Red Skull Mysteriously Vanished In Captain America: The First Avenger
Red Skull's apparent demise in Captain America: The First Avenger occurred when he grabbed the Tesseract, leading to a dazzling display of cosmic energy that seemingly disintegrated him. Red Skull's fate remained shrouded in mystery, until his unexpected return in Avengers: Infinity War. It was revealed that the Tesseract transported Red Skull to the planet Vormir, where he was cursed to become the guardian of the Soul Stone. Red Skull's reappearance served as a surprising and satisfying connection between the earlier and later chapters of the MCU, demonstrating the franchise's intricate and interconnected narratives. Red Skull's return was one of the most unexpected in the complex history of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Red Skull holding the Tesseract at the end of Captain America The First Avenger
Red Skull's return in Avengers: Infinity War brought a new layer of mystery and depth to the character, surprising fans with his unexpected presence and significant role in the storyline.
Tom Holland's Spider-Man turning to dust in Avengers Infinity War
Half Of The Avengers Turned To Dust In Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War depicted the MCU's most seismic event, as Thanos proved victorious and enacted his devastating plan to wipe out half of all life with a snap of his fingers. This catastrophic event resulted in the deaths of several key Avengers, including Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Doctor Strange. The unexpected climax of Infinity War delivered a devastating blow to audiences as several beloved heroes turned to dust, leaving a somber and uncertain atmosphere. For those unfamiliar with the source material, the Snap was completely unexpected and tragic.
Captain America and Black Widow look down at Vision's body in Avengers: Infinity War.
Of course, the surviving Avengers managed to resurrect their fallen comrades in Avengers: Endgame, concluding the MCU's first phase.
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes dying after Thanos' snap in Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Nick Fury Faked His Death In Captain America: The Winter Soldier
In Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the MCU stunned audiences when it was revealed that Nick Fury had faked his death. The movie previously depicted Fury being assassinated in a deadly attack orchestrated by the mysterious Winter Soldier. This clever ruse unfolded as part of Fury's strategy to expose a deep-rooted conspiracy within SHIELD and allow him to operate off the grid. The revelation not only showcased Fury's resourcefulness but also heightened the suspense and intrigue surrounding the unfolding narrative. His survival provided a pivotal turning point, influencing the subsequent events in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Elizabeth Olsen's Wanda dying after Thanos' snap in Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
Nick Fury's faked death and subsequent return added an element of cunning and strategic planning to the character, surprising audiences with his survival and tactical maneuvering.
Black Panther turning to dust as Okoye reached out for him in Avengers: Infinity War
Bucky Barnes Fell To His Death In Captain America: The First Avenger
In Captain America: The First Avenger, Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers' loyal friend and comrade, met his apparent demise during a perilous mission - falling from a moving train. The impact of Captain America's loss echoed throughout the narrative, leaving an emotional void. However, the MCU delivered a riveting twist in Captain America: The Winter Soldier as Bucky resurfaced. Barnes was brainwashed and transformed into the formidable Winter Soldier, an agent of HYDRA. The revelation of Bucky's survival shocked viewers and became a linchpin in the unfolding storyline. The character's return brought a complex layer to the narrative, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the cost of war.
Black Widow and Captain America standing over Nick Fury's fake dead body in Captain America_ The Winter solder
Bucky Barnes' return as the Winter Soldier introduced a compelling and conflicted character, surprising audiences with his transformation and the depth of his storyline.
Bucky Barnes using Steve Rogers' shield in Captain America The Winter Soldier
Phil Coulson Was Fatally Stabbed By Loki in The Avengers
In The Avengers, the death of Phil Coulson, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s dedicated agent, served as a poignant moment, rallying the team against Loki. However, Coulson's journey did not conclude there. The character experienced an unexpected resurrection in the television series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The show revealed that through advanced medical procedures orchestrated by SHIELD and Nick Fury, exploring the repercussions of his revival. This twist delighted audiences and deepened the character's narrative, illustrating the clandestine efforts of both Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.
Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier in Captain America The Winter Soldier
Coulson's return in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. added a new dimension to his character, surprising fans with his continued presence and the exploration of his revival.
Bucky Barnes being tortured in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Janet Van Dyne Was Thought To Be Lost Forever In Ant-Man
Tragic flashbacks revealed Janet Van Dyne's fate in Ant-Man. As the original Wasp and wife to Hank Pym, Janet disappeared while on a mission in 1987, sacrificing herself to bring down a Soviet nuclear missile. Janet shrunk down to a subatomic level and was thought to be trapped in the Quantum Realm. After Scott Lang safely returned from a similar predicament during the movie's climax, Hank Pym restarted his efforts to rescue his wife. Janet Van Dyne is finally recovered from the Quantum Realm and was confirmed to be alive in Ant-Man and the Wasp, with drastic ramifications - instigating the MCU's future narrative regarding Kang and the Quantum Realm.
Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes Looking At Each Other In Captain America The First Avenger
Janet Van Dyne's return from the Quantum Realm brought a new dynamic to the MCU, surprising audiences with her survival and the impact of her reemergence on the storyline.
Bucky Barnes falling off train in Captain America
Groot Sacrificed Himself In Guardians Of The Galaxy
In Guardians of the Galaxy's emotional final scene, Groot sacrifices himself to shield his friends from harm. Growing his tree-like limbs into a ball around the eponymous heroes, Groot appeared to perish in a tragic twist. The movie stunned audiences, however, with a heartwarming surprise when a small sprout emerged, revealing the next generation of Groot - often referred to as Baby Groot. Baby Groot became an iconic member of the Guardians, and age would age throughout each of his subsequent appearances in the MCU, maintaining his legacy as an immensely valuable hero following his initial noble deed.
Nick Fury speaking to a dying Phil Coulson in The Avengers
Baby Groot's emergence as the next generation of Groot added a heartwarming and unexpected twist to the character's storyline, surprising fans with the continuation of Groot's legacy.
Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet van Dyne in an Ant-Man 2 poster.
Yellowjacket Was Seemingly Killed In Ant-Man
Darren Cross was the primary antagonist in Ant-Man. He was Hank Pym's former protégé, who designed his own shrinking suit, dubbed Yellow Jacket. However, Cross's Yellowjacket costume malfunctioned during the climactic battle with Ant-Man and violently shrunk. Cross was seemingly killed in the process, receiving brutal injuries and disappearing into the Quantum Realm. Darren Cross survived, however, and would resurface as a controversial version of MODOK in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Kang the Conqueror found and transformed Cross into the Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing, giving him his distinct armor to accommodate his contorted body.
Groot death dies sacrifice Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel
Darren Cross's return as MODOK in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania added a surprising and twisted transformation to the character, surprising audiences with his unexpected resurrection and altered appearance.
MODOK lays wounded in Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania
Kingpin Was Supposedly Killed In Hawkeye
Vincent D'Onofrio's Kingpin from Netflix's Daredevil proved so compelling and popular that the actor reprized his role in a surprising twist in the MCU's Hawkeye miniseries. Kingpin, real name Wilson Fisk, emerged as the criminal mastermind behind several key events, which culminated in him being shot by Echo at point-blank range. The implication was that Kingpin died in Hawkeye, but the actual shooting occurred off-screen - much like Echo's confrontation with the villain in Marvel Comics. Incredibly, Fisk survived and returned in the Disney+ miniseries Echo to terrorize the MCU and the eponymous antihero. Fisk was depicted recovering from his injuries in Echo season 1, episode 1 'Chafa,' where he sports a bandaged eye and continues as the series' primary antagonist.
MODOK in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Wilson Fisk's survival and return in the Disney+ miniseries Echo added a new level of threat and intrigue to the MCU, surprising fans with his unexpected recovery and continued antagonism.
Corey Stoll as MODOK smiling in front of flames in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
