Silliest Things That Happened in the MCU (2012-2018)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) started with the first Iron Man movie in 2008 and has been consistently releasing content ever since. Although some of the recent films and series haven’t been as successful with critics or audiences in 2025, 2026 looks brighter with the upcoming release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in July and Avengers: Doomday in December. Before diving into the latest stories, why not take a look back at how it all began?

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe is generally known for its serious storylines, there have been plenty of funny and even absurd moments. We’ve collected some of the silliest things that happened between the first Avengers movie in 2012 and Avengers: Infinity War in 2018, so you can enjoy a trip down memory lane and see how the MCU has evolved.

The Mandarin is a Double Fakeout

Neither Aldrich Killian nor Travor Slattery is the Real Mandarin

Featured in: Iron Man 3 (2013)

For years, the Mandarin has been Iron Man’s biggest enemy, so it was surprising that Tony Stark never actually fought him – until the movie Iron Man 3. Or so it seemed. While Iron Man 3 did bring the Mandarin back, with the acclaimed Ben Kingsley in the role, it turned out to be a twist: Kingsley played Trevor Slattery, an actor simply pretending to be the Mandarin.

The villain initially presented as the Mandarin in Iron Man 3 was actually Aldrich Killian, played by Guy Pearce, but this was a misleading twist. Killian didn’t behave like the traditional Mandarin, and the true Mandarin wasn’t revealed until the movie Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021), where Tony Leung Chiu-wai played him as Xy Wenwu. This happened years after Iron Man’s story ended. Considering Iron Man was the focus of three movies and four Avengers films, it’s quite strange that he never actually faced his biggest foe.

A Talking Raccoon and a Tree Become Central Figures to Saving the Galaxy

The Guardians of the Galaxy Proves How Weird the MCU Can Get

Featured in: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Following the success of The Avengers in 2012, the Marvel Cinematic Universe shifted its focus away from Earth and its heroes to explore the wider galaxy. The 2014 film Guardians of the Galaxy introduced audiences to a new, unlikely team: a group of criminals who become heroes, led by Star-Lord and Gamora, and featuring the unusual duo of a talking tree and a talking raccoon.

One of the biggest strengths of Guardians of the Galaxy was how well it developed the characters of Groot and Rocket Raccoon. It seems strange that a tree and a raccoon would be central figures in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that’s what makes the movie so charming. It’s over-the-top, delightfully silly, and simply a lot of fun to watch the Guardians on screen.

Captain America Can Lift Thor’s Hammer, But Doesn’t Want to Hurt Thor’s Ego

Steve Rogers is Worthy But Decides to Do Nothing About It? Unlikely

Featured in: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

In Avengers: Age of Ultron, there’s a lighthearted scene where the Avengers relax with drinks and games. One game involves trying to lift Thor’s hammer, Mjolnir, but none of them can – at least, that’s what Thor claims. Surprisingly, Steve Rogers manages to make the hammer budge slightly, a moment Thor notices with concern. This small feat hints at Steve’s growing worthiness and sets the stage for his triumphant lift of Mjolnir in Avengers: Endgame (2019), a well-earned moment showcasing his character arc.

The directors of Avengers: Endgame, the Russo brothers, have shared their interpretation: they believe Steve Rogers was always worthy of Mjolnir. They suggest he simply chose not to lift it in the past to avoid making Thor feel insecure. However, the film shows Steve struggling even to move the hammer a little, which makes it unlikely he’d repeatedly pass up opportunities to use it just to spare Thor’s feelings.

The Sokovia Accords Destroy the Avengers

Waiting for the United Nations to Approve Avengers-Level Action is How Sokovia Events Would Happen

Featured in: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

The Sokovia Accords were created by 117 countries to bring the Avengers under United Nations control, preventing them from operating independently. This meant the Avengers needed approval from the UN before intervening in any situation. These agreements had significant consequences, ultimately dividing the team due to their restrictive and, to many, unreasonable nature.

As a huge fan, I always thought the whole Sokovia Accords situation was a mess. It stemmed from the disaster in Sokovia – thankfully, the Avengers stopped Ultron from wiping out the planet, but it was a close call. Honestly, if they’d let politicians debate and vote, Ultron would have won, no question. But the Accords themselves? They were a terrible idea. They really slowed the Avengers down and caused so much infighting that it eventually broke the team apart. It led to Cap becoming a fugitive and, worst of all, left them completely divided when Thanos showed up – which, as we all know, didn’t end well.

The “8 Years Later” Blunder

Spider-Man: Homecoming Makes a Grand Flaw in the MCU Timeline

Featured in: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

The beginning of Spider-Man: Homecoming shows the aftermath of the battle in New York from The Avengers (2012). While the scene featuring the Vulture isn’t particularly striking, the time jump is—it quickly moves the story forward eight years from The Avengers. However, this creates a continuity error: the jump would place Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2018 instead of 2016, which is the same year as Captain America: Civil War.

Although it’s a mistake made during production, the error is noticeable when watching the movie—both in theaters and on Disney Plus. This could confuse dedicated fans who are trying to understand the complex timeline of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. According to the story, eight years pass between films, meaning Spider-Man: Homecoming would have to happen after Avengers: Infinity War but before Avengers: Endgame, which doesn’t fit with the established order.

Shrinking Down to the Size of an Ant Unlocks Multiverse Travel

Gong Subatomic Breaches Time and Space on a Multiversal Scale

Featured in: Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Ant-Man’s unique ability lets him shrink down to incredibly small sizes using Pym Particles. But shrinking beyond a certain point isn’t simple – it can send him to the Quantum Realm, a strange place outside of our normal understanding of time and space. While this poses risks, it also holds incredible possibilities, potentially allowing for time travel and journeys to different universes.

The idea of becoming incredibly small as a way to travel through time and explore alternate realities is pretty wild, but also really cool. It suggests that by changing even small things, you could create entirely new timelines branching off from the main one. Time travel and alternate universes are always complicated topics, but this approach – using shrinking – offers a fresh take compared to traditional time machines.

The Infinity Gauntlet in Asgard Turns Out to be a Fake

Thanos Wastes His Time With a Fake Relic in Asgard

Featured in: Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The 2011 film Thor included a hidden detail – the Infinity Gauntlet, with all its powerful stones, was visible in Asgard’s treasury. This important item reappeared in 2015’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, where Thanos takes the Gauntlet in a post-credits scene, though the stones are missing. The movie doesn’t explain how Thanos got to Asgard, and that detail isn’t addressed.

It turns out the Infinity Gauntlet seen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is a fake, and Hela points this out in Thor: Ragnarok (2017). While it’s strange that Odin and Asgard would guard a counterfeit, it makes sense why Thanos went to such lengths to collect the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Infinity War. It’s a clever little detail that comes back around, and it’s amusingly absurd.

2026-01-12 02:39