10 Darkest Moments In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

In a way, Ho Yinsen is the most important character in the history of the MCU.

Without him, Tony might never have escaped that dinghy cave. Without him, Tony may not have been able to build that very first Iron Man suit. Without Tony and without Iron Man, the Avengers Initiative might never have come together in the same way.

In that sense, he's an incredibly underrated character, with his final words forever changing the trajectory of Tony's life and all-but creating the Iron Man that we know and love today.

As the two are approaching the cave's exit (which, in a brilliantly subtle visual cue, is the light at the end of the tunnel) Yinsen is struck down, and he knows this is the end.

He reveals that his family is dead, and that shortly, he will be with them too. His quiet whispers of "I want this" will wrench on your heartstrings, and the fact that he so bravely accepts his own imminent death is almost uncomfortable to watch.

Before that death, though, he leaves Tony with one final sentiment: "don't waste your life". Of course, as we know, Tony would take this and run with it, using the Iron Man suit as a force for good and changing the world completely.

Iron Man was effectively born out of darkness (and the literal darkness of the cave), but the most pivotal moment in the formation of our hero wasn't the creation of the suit, or his experience with the Ten Rings - it was four short words on the final breath of a dying man.