Why Iron Man Needs To Die In Avengers: Infinity War

Ever since Avengers: Infinity War was announced, the internet has been rife with rumors about which heroes will perish. We've been teased for years about possible deaths, but all we've been treated to was Quicksilver's demise in Avengers: Age of Ultron (and let's be honest here, no one really cared about him except for his twin sister). This time, though, it seems to be for real. Marvel will – gasp – kill off a main eventer. Whether it's permanent or not remains to be seen… All evidence points to the victim being Captain America, since Chris Evans has revealed that his time with the MCU is up and he isn't coming back. That said, it could all be a big ruse to keep the scent cold for the online sleuths and act as a clever diversion tactic. If Marvel Studios is smart, though, it'll shy away from killing off Cap and aim the Infinity Gauntlet straight at Tony Stark's arc reactor. Sorry, Iron Man stans, but it's true – your boy needs to die in Avengers: Infinity War. Before you head off to the comments section to tell us you're unfollowing our page and hate our mothers, read through to the end of this article and consider our reasoning for a second. You might find there's some method to our madness here. Cap Doesn't Deserve To Die… Just Yet Sure, Steve Rogers has had his own trilogy and appeared in two team-up films, but do you feel like you really know him yet? Bar Captain America: The First Avenger, where we found out his backstory and history, he's spent the rest of the time fighting for everyone and everything else – and not building a life for himself in this new world. On the contrary, we've seen Stark fall in love, go through major character progressions, and evolve from the douchebag we first met in the opening scene of 2008's Iron Man. Add to that how he's appeared in so many films, even if only as a glorified cameo, and it's safe to see that we've seen a lot of the man in the past decade. Yes, Rogers should pass on the Captain America mantle to Bucky Barnes or Sam Wilson in the near future, but not just yet. It would be tragic to see him do so without achieving some personal happiness in his life. Stark's Arc Is Complete It's done. Finito. What more is there for Stark to achieve apart from marrying Pepper Potts and having two-and-a-half children? And that seems more like something fitting for The CW than the MCU, if you ask us. When you sit down and take stock of everything, Iron Man has been the centerpiece of this universe and we've seen him as the heart and soul of everything. He's fought all his villains (and friends too), resolved all his inner conflicts and demons, and embarked on several adventures with the Avengers. So, what more is there for him to do now? By walking towards the light (or getting squashed by Thanos' gigantic hands), his arc will end in sacrifice. As one of the biggest narcissists in the MCU, there's no better way for him to redeem himself and prove he's more than his façade than through a heroic death. Of course his teammates (and the audience) will cry once it happens, but it'll solidify his legend even more. The Gandalf Figure While it might've been a smaller role than usual, Stark's appearance in Spider-Man: Homecoming was vital. It cemented his status as a mentor (even if he doesn't want to be one), and the beginning stages of the passing of the torch to younger superheroes. With young, brilliant minds in the form of Shuri and Peter Parker, there's almost no need for the genius of Stark anymore. In fact, these two youngsters might even be smarter than him. It's a case of thanks for the memories, but we need the new blood to take us into the next phase of the MCU. Even in Marvel Comics, we've seen Stark take more of a backseat as the likes of Riri Williams (Ironheart) and Doctor Doom have put on the fabled armor in recent years. So, isn't it time for the role of genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist to be retired in the MCU as well? He's No Longer The Most Popular Avenger In the past 12 months, two important things have happened in the MCU. The first was the unexpected success of Thor: Ragnarok. It rejuvenated the characters of Thor and the Hulk, who'd become slightly forgotten after Avengers: Age of Ultron. The second major happening was Black Panther. The film's runaway success with critics and fans and the insane box office numbers were beyond Marvel's wildest dreams. Not only did it turn T'Challa into a bona-fide superstar, but it's also ensured that the characters from Wakanda will feature predominantly in the next phase of MCU films. Oh, you better believe that Marvel will capitalize on the Wakanda Forever goodwill. What both these films have in common, though, is that they didn't need Stark to be hits. Of course there were mentions of him scattered throughout, but they succeeded with their own characters and not the Iron Man effect. This alone proves that the future of the MCU is in good hands, and there are more than enough superheroes to keep the group afloat. The Avengers Needs A Shake-Up Like any sports team will tell you, the arrival of new faces and the departure of old ones can invigorate a side. Too often, the same-old people can inspire the same-old tactics, and there needs to be a transition. In the case of the Avengers, the same holds true. The classic line-up of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk needs a bad shake-up. Sure, we've seen some newbies – like Scarlet Witch, Falcon, and Vision – join the group, but some of the older leaders, such as Stark, need to hop on their ponies and ride away into the sunset. It's only a matter of time until the audiences yawn at the prospect of another Avengers movie. So, shouldn't Marvel act preemptively and start taking the necessary steps to freshen things up? The rumors are that the next phase of the MCU will be cosmic, so the time is right to start removing some of the old members and replacing them with newer ones. Robert Downey Jr. Deserves A Break Avengers: Infinity War will be Robert Downey Jr's ninth appearance as Iron Man. Pause for a moment and take that in. Ninth appearance (including his uncredited cameo in 2008's The Incredible Hulk, which is part of the MCU). That's almost a film a year for Marvel Studios. Simply put, that's an incredible feat. As Chris Evans has stated before, the superhero roles take up a bulk of his time and once locked into a contract, good luck in trying to negotiate a way out or working around it. Undoubtedly, Downey has other projects he'd like to pursue but doesn't have the time because of all his Iron Man commitments. He's been the face of the franchise for a decade now, and he also deserves to take a breather. Additionally, he runs the real risk of overexposure. Much like John Cena in the WWE, the audience will get exhausted of seeing the same face over and over again. Tell us, do you think that Iron Man should die in Avengers: Infinity War? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.