The timeline in the MCU can be quite confusing. And no, we’re not going MatPat theory deep into it. The Avengers: Age of Ultron took place at the end of what the MCU calls Phase 2. Followed by Ant-Man which was the final film in Phase 2. Phase 3 films in chronological order leading up to Avengers: Infinity War includes, Captain America: Civil War, Dr. Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Thor: Ragnarok, and Black Panther.
In these seven movies, a lot has happened to our beloved MCU characters, while a host of new individuals have also been introduced. But instead of diving deep for random Easter Eggs, we decided to pull the ones which will have the greatest impact on the coming Infinity War against Thanos and his Black Order.
But before we dive down the rabbit hole, let’s honor the running jokes and Easter Eggs which won’t likely have an effect on Avengers: Infinity War. There’s the issue of Tony Stark hating things being passed to him, along with comic book titles constantly being referenced in the MCU. There’s also Stan Lee showing up in every MCU film, and a very small populace hoping for the return of Taserface and Howard the Duck. And lastly, there’s the running gag of throwing the number 12 into the script. It has appeared in the first Avengers,Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man 3, and Avengers: Age of Ultron. It should also be noted that twelve is the highest one syllable number.
And on that note, here are things you missed during the end of Phase 2, and currently in Phase 3, which could have a huge impact on Avengers: Infinity War.
22 Bridging Science And Cosmic
A major plot point which occurred in the Ant-Man film, was the prospect of “going between the molecules,” or entering a subatomic state. While deemed extremely dangerous in the movie by Hank Pym, the potential of mastering this state could have huge implications in Avengers: Infinity War.
Trailers of Ant-Man and the Wasp have already shown time spent in the Quantum Realm, in an attempt to rescue Janet van Dyne, the original Wasp. Entering this realm requires one to go sub-atomic (smaller than the size of atoms). While this may seem like just another plot point for a future Ant-Man film, being able to master the Quantum Realm might be the “steak in the heart” regarding Thanos’ defeat.
It should also be noted that the Ancient One sent Dr. Strange through several dimensions and realities upon their first meeting, and one of those just happens to be the Quantum Realm.
21 Nebula’s Backstory And Future
Burdened by being made an orphan at a young age, Nebula was taken “adopted” by Thanos, along with other orphans around the galaxy. This includes her adopted sibling Gamora. In Guardians of the Galaxy II, Nebula confessed her hatred for Thanos and the miscellaneous “upgrades” which he gave her after every defeat by Gamora.
Actress Karen Gillan stated in an interview on Fandango, “I know who her new BFF is, and I can’t tell you. I can’t. I promise you it’s brilliant and unexpected and just so good,” regarding a new partner Nebula will have during the Infinity War.
In her quest to eliminate Thanos, having an existing, or a new character, on Nebula’s side should liven the party up even more. But where will this put Gamora, and what impact will all this have on the new Black Order?
20 The Iron Spider Suit Reveal
It hasn’t been that long since Spider-Man: Homecoming, yet there’s an important plot drop in the last beats of the film, which casual fans might have overlooked. Tony Stark offers a new and improved Spidey suit to Peter Parker, along with an invitation to join the Avengers. But this isn’t any normal suit, it’s the Iron Spider Armor.
Long claimed to be one of the most powerful Spidey suits Spider-Man has ever worn.
Promotional posters for Avengers: Infinity War suggest that the Iron Spider suit may be made with nanotechnology, just like Iron Man’s new suit and Black Panther’s. Given that T’Challa opened up Wakanda to the rest of the world, Tony Stark likely jumped on the new tech like a kid in a candy store. Technically, it is called Bleeding Edge armor.
This will also likely mean retractable stingers, and perhaps even Waldoes (mechanical arms) for Spider-Man.
19 The Living Tribunal
A very important Easter Egg was dropped in Dr. Strange, in which Karl Mordo is found teaching Stephen about mystic artifacts and how they can be of use. When referring to his own weapon, Mordo mentions that it is The Staff of the Living Tribunal.
Marvel comic book fans will instantly recognize this name, as The Living Tribunal is a cosmic entity who plays a major role in the Infinity War series. In the comics, The Living Tribunal is the judge of all reality in the multiverse, one who Dr. Strange has argued with before on the behalf of Earth. But even more importantly, The Living Tribunal is a cosmic force who can stop Thanos and dispose of The Infinity Gauntlet.
How this will play out in Avengers: Infinity War remains a mystery, but fans are sitting on the edge of their seats waiting to find out.
18 Superhero Solo Actions
Buried within all the Marvel films is a neat little tidbit which might have implications within Avengers: Infinity War. Ant-Man, Spider-Man, and Hulk are the only protagonists to defeat the main antagonist in their solo debut films without any help from any ally or object (Captain America). Ant-Man takes it a step further by being the only one to purposely eliminate his enemy off the face of the galaxy for good.
Will an elimination of these villains help the good guys or cause more trouble in the long-run?
Being that emotions can run high during an event such as the Infinity War, it’s possible a superhero may do something unexpected (morally and opposed to other superheroes views). Not that we’re wanting another Captain America: Civil War, but the foreshadowing has been put in place.
17 The Women of Wakanda
Unlike other female characters who have been featured in the MCU, the women shown in Black Panther are not to be overlooked regarding the coming war in Avengers: Infinity War. They are unique in that they serve the greater good as opposed to the arc of the lead male character. Each could easily have their own stand-alone movie, becoming legends.
Shuri is the technical brains, but also a warrior much like Spider-Man. Nakia, despite the love interest between her and T’Challa, is a revolutionary trying to turn the world into a better place. And Okoye, leader of the Dora Milaje, is a true fighter and commander.
The influence these women of Wakanda will have on the other female Avengers, and male characters could prove to be a major turning point in the war to come.
16 Sticky Finger Loki
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s a well-known fact that Loki isn’t the most reliable character within the MCU. In helping save the people of Asgard during the third act of Thor: Ragnarok, Loki sees the Tesseract Box and grabs it. We know this because the trailers for Avengers: Infinity War show him offering up the box, most likely to Thanos, either to buy time or as a bargaining chip to save his own skin.
His sticky finger action could prove to be beneficial if it buys time for Valkyrie to help the Asgardians escape another possible elimination. Or it could lead to a series of disastrous events, all due to Loki trying to protect himself, rather than others. With Loki, one never knows, and it should prove to be interesting to see how this all plays out.
15 Powerful Artifacts Revealed
Throughout the course of Dr. Strange, various powerful artifacts from the comic books were introduced into the MCU. The most obvious of these being the Eye of Agamotto, as it contains the Infinity Time Stone. But beyond the obvious are a host of other artifacts which could be game changers in the coming war with Thanos.
There’s the Orb of Agamotto which comes to life during times of need. Dr. Strange can use it to view alternate dimensions and planets in real time. Then there’s the Ebony Blade, a violent piece of craftsmanship created by Merlin in the comics. It can cut through nearly any substance (including Iron Man’s armor), break ethereal barriers, deflect energy blasts, and absorb those same energies.
But let’s not forget Wong’s choice weapon, The Wand of Watoomb. It has the power to block mystical attacks, heal its wielder, unleash a damaging blast, or even create a defensive barrier.
14 Soul Stone Theories
Fans expected the Soul Stone to show up either in Thor: Ragnarok or in Black Panther, but neither film showed it. Thanks to internet fandom, though, there are more than a few theories floating about as to where it may be. One the most popular theories stems from the movie Black Panther.
The film opens with an introduction into the meteor which crashed into Wakanda, providing Vibranium and the Heart Shaped Herb. Many believe the Soul Stone is what causes the Heart Shaped Herb to grow.
Given that Captain America is in Wakanda, allies with Black Panther, and can withstand a direct hit from the Infinity Gauntlet (shown in trailers), it can likely be assumed that Cap took a Heart Shaped Herb prior to the battle. And why Thanos shows up in Wakanda.
13 New Breed Of Sovereign
As spoofy as Guardians of the Galaxy can be, these heroes and their villains still play a huge role in the current MCU. In one of the post-credits scenes featured in Guardians of the Galaxy II, Ayesha (leader of the Sovereign) is working on a new project.
In a pod, unlike the others in which Sovereign are born, Ayesha reveals a man of her own design, soon to be tasked with the destruction of the Guardians of the Galaxy. She names him Adam, which is a serious Easter Egg drop into the MCU.
Adam (most likely Adam Warlock) doesn’t become the one to eliminate the Guardians of the Galaxy in the comics. Instead, he plays a major (and positive) role in the Infinity War set to come. Feige and Gunn have adamantly stated Adam Warlock will not be in Avengers: Infinity War yet said nothing about part two of the movie (to which the cast calls Gauntlet and will take place in Phase 4).
12 Love Interest Drama
The MCU is like a soap-opera for geeks. Mixed in with all the backstories and superhero powers are the old stand-bys of who’s dating who, and who broke up. Following Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor, and Jane Foster are broken up. Tony Stark and Pepper go through rough times but seem to be happy again in Spider-Man Homecoming.
Natasha hasn’t seen or heard from Banner in several years. She may have remained loyal to him, but whether the Hulk did while ruling the Contest of Champions is questionable. And let’s not forget about Betty Ross, the Hulk’s original love interest.
Cap has also been MIA (since he’s a war criminal), and it hasn’t been revealed if he and Sharon Carter have been in contact with one another. Plus, there’s the recent addition of T’Challa and Nakia (maybe Peter Parker and Shuri too, or so we hope).
11 The White Wolf
There are a couple key things to note about Bucky Barnes. In Captain America: Civil War, his powers were greater while under the influence of the HYDRA brainwashing as opposed to when he was fighting as Bucky. With Shuri healing Barnes of the old HYDRA influence, it will be exciting to see what strength he fights at during Avengers: Infinity War (especially with his new arm).
In the post-credits scene of Black Panther, Bucky is referred to as the White Wolf by the Wakandan children.
While his character will likely be nothing like the White Wolf featured in the comics, it’s plausible that Bucky will remain in Wakanda after the war with Thanos is over. Adding him to an already powerful and versatile team of warriors who serve T’Challa.
10 Behind-The-Scenes Nerds
Ned (Peter Parkers best friend) made a unique comment in Spider-Man Homecoming. He claimed he wanted to be “the guy in the chair.” This concept was fleshed out further in Black Panther, with Shuri being “the women in the chair,” and a warrior on the battlefield.
Could this be a foreshadowing of Ned’s future?
What most don’t know about Ned, is that he’s a conglomeration of several different comic Spider-Man characters turned into a new MCU sidekick. Plus, he’s got a decent fan base following wearing “the guy in the chair,” T-shirts in real life.
Ned isn’t listed on the IMDB cast and crew page for Avengers: Infinity War, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make an appearance. We would love to see him, and Ross get paired up, becoming the official nerds in the chair for Infinity War.
9 Not An Avenger
Stephen Vincent Strange M.D., Ph.D. isn’t the most sociable individual in the world. One could say that his only current friend is Wong. Dr. Strange tends to work alone for these reasons, which will play out in an interesting way in Avengers: Infinity War.
We know he has no interest in getting involved with Avengers subplots, as he was awfully quick to get Thor and Loki out of New York in Thor: Ragnarok. At the end of Dr. Strange, Stephen was just beginning to learn about his powers. In Thor: Ragnarok, he’s grown much stronger, but he’s certainly no Sorcerer Supreme.
“He’s not all-powerful,” states Kevin Feige prior to the release of Dr. Strange.
“There’s a learning curve for him, which is always fun for all of the heroes — and they face a pretty tough dude in the next Avengers movie.”
8 Running Callbacks
The best and most noticeable callback in MCU movies is what’s known as the Empire Strikes Back arm loss. Every film in Phase 2 featured at least one character losing a limb, and in Phase 3 this has also occurred in Dr. Strange and Captain America: Civil War. Unless it’s Hawkeye, we’d rather see a loss of limbs rather than a character gone for good in Infinity War.
Another great callback was brought up in Thor: Ragnarok when Thor tries to activate the Quinjet. Tony Stark called Thor Point Break in the first Avengers movie. Which is a joke, calling out his appearance similarities to that of Patrick Swayze, from the 1991 movie Point Break.
There’s also the callback of Bucky always picking up Cap’s shield. Most assumed this meant Barnes would take over as Captain America one day, and this still could hold true.
7 Return Of War Machine
A neat little ditty that most missed in Dr. Strange, was a reference to Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes. He was on the list of potential candidates Stephen Strange was going over during his high-speed ride, which ultimately led towards his own devastating accident.
Since Dr. Strange is well on his way towards a new life following his accident, it would only be right if War Machine was fully recovered too. Which he is, thanks to a featured shot in the first Avengers: Infinity War trailer. Rohdey has always played an instrumental role next to Iron Man, and it should prove to be exciting to see him back in action.
We know that Stark was helping Rhodes at the end of Captain America: Civil War, but with the release of Wakanda tech to the world, it’ll be nice to see what advantages Vibranium technology gives Rhodey and his War Machine bird.
6 Burning Trees
No, we’re not referring to the tree in The Last Jedi or Yoda. Featured in Thor: Ragnarok is a tree called The Yggdrasil World Tree. It has been seen before as Thor drew it for Jane Foster and it was carved into a wall where Red Skull found the Tesseract.
The Yggdrasil World Tree was used by the Asgardians to describe the cosmic nimbus that connects the Nine Realms.
In the third act of Thor: Ragnarok, the tree is consumed by fire while Surtur wipes Asgard off the galactic map.
Since the tree represents the center of the universe where the nine realms were connected, it’s undoing is a clear foreshadowing of events to come. Mainly Thanos and the possible elimination of the entire universe.
5 Valkyrie And Dragonfang
Tessa Thompson did an amazing job portraying the new MCU Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok. Yet, her name continues to be missing from the current cast and crew on Avengers: Infinity War. During the post-credits scene in Ragnarok, a giant spaceship is seen overtaking the craft in which Thor, Valkyrie, Loki, and Heimdall.
Based on trailer information, it’s likely this ship has Thanos and his Black Order crew (which includes Corvus Glaive, Ebony Maw, Proxima Midnight, and Cull Obsidian). This also means audiences are in for a great opening action sequence in Avengers: Infinity War. But how will Valkyrie and her powerful Dragonfang sword fare against these evil doers?
In the comics, Dragonfang can absorb any force and is indestructible. But will this remain true, or be shown in Infinity War?
4 Vibranium Healing
Everett Ross was healed by a Vibranium ball (or at least stabilized by it) in Black Panther. The specifics aren’t all given, but the implications going forward are huge. While Shuri gave credit to the metal (Vibranium), it’s likely she played a part in Ross’ healing too. Or at the very least, technology built by her using Vibranium.
Considering the MCU superheroes have never gone up against a villain like Thanos before, there’s bound to be injuries occurring on the battlefield. Knowing Shuri has the technology through Vibranium (which has been released to the world now), will drastically change those who have been injured in the past and those who will be hurt in Infinity War.
3 Spidey-Signal
During the post-credit scene in Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker is shown playing around with a Spiderman signal. Thanks to the motion graphics team at Perception studio, we know that the signal was a foreshadowing of gear to come Peter Parker’s way. Namely, the Iron Spiderman Suit created by Stark.
But will he have it and will he use it during the events of Infinity War?
The Spidey-Signal, as stated by the good folks over at Perception studio was to “marry the classic and iconic Spidey-Signal with the bleeding edge technology of Tony Stark.” With the Iron Spidey Suit ready to go, it will be interesting to see how Parker tackles his new tech and what he’s been doing with that Spidey-Signal this whole time.
