‘Avengers: Endgame’ gave Tony Stark one of the MCU’s most emotional endings. His sacrifice stopped Thanos, saved billions of lives, and cemented Tony as one of Marvel’s greatest heroes. However, what if his death had an even more dire repercussion?
Tony Stark Might’ve Been The Anchor Being
The concept of an Anchor Being was introduced in ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’: a person essential to the stability of their universe. As that person passes away, their reality can slowly start to fall apart. That raises an intriguing possibility: What if Tony Stark was Earth-616’s anchor being?
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Tony’s death would still have saved the universe from Thanos, but it could have been an unknowing beginning of a slow decay. As Earth-616 grows increasingly unstable, the multiverse may be closer to the Incursions that threaten reality itself.
It would make Tony’s death have a whole new meaning. His sacrifice wasn’t wrong; it may simply have come with a consequence nobody understood.
Doctor Doom Could Weaponize Tony’s Legacy
This theory could also make for an interesting tie-in with Doctor Doom. Imagine a Doom variant from a collapsing universe finds out that Earth-616 is suffering the same fate. He visits 616 and shows up wearing Tony Stark’s face.
In case you missed it: Marvel May Have Already Revealed How Doctor Doom Defeated Loki In ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
For characters like Peter Parker, Bruce Banner, and Rhodey, it would be a very awkward situation. They wouldn’t be seeing their biggest enemy. They’d be gazing at the face of a loved one who sacrificed himself for them. And Doom could prey on that emotional vulnerability.
As Tony, he might be able to acquire Stark technology, Avengers resources, and valuable knowledge about Earth-616 before finally giving up the character. Of course, there’s no official word that Tony Stark is the Anchor Being of Earth-616. But it would be a bizarre turn of events.
Tony’s last moments were spent saving Earth-616. If his death ultimately made that universe vulnerable to its greatest threat, his legacy would become even more complicated. Tony Stark saved 616 from Thanos. His death may have unknowingly doomed it.
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