gold.
Further, when you factor in Tom Holland's addition of frenetic neuroticism to Peter Parker's characterization, you get hilarious scenes as in Spider-Man: Homecoming, where Tony Stark's attempt to open the limo door for Peter is awkwardly misinterpreted as an attempt to hug him. This genuinely amusing interplay between the two characters will be greatly missed!
2 This is Nice...
Although the deaths caused by Thanos' snap at the climax of Avengers: Infinity War was shocking to cinema audiences, comic book fans knew they would be returning in the sequel- it would just be a question of how. Spider-Man's return not only saved Iron Man from a possible killing blow from Cull Obsidian, but it also allowed Peter Parker and Tony Stark the emotional reunion everyone was waiting for: Peter finally got his hug, and Tony was finally able to show his love for his protege.
Tony's subsequent death scene in Avengers: Endgame was a nice reversal of Peter's in the previous film, and provided audiences with the closure they needed to work through the emotional conclusion of this partnership. Unfortunately, more emotion-packed scenes with these two characters are simply not in the cards.
1 Mr. Stark, I Don't Feel So Good...
The scene that launched a thousand memes, Peter Parker’s dissolution into dust in Tony Stark’s arms at the climax of Avengers: Infinity War was easily the emotional linchpin of the entire film, particularly with Parker's repeated, "I don't want to go," reverberating in the audiences' ears. Fans, whole-heartedly invested in both characters and their mentor relationship, left theatres utterly heartbroken, and quickly took to the Internet to commiserate.
Of all moments in the five films both characters appeared in together, this will be the ones fans remember most, and its emotional resonance will make them miss the duo all the more.