Three of Marvel’s greatest heroes, Captain America, Iron Man and Thor, share a much deeper bond than their status as founding Avengers. After careful analysis of their personalities and relationships, it is clear that the three heroes actually represent each other’s fathers.
Iron Man, Thor and Captain America are known as the “Big Three”, the foundation of the Avengers and as three of the most influential and symbolic heroes of the Marvel Universe. They have a close but complex relationship that dates back to their earliest days in Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, and it has only deepened over the years, for better or for worse. Captain America, Thor and Iron Man were best friends, battle brothers and bitter enemies who nearly killed each other. This unique dynamic is made even more fascinating, and often dangerous, by the fact that each embodies the traits of the father of the other.
Iron Man bears many similarities to Odin, Thor’s father. Both are self-centered alcoholics who tend to believe their way is the only way. They are also both creators: just as Tony constantly builds Iron Man armor, Odin has created some of Asgard’s most powerful weapons, such as the Destroyer. This comparison was made many times, for example in Fear Itself # 7.3, where Tony confronts Odin but is clearly seen in All-Father. Captain America, on the other hand, is related to Howard Stark. They are not only men of the same generation, but they also have specific and uncompromising principles, which Tony Stark often fails. Steve has high expectations for everyone and Howard’s weight of expectations crushes Tony even today, as demonstrated in Iron Man (2020) # 14, where Tony confuses Steve and his father in the vision of him induced by Power Cosmic. Finally, Thor is like Joseph Rogers, Captain America’s abusive father. Steve saw Joseph as an angry and unstoppable force in his early childhood – exactly the kind of force of nature that Thor can represent at his worst. Captain America can’t physically resist Thor, but he can handle him and even give him orders, a form of catharsis from his childhood.
Problems with the father
This type of reading makes many moments in the characters’ stories even more compelling. For example, in Avengers Vol. 3 # 63, an enraged Thor dented Cap’s shield when Steve tried to calm him down, then immediately regretted it. Likewise, Tony’s constant conflict with Cap, such as opposing him in Civil War or their final and deadly battle leading up to Secret Wars, makes a lot of sense when you consider Iron Man seeing his father in Steve Rogers, and there constantly tries (and fails) to prove himself with the cap. Similarly, Thor beating up and humiliating Iron Man for cloning him into Civil War and then making that clone do what he wants takes on a deeper meaning from the perspective of Thor resisting Odin, whom he has always tried to control. Thor’s life and dictate how it should go. .
While these three founding Avengers often see themselves as brothers and have saved the world together on numerous occasions, there is much more to be done behind their relationship. Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man share difficult relationships with their respective fathers, and the fact that they all represent each other’s father not only explains why the trio’s dynamic is sometimes so contradictory, it also makes their various fights so much more interesting. . .
