From the moment he helped kick off the MCU to his heartbreaking death in Avengers: Endgame, Tony Stark aka Iron Man was the best Avenger according to many fans. However, while he was funny, charismatic, and heroic, he also proved to be one of the more grounded heroes despite the wild world he finds himself in.
Not too many fans can relate to being a billionaire playboy philanthropist who also fights crime in a super suit. But Tony Stark still deals with things and acts in ways that the average person will likely connect with.
Wanting To Indulge In Good Food
All the heroes in the MCU know what it is like to face dangerous and harrowing challenges. However, Tony seems to be the only one who has that very natural urge to treat himself to some comfort food when the ordeal is all over.
In the Battle of New York in The Avengers, Tony immediately suggests that they all go have some shawarma to celebrate.
Dealing With PTSD
Seeing the Avengers come together in their first cinematic team-up was so exciting, but it also highlighted that Tony was still just a human being fighting alongside gods and monsters. Iron Man 3 addressed this idea with Tony experiencing PTSD following the battle against the Chitahuri.
While fighting an army of aliens is not relatable, there are countless people who have gone through traumatic events and had a hard time shaking that feeling afterward. From panic attacks to trouble sleeping, it was the most vulnerable a superhero had been in the MCU.
Using Work As A Distraction
After building the Mark I in a cave in Iron Man, it was thrilling to see Tony continue to improve on his designs as time went on. But that endearing ambitious trait of Tony was flipped in an interesting way in Iron Man 3.
Instead of him making necessary improvements to his suits, Tony was seen as obsessing over his work as a way of distracting himself from his psychological issues. This is something everyday people do as well, burying themselves in their work to avoid confronting the issues that are harder to solve.
Embarrassing Himself At A Party
Tony Stark's alcoholism is something that wasn't brought over Iron Man 2 and especially during his drunken birthday celebration.
What starts as Tony being the funny and entertaining life of the party quickly takes a turn. His behavior gets more and more out of control and destructive. In the end, he ruins the night. And while most people don't destroy their mansion, making a fool of themselves at a party is a very human moment.
Dealing With A Hangover
Battling robots, super-soldiers, and aliens, Tony Stark has taken a share number of injuries in his time in the MCU. But surely the most relatable pain he was going through was the day after his chaotic birthday bash when he was nursing a hangover.
The image of Tony slumped over a café table, wearing sunglasses inside, and stuffing his face with donuts in an attempt to feel better was a very accurate look at that type of agony. And it will likely feel all too familiar to anyone who has overindulged.
Fighting Off Boredom In Space
The beginning of Avengers: Endgame finds Tony floating aimlessly in space along with Nebula following their defeat at the hands of Thanos. Yet even in this very unrelatable moment, Tony makes it very human by doing what most people would do in that situation – attempt to fight off boredom.
Seeing him teaching Nebula how to play the football paper game, trying to have a little fun, felt real, even if he was doing it with a cyborg.
Looking For The Easier Approach
Tony proves himself again and again that he is fully dedicated to the superhero life which leads to his sacrificial death to save the day. However, he also likes to look for ways to make his job a little easier.
In Iron Man 3, it is revealed that Tony can operate an Iron Man suit even if he is not in it. While he doesn't use this for big moments, in Spider-Man: Homecoming, despite Peter thinking that Tony flew out to Queens to save him, he is actually on the other side of the world at a party.
Complicated Romance
There are a number of romances in the MCU that have overcome some impossible challenges, including time in the case of Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter. But the romance between Tony Stark and Pepper Potts is the MCU's most relatable couple simply because it takes a lot to make it work.
It starts off as a close yet professional relationship before growing into romance. But Tony confirms that the two are taking a break in Avengers: Infinity War. Most romances face a similar kind of uncertainty rather than the epic romance of Steve and Peggy.
Being A Dad
Avengers: Endgame continues to grow the romance between Tony and Pepper with them welcoming a young daughter. Certainly, the most human and down-to-earth Tony has seemed during his entire MCU journey was seeing him being a father.
From enticing young Morgan to eat lunch to telling her bedtime stories to being in awe of the things she says, Tony feels right at home in that kind of role and it makes him seem like a completely different person.
Telling The World He's A Superhero
While secret identities were always a big thing in the comics, the MCU hasn't shown much interest in them. And that precedent was first set by Tony himself in Iron Man. After coming up with an elaborate lie, Tony stands before the press conference and announces that he is Iron Man.
It is a defining moment for the character and fits his personality perfectly. But it is also a very relatable moment. If most people found themselves in that type of position, being a world-famous superhero, it would be hard for them not to share that news with the entire world.
