Was Tony Stark the MCU’s ‘Anchor Being’?

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As a long-time Marvel fan with countless hours spent dissecting every detail of the MCU, I find myself pondering over the intriguing theory that Tony Stark might have been the anchor being for Earth-616.

In a groundbreaking turn of events across the multiverse, Deadpool and Wolverine unveiled a novel concept. The version of Wolverine we know, Logan, served as a “keystone entity” whose selfless sacrifice propelled his timeline towards inevitable destruction. However, the pairing of Deadpool and the best incarnation of Wolverine were able to halt the annihilation of Earth-10005 and save it. Yet, the TVA remains puzzled over their methods, as they urgently need to decipher them before the entire multiverse implodes. This movie raises a significant query that could drastically impact the main universe, Earth-616: Could Tony Stark have been the MCU’s keystone entity?

One standout feature of the film “Deadpool & Wolverine” is its disregard for established lore, chronology, and coherent narrative flow. Conversely, Marvel Studios values these aspects greatly, especially in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). If any elements from this movie reappear, the MCU will need to address their inconsistencies. Among the film’s concepts, anchor beings are neither vital nor straightforward. In fact, they might be the most perplexing of all.

Matthew Macfayden’s character Paradox informed Wade Wilson that an “anchor” refers to something incredibly crucial. When they perish, their entire universe gradually fades away. In the Earth-1005 universe, Logan was this anchor. His demise set the universe on a course of self-destruction. This catastrophe would have unfolded over about 2,000 years, but Paradox intended to hasten it with a time-ripping device.

For Deadpool and Wolverine, the presence of anchor beings served its intended purpose; however, it poses problems within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. The primary concern is that Wolverine, who was never truly immortal, would eventually perish, thus sealing the fate of his universe. Additionally, if the death of each anchor being results in the demise of their respective world, every timeline faces an inherent cycle of self-destruction (unless it has an immortal anchor being).

If you agree that the demise of an anchor being is inconsequential given the cyclical nature of universes as demonstrated by the TVA, then one might question why the exact moment of their death holds any significance. After all, in these loops, these entities are constantly alive and dead simultaneously.

A clear understanding of all those points can be achieved by delving into the circumstances surrounding Logan’s demise and the insights gained about the essence of the Sacred Timeline, as revealed in Loki.

In simpler terms, Paradox stated that Earth-10005’s Wolverine’s self-sacrifice was so extraordinary it caused a chill along the timeline. His death seemed to be so brave and impactful that his own timeline struggled to cope with the reverberations of his actions. As a result, it began collapsing gradually from within. Therefore, the manner of his demise is crucial, not just the fact that he died.

As a devoted fan, I never imagined we’d be here, but it seems the TVA has taken us on an unprecedented journey. We’ve been privy to the catastrophic consequences of cosmic events akin to universes imploding due to chaotic branching, which posed a grave threat to the Sacred Timeline we’ve grown accustomed to. This chaos was instigated by a unique Variant in another universe, triggering what they call a Nexus Event.

Some variants trigger Nexus Events, while others do not. The Time Variance Authority has yet to clarify why this occurs (and it may not fully understand the reason itself). Throughout her life, Sylvie remained unaware of the Time Variance Authority’s reasons for wanting to send her to the Void. The only truth we know—the one that truly matters—is that the existence of a variant capable of causing Nexus Events poses an existential risk to their universe, just like the death of an anchor being does.

one instance in life can lead to an expansion of the universe, while another in death may result in its contraction. However, for this opposite effect to occur, the death must possess an extraordinary power akin to a reverse Nexus event.

In the primary universe of the Sacred Timeline, it was Iron Man, a loving husband, caring father, trusted friend, and legendary hero, who selflessly sacrificed himself to save all existence. Just as Wolverine became synonymous with the X-Men in Fox’s movie universe, Tony Stark embodied the Avengers in his own, laying the foundation for the entire franchise.

If there’s ever been a pillar for Earth-616, it was the deceased Tony Stark. His sacrifice means that Earth, which he dedicated his life to protecting, is gradually fading. This could be prevented only if Hunter B-15 and the TVA can uncover how Deadpool and Wolverine saved Earth-10005. Until they do, not just that universe but also others, like Deadpool’s, are susceptible to threats, such as those posed by Paradox.

In essence, Tony Stark served as the cornerstone or linchpin character for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Kevin Feige, Marvel Studios’ head honcho, is pleased that fans are already contemplating this idea. Given that Deadpool and Wolverine were less concerned about such cosmic logic, the rest of the franchise will prioritize it. With Robert Downey Jr. returning to the MCU as Victor Von Doom, the demise of Tony Stark has never been more crucial in shaping the future of the entire multiverse.

Mikey Walsh, a content creator at TopMob, is enjoying his summer break after wrapping up assignments for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can connect with him on Twitter and Bluesky under the handle @burgermike. Additionally, he’s often recognized in discussions ranking the Targaryen kings.

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2024-07-31 22:32