Shuri Avoids An Avengers Problem Iron Man Always Ignored

In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri avoids a technology mistake that Iron Man never addressed during his time with the Avengers. The Avengers' wide variety of superpowers makes the team greater than the sum of its parts. Still, Tony Stark's wealth and resources was crucial in their success. Vehicles, headquarters, and improved weapons (like Hawkeye's various trick arrows and Black Widow's gauntlets) have been a big advantage for the team since Earth's Mightiest Heroes first assembled.

However, with the exceptions of Spider-Man, War Machine, and Rescue, Tony Stark never provided any of his fellow Avengers with anything resembling an Iron Man suit of armor. While powerful and agile, Hawkeye, Black Widow, and even Captain America were always vulnerable on the battlefield. A piece of Iron Man tech in the form of body armor or a helmet could have added a layer of safety. Now, after Wakanda was left without its king, Shuri created the "Midnight Angels" — high-tech suits of armor that protect Okoye and the Dora Milaje and give them the ability to fly, but still allow them to use their hand-to-hand combat skills comfortably.

Iron Man Had Reasons To Leave The Avengers Without Armor

The lack of Iron Man armor for the original Avengers seems like another sign of Tony Stark's ego after giving himself exclusive access to the Iron Legion in Iron Man 3. However, it makes practical sense for Stark to focus on his own Iron Man technology. In The Avengers, the original six demonstrated their mastery of combat in a near-apocalyptic event. None of them were gravely injured by Loki or his Chitauri army, and their natural abilities shined on the battlefield. It would have been very impractical to burden someone like Black Widow or Hawkeye with the bulkier Iron Man technology of the time; Steve Rogers's old ways would always clash with futuristic tech, and any kind of Iron Man armor would only be an obstacle for Hulk's rampages. Besides, handling an Iron Man suit may have been extremely difficult for most MCU characters. Only a weapon-savvy hero like War Machine or someone familiar with Iron Man tech like Pepper Potts could understand how to fight inside an Iron Man suit.

Peter Parker's Iron-Spider, Rhodey Rhodes' increasingly advanced War Machine armors, and Hawkeye's Stark-Tech arrows prove that Tony Stark knew how and when his allies needed a tech improvement. He could have given Rocket Raccoon and Ant-Man some advanced Iron Man weapons in between Thanos' Snap and Avengers: Endgame, but considering how they didn't have any problem fighting Thanos' army, it seems they didn't really need it. Furthermore, Tony Stark only created Iron Man tech for those he trusted the most, as he didn't want his greatest invention to fall into the wrong hands.

Wakanda Has Overlooked Its Technological Advancements

Shuri as Black Panther and Wakanda in Avengers Infinity War

Tony Stark isn't the only one who could have shared more of his tech in the MCU. Before Shuri came up with the idea of the Midnight Angels, the only Wakandans who made the most out of Wakanda's vibranium were the Black Panthers. Thanos and his army dominated the battle in Avengers: Infinity War while the Wakandans only used enhanced spears and shields instead of ranged weapons and high-tech vehicles like tanks or airplanes. Shuri didn't provide the Wakandan army with Black Panther's energy-absorption weapons, nor did she give them any Black Panther or Iron Man-inspired tools to fend off invaders. Although Wakanda is the most advanced nation in the MCU, the nation hasn't showcased the full extent of its technological advancements yet. Perhaps Shuri's creation of the Midnight Angels in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the first step towards the army of Iron Man armors that Tony Stark used to toy with.

Next: After Wakanda Forever, All OG Avengers Have 1 Surprising Thing In Common