‘Secret Invasion‘s revelation of Rhodey’s true nature makes one of the strangest moments in ‘Avengers: Endgame’ even weirder. During Tony Stark’s final moments, Rhodey is among the heroes who rush toward the dying Avenger. He puts his hand on Tony’s head and says goodbye emotionally, but it’s not as simple as it seems.
There’s something quite intentional about the moment, particularly when you consider what Marvel later revealed about the Skrulls.
Was Rhodey Actually Accessing Tony’s Memories?
In ‘Secret Invasion,’ Marvel set up that Skrulls can steal information from humans through physical contact. That makes Rhodey’s interaction with Tony worth another look. Rhodey was discovered to be a Skrull for years. This wasn’t always the War Machine fans’ favorite show.
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If the Skrulls were able to access memories through contact, it may be that Rhodey’s touch was not just to comfort his dying friend. Tony was barely conscious, completely vulnerable, and surrounded by heroes who trusted Rhodey.
This was almost a golden opportunity for the Skrull to get the information they needed from Stark. And that’s what makes the theory so creepy. Tony’s reaction during the moment can almost be interpreted as surprise, as though he felt something unexpected happening.
A Clever Retcon Or Just A Coincidence
The theory is particularly interesting because Tony’s technology would have been extremely useful to the Skrulls. An infiltrator who knows advanced weapons, artificial intelligence, armor, and Earth’s defenses could be worth a lot.
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But there’s one caveat: Marvel has never confirmed that Skrull Rhodey stole Tony’s memories during Endgame. This is a scene that was initially shown as emotional between two old friends, and Tony’s response does not specifically suggest he was losing his memories.
However, ‘Secret Invasion’ altered the entire history of Rhodey in the MCU. All at once, scenes with the character can be viewed in a new light. Maybe Tony was just being consoled by Rhodey. Or perhaps Marvel just stumbled upon one of the creepiest retroactive theories in the process. But whatever it is, it’s difficult to look at that moment in the same way today.
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