IRON MAN 2 Easter Eggs and Theories

While watching Iron Man 2 I kept a look out for any kind of fun little easter eggs that might pop up. I heard of a couple cool little things, but noticed a some others that maybe you might have missed while watching the film. So here’s a few things that that you should keep an eye out for when watching the movie. I have also offered up some of my own theories and opinions, feel free to agree or disagree with them. Some of these contain SPOILERS if you haven’t seen the movie yet.

Captain America’s shield is back:

I don’t know if you remember in the first Iron Man film or not when we saw the Captain America’s shield sitting on Tony Stark’s work station in the background of one of the scenes. This was a huge deal for all of us comic book fans, and it was actually addressed in the sequel. It was absolutely hilarious how they did it, with Tony acting like the shield contained the secret to exactly what he needed to complete a project he was working on, then ended up just using the shield to help level out what he was working on by shoving the shield under it.

The Ten Ring’s Mandarine Terrorist Organization:

This is the terrorist group from the comic book and it was also in the first film. This group actually played a role in Iron Man II even though you probably never realized it. Jon Favreau said they were in the film... so where were they?

They were the people behind the scenes helping out Whiplash in the film. The guy who handed Whiplash the Monaco ticket was part of the Mandarine’s group. That’s where he confronted Tony at the race track for the first time. Obviously more will be revealed when we get to an Iron Man 3, but the Mandarine and his terrorist group are the driving villainous force behind how the Iron Man story is unfolding. 

Nick Fury is Pretty Freakin’ Old:

As you might know in the comic books Nick Fury fought right along side Captain America during World War II. He was part of a little experiment in which he was given something called the Infinity Formula and it slowed Fury’s aging process down. It was during the Cold War that help help build S.H.I.E.L.D.

So in Iron Man 2 we have Nick Fury talking to Tony Stark about how he new his father Howard Stark, and that he knew him much better than Tony did. It’s also revealed that Howard Stark was also a founding member of S.H.I.E.L.D. This makes me think that Fury’s character in the movies is ageless. How else would he have know Howard so well? We know that he will appear in Captain America: The First Avenger, but in what day and age will we see him in? WWII or modern day? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see. 

The Incredible Hulk takes place during Iron Man 2:

At the end of Iron Man 2 when Stark and Fury are at a S.H.I.E.L.D. safehouse talking about Tony’s future with S.H.I.E.L.D. there is a very short shot of a news report on a TV screen in the background. The news reporter is doing a live report from Culver University, which is exactly where the Hulk had his epic battle with General Ross and Blonsky. I believe this is the same report that we saw in The Incredible Hulk where some college kids had filmed parts of the battle. So right after Iron Man 2 ends is when Stark goes and meets up with General Ross in the Bar as a S.H.I.E.L.D. consultant. 

Wakanda, Africa: 

In the Marvel universe Wakanda is a fictional African nation which is lead by a king named T’Challa, who eventually becomes The Black Panther when he comes to America. Another reason that Wakanda is so important is In the distant past, a massive meteorite made up of the sound-absorbing mineral vibranium crashed in Wakanda, and is unearthed a generation before the events of the present-day. So it has the large deposit of Vibranium, the metal used to help create a unique alloy Captain America’s shield along with Adamantium. 

How does this apply to Iron Man 2? At the end of the film, once again at the S.H.I.E.L.D. safehouse where Stark is being debriefed there is a map in the background. The map is focused  on Africa and there was a red icon on the map that is pointing at the Wakanda.

Why is There a Map of Antarctica in the Howard Stark's Crate?

It could have something to do with Captain America. There was also a prototype version of the shield in the crate as well. If you remember Captain America was frozen in Ice during World War 2. But in the comics he was found near the North Pole. The movie version of the Marvel Universe could be changed around though. I believe the alternate opening of The Incredible Hulk when Captain America was seen in the ice was in Antarctica as well.

There are also two other possibilities as to why a map of Antarctica is here... Marvel’s lost world of dinosaurs The Savage Land is located in a crater in the South Pole. Did Howard Stark discover this land? Or maybe it’s just to point out that Vibranium was first discovered there.  

Mjolinir Lands in New Mexico:

If you stayed after the credits rolled in Iron Man 2 then you got your first look at Thor’s hammer Mjolinir. Throughout the film the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were talking about problems in New Mexico. At one point Agent Coulson who is keeping an eye on Tony Stark get pulled away to deal with something in New Mexico. Turns out they found Thor’s hammer. This means that the Thor story time line will take place about the same time as Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk. 

Olivia Munn's role is no big Deal:

I just want to point out that Olivia Munn’s character as a reporter wasn’t a big deal at all. I remember all this talk of her being The Wasp? I guess that turned out being completely false. 

Nod to Favreau's Swingers:

There's a fun little scene in the film where Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer does a little trademark dance to the tune of Favreau's nod to Swingers, Pick Up The Pieces.

If I missed anything please let me know because I would love to look out for them next time I see the movie!

So what do you all think?