MCU: 20 Things You Somehow Missed In The Avengers

20. Life Model Decoys

There are so many nods and references to other corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe within each and every project that it can become impossible to keep track of them all. This is particularly true when such a moment relates back to one of the most forgotten pieces of the MCU puzzle.

Marvel Studios is currently all in on its Disney+ series, but what about the TV shows that came before it? Namely Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which debuted a year after The Avengers and had more ties to it than just the appearance of Phil Coulson.

When Phil was trying to get through to Tony at Stark Tower, Iron Man answered his phone and pretended to be a Life Model Decoy. This may have been a throwaway line, a bit of classic Stark wit, but it actually connects back to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in a huge way, despite coming first. Life Model Decoys became a huge part of the series, and were one of the biggest threats Coulson and co. faced.

The AI was developed by S.H.I.E.L.D., and Stark clearly knew about it well enough to reference it to Agent Coulson. It’s a shame he couldn’t have created Ultron as well as the likes of AIDA were created, though both ended up turning evil so, swings and roundabouts I suppose.