One of the most memorable moments in The Avengers comes when Loki attempts to control Tony Stark with his scepter, only for the encounter to end with a sarcastic remark from the billionaire.
It’s a funny scene that really encapsulates Tony’s character, but what if there’s more to it than just comedy? There is a captivating MCU theory that Tony’s arc reactor could have been the reason he wasn’t affected by Loki’s mind control.
Tony Stark’s New Element Could Have A Connection To The Space Stone
In ‘Iron Man 2’, Tony creates a new element to replace the palladium core that has been poisoning him. He does this by looking at his father Howard Stark’s research, which has clues to the creation of the unknown substance. This is where it all starts.
Related: ‘Avengers: Doomsday’ Director Explains Why Doctor Doom Is So Difficult To Defeat
Howard’s work was influenced by his knowledge of the Tesseract, an object that housed the Space Stone. The films never make it clear that Tony’s new element is of Space Stone energy, but his father’s research creates a potential link between the arc reactor and one of the most powerful objects in the MCU.
At the same time, Loki’s scepter holds the Mind Stone, which can manipulate people’s thoughts and control their actions. With both devices having indirect ties to Infinity Stones, it’s easy to imagine that Tony’s reactor could have possessed some unusual properties.
Was Loki’s Failure More Than Just a Funny Moment?
Of course, there’s a much simpler explanation for the scene. Loki’s scepter hits Tony’s arc reactor, but the tip doesn’t land on his body. The physical blockage of the device may be the reason for the failed mind control attempt and not necessarily related to the existence of a hidden connection between the reactor and the Infinity Stones.
In case you missed it: Marvel Might Have Revealed Spider-Man As Doctor Doom’s Biggest Blind Spot
But that doesn’t mean the theory isn’t fun. Marvel has often brought together seemingly unrelated objects and events in its own grand narrative, so it’s not too much to think that somehow Howard’s work granted Tony an unexpected edge.
In the end, it is just speculation and not a known fact of the MCU. However, it does pose a question: Was Tony able to counter Loki’s attempt purely because of his armor, or did his father’s discoveries have something to do with it?
You might like to read: The Real Reason Marvel May Be Holding Back ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’
