10 MCU Plot Holes That Aren't Actually Plot Holes
5. Fury Says There Are Other Heroes In The World, But There Aren't - Iron Man
In Iron Man's post-credits scene, Nick Fury mysteriously appears in Tony Stark's home. Before Tony can get a word in, Fury (rhetorically) asks him "you think you're the only superhero in the world?" and says he's here to discuss the Avenger Initiative.
The implication here is that Fury knows about other superheroes and enhanced individuals - but how could he, given that Iron Man was the first movie in the MCU and there were no references to other super-powered beings during its runtime? How is there already an Avenger Initiative?
This is easily explained. While Thor, Doctor Strange, Scarlet Witch and a whole host of other heroes didn't show up until later, there were a bunch of heroes that Fury (and S.H.I.E.L.D.) would have had on their radar at the time this post-credits scene took place.
Hawkeye and Black Widow were already working with Fury at the time, so there's two possible candidates for the Avengers. Additionally, Fury and his organisation had been monitoring Bruce Banner way before the events of his solo movie, so they'll be aware of his powers, and what he can do.
And then - even though he isn't dug out of the ice until later - S.H.I.E.L.D. will be aware that Captain America and the super-soldier serum both existed. Remember, the serum was responsible for the creation of the Hulk, so Fury knows that it's possible to make heroes as well as find them.
There's also the tiny detail that Hank Pym's Ant-Man was operating decades earlier, a fact that Fury would be aware of, since Pym was recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D. Iron Man was far from the first superhero on the scene, which explains Fury's comments.