How Iron Man Became an Avenger: The Origins of the Avengers

The Avengers, one of the most iconic teams in comic book history, wasn't formed overnight. The journey to assemble these titans began with the introduction of Iron Man, Tony Stark, in the 2008 film Iron Man. What followed was a series of events that brought together these extraordinary individuals to form the Avenger Initiative under the leadership of Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Avenger Initiative

As the concept of founding the Avengers was conceived by Howard Stark, Tony Stark's late father, it was clear that Tony was aware of the plans long before the other Avengers. The formation of the Avengers was not just about collecting powerful individuals but about seeing if teamwork could overcome insurmountable obstacles. This initiative was born out of the need to protect Earth from external threats and to work together when single heroes were not enough.

From Iron Man to Captain America

Interestingly, while some might argue that Captain America is the first Avenger due to his presence in Captain America: The First Avenger, it is Tony Stark who can be considered the first Avenger. The movie Iron Man was the first in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and The Incredible Hulk laid the groundwork for the first mention of the Avengers.

During the events of the movie The Incredible Hulk, Tony Stark is seen making plans to assemble a team. Following the events of The Captain Marvel movie, Nick Fury realized Earth was outmatched against extraterrestrial threats and decided to form the Avengers Initiative to bring together remarkable individuals capable of fighting battles that Earth could not handle alone.

The Recruitment of Iron Man

Following the death of his father, Howard Stark, Tony Stark had his own motivations for joining the team. In Iron Man 2, Tony Stark is shown coming to terms with the fact that his health is deteriorating due to the palladium core powering his Arc Reactor. During this period, he prepares to hand over his company to Pepper Potts and makes amends by giving his wealth to the lesser fortunate. This moment of introspection and acceptance of his mortality sets the stage for his readiness to join the Avengers.

After the events of Iron Man 2, it is revealed that Natasha Romanoff (Black Widow), working under S.H.I.E.L.D.'s orders, had been assessing Tony Stark for suitability for the Avengers Initiative. In the film, Nick Fury, the director of S.H.I.E.L.D., reads the Black Widow's report to Tony. While they want Stark in the suit of armor and as a weapons platform, they express concerns about his liabilities and behavioral issues. However, they agree to let him join as a consultant to help Bruce Banner find the Tesseract and assist in the battle against Loki.

The Team Comes Together

The turning point for the Avengers comes in The Avengers movie, where Tony Stark is initially recruited by Agent Phil Coulson to help find the Tesseract that Loki stole from the P.E.G.A.S.U.S. labs. It is only when Captain America goes against Loki and is struggling that Iron Man shows up to give crucial assistance. Initially, the team was hesitant to fully trust Tony, but his intervention and heroics during the battle of New York, culminating in the destruction of the nuclear warhead, proved his worth and solidified the team's bond.

Thus, it's clear that Iron Man, through his individual journey and the guidance of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D., played a pivotal role in the formation of the Avengers. His legacy as both Iron Man and Tony Stark continues to be a cornerstone of the Avengers team, making him the first Avenger in the MCU.