Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are still recovering from the shocking ending of Avengers: Infinity War, in which Thanos snapped the fingers of the Infinity Gauntlet and wiped out half of all life in the universe - superheroes included. The Marvel shared universe was already no stranger to tragic events, but Infinity War has now even seemingly happy moments from past movies seem sad in hindsight.

One of the reasons fans have grown to love the MCU is because their superhero characters remain quintessentially human. They learn, grow, change, make mistakes, and try harder. Sometimes, despite their best intentions and their greatest efforts, it just isn't enough, as they found out when they went up against the genocidal ambitions of Thanos. Therefore, a great many issues the heroes have with each other now remain unresolved or have ended in catastrophe. YouTuber Gaby George has assembled a supercut of scenes from past movies that are extra sad in hindsight, and we've added a few of our own.

Tony Stark and Peter Parker's Relationship

Robert Downey Jr and Tom Holland in Spider-Man Homecoming

Tony Stark is recognized as the Earth's foremost superhero though many, including some of his fellow heroes after the breakup of the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War, see him in a different light. While Tony certainly has his faults, one of the ways he has discovered a better part of himself is in his mentorship of Peter Parker. Tony recruited Peter to fight alongside Team Iron Man in Civil War, but he was quietly impressed with the young hero's earnest desire to do good. He was also flattered with Spider-Man's hero worship and desire to prove himself worthy of being an Avenger, but to Stark's credit and Parker's chagrin, he was careful not to rush the teenager and sought to shield him from the worst parts of being a superhero responsible for the safety of the world.

Tony was clearly fond of Peter though. Despite the web-slinger disobeying his instructions in Spider-Man: Homecoming, the billionaire was always impressed with Peter's character and desire to do the right thing. Stark, an irresponsible, self-involved, womanizing bachelor for most of his life, had never mentored a young person before, and it was evident he enjoyed playing the master to Spider-Man's apprentice. Tony just plain liked and admired the kid, even if he sometimes feigned otherwise.

Iron Man's desire to protect Spider-Man in Infinity War was tied to his great fear that somehow young Parker would die under his watch - a fear that came true after Thanos's finger snap. Spider-Man faded to dust while Tony watched is probably the most heartbreaking death scene in the film - and that's saying something.

Related: Doctor Strange Should Be Spider-Man 2's Big MCU Cameo

Tony's Vision in Age of Ultron

Avengers Age of Ultron Tonys vision

Infinity War can be seen as the culmination of Tony Stark's worst nightmare. In Avengers: Age of Ultron, Scarlet Witch showed Stark a vision of the Avengers dead as the Earth was overrun by alien conquerers. Tony carried this fear for six years, until Thanos made it manifest. The billionaire Avenger even discussed his dread with Nick Fury in a private moment at Hawkeye's farm, where Fury observed that Stark's guilt isn't just that people who rely on him will die on his watch, but also that he will survive. That is now the reality Tony Stark has to live with.

T'Challa Opens Wakanda To The World

T'Challa speaking to the U.N.

A great deal of the conflict in Black Panther centered around what Wakanda's place in the world would be. King T'Challa struggled with the idea of ending the African nation's isolationism and taking its place upon the world stage as a force for good. This conflict was exacerbated by the brief reign of Erik Killmonger and his plans to use Wakanda's Vibranium weapons to bring the world to heel. In the end, T'Challa stood in front of the United Nations and revealed Wakanda's true face to the world, opening his nation's borders and beginning outreach for education and technological support.

Unfortunately, T'Challa's generosity ended up bringing doom to Wakanda's borders. The Avengers bringing Vision and the Mind Stone to Wakanda opened his kingdom to attack by Thanos and the Black Order. Ultimately, the Avengers failed to stop Thanos from taking the Mind Stone and killing Vision. Once Thanos completed the Infinity Gauntlet, he killed half of all life in the universe, including King T'Challa. Of course, Thanos' victory would have killed T'Challa regardless, but at least Wakanda might have been spared the destruction the aliens visited upon their kingdom. As it is, Wakanda's good intentions went up in clouds of dust.

Related: How Time Travel Can Work In Avengers 4

Steve and Bucky's End of the Line

Steve returns with Bucky and the 107th in Captain America The First Avenger

"I'm with you 'til the end of the line" is the promise Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes have made to each other since the 1940s. Both have held true to that and to each other despite unimaginable circumstances. Indeed, much of Captain America's actions have been driven by him trying to do right by Bucky. Even when Barnes was the Winter Soldier, programmed to kill, Rogers never wavered from his correct belief that his best friend could be and deserved to be saved.

Now healed of his brainwashing thanks to Shuri, Bucky fought alongside the Avengers to protect Wakanda and the Mind Stone from the Children of Thanos. But the Steve and Bucky bromance ultimately collapsed in a cloud of dust when Thanos snapped his fingers, leaving a forlorn Steve to wonder "What happened?" Infinity War was, sadly, the end of the line.

Page 2: The Guardians and Thor's Saddest Moments

Guardians of the Galaxy - Prison escape

Star-Lord "Could Care Less" Whether Gamora Lives Or Dies

It's easy to forget that before they formed a team and makeshift family, the Guardians of the Galaxy didn't like or trust each other. Peter Quill met Gamora, Rocket, and Groot because they all wanted and fought over the Orb, which turned out to be the Power Stone. As they got to know each other while in prison - where they also met Drax - Star-Lord learned Gamora's backstory, that she was the adopted daughter of Thanos and was raised by him to be an assassin. Quill was also obviously attracted to Gamora, but he once claimed he "could care less" if she lived or died.

Gamora and Peter grew closer in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and their relationship progressed to the point where they declared their love for each other during Infinity War. When Star-Lord found out that Thanos killed Gamora to win the Soul Stone, he placed the entire universe in jeopardy by losing his cool and attacking Thanos when Iron Man, Spider-Man, Drax, Doctor Strange, and Mantis were about to take the Infinity Gauntlet off the Titan's arm. Whether or not fans blame Star-Lord for this mistake, he definitely showed how deeply he cares about Gamora.

Related: Avengers Fans Are Being Too Hard on Star-Lord

Gamora and Nebula Forgive Each Other

Gamora and Nebula, though not blood related, are the only sisters in the MCU. Their relationship was defined by years of competition, forced upon them by Thanos. Nebula hated Gamora for always besting her, which led to her being tortured by having her body parts replaced with mechanical limbs. Nebula and Gamora finally reached an accord with each other in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, after which Nebula set off to kill their "father."

In Infinity War, Gamora gave up the location of the Soul Stone so that Thanos would stop torturing Nebula. Later, it was Nebula who quickly realized that the Mad Titan sacrificed Gamora for the missing Infinity Stone. Maybe together, the sisters could have defeated their evil adoptive father, but they never got the chance, which makes their years of mutual loathing and reconciliation extra sad.

Rocket Loses Groot Again

Rocket holding twig after Groot's death

Rocket and Groot's relationship went way back to before Guardians of the Galaxy, but at the end of that film, Groot sacrificed his life to save his new friends. Though Rocket (and the fans) mourned the heroic alien tree, it was made better by the birth of Baby Groot, whom Rocket and the Guardians raised as they continued their intergalactic adventures. Sadly, Infinity War ended with Rocket losing his best friend yet again - this time watching helplessly as the teenage Groot faded away into dust. And the poor space-raccoon doesn't know it yet, but he's lost of the rest of his family of Guardians as well.

Related: Was Loki Posing As Bruce Banner In Infinity War?

Thor, King of Asgard

Thor's story in recent years has been pretty tragic, especially in regards to his recent ascension as King of Asgard. Odin died, his sister Hela conquered his world, and Thor was forced to let Surtur carry out Ragnarok in order to defeat Hela and save his people. Or so Thor thought. Thanos immediately attacked and killed half the Asgardians, including Heimdall and Loki himself. The God of Thunder had spent most of his 1,500 years of life enduring the God of Mischief's pranks and attacks, and then forgiving him; when Thor believed Loki died in Thor: The Dark World, he told his brother that he mourned him. After they reached a unity against Hela, Thor lost Loki all over again in Infinity War.

In Thor: Ragnarok, Odin told Thor that Asgard isn't a place, it's really the people - but the new king has lost the remainder of his people. Thor did come out of Infinity War as the strongest Avenger with a new magical axe, Stormbreaker, but he is a king without a kingdom and he failed to kill Thanos when he had the chance. For all of Thor's newfound wit and easygoing manner, he's haunted by a cloud of epic failure, loss, and death. Hopefully, Avengers 4 can bring Thor the redemption he needs.

Next: Will There Be A New Avengers Team At The End of Avengers 4?

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