9. Howard Stark's Role In Captain America's Life - Iron Man 2
The legacy of Tony's father was apparent in the first Iron Man but it wasn't until its sequel that he became a character in his own right played - through old footage - by Mad Men's John Slattery. There were numerous clues to the man that would play a bigger role in Captain America: The First Avenger and - we assume - the upcoming Agent Carter series. The hints behind his role in Captain America: The First Avenger were cleverly sown here, from the Captain America comics clearly seen in his belongings to the shield itself. In a hilarious and very fan-boyish moment, Agent Coulson hands Tony a battered looking shield, which Tony then promptly uses to prop his particle accelerator to create the new element that will keep him alive. The scene was also the first visual reference to Captain America in this universe. Both these moments set up the idea that Howard Stark was involved in Steve Rogers WWII days, becoming not just an ally of this superhero but a founding member of SHIELD itself.