starkravinghazelnuts:

What’s hilarious about the “Tony is the True Villian [sic] of the MCU” hot takes is that none of these people crafting these “think-pieces” have actually thought about what they’re saying.

Have they well and truly considered how fucked everyone would be if Tony really wanted to go full big bad? If Tony embraced the god-given powers of his goatee and went supervillain? 

If Tony Stark truly was a villain…

• He wouldn’t have stopped producing weapons. In fact, he’d probably use the arc reactor technology to make even more powerful weapons of mass destruction. These weapons he could then use to line his pockets, becoming even more insanely wealthy – or…? 
• He could’ve enacted the Iron Legion protocol and successfully taken over the world because the other heroes wouldn’t have been around (or were too inexperienced/weak to fight someone as formidable as Iron Man at the time). Like, imagine if Tony had started work on his project to put Iron Man suits “around the world.” We saw just a glimpse of that in Age of Ultron. It was hella scary. 
• And if none of that happened? If Tony just up and decided to turn coat outta the blue? Then he could’ve killed all his “allies” (the Avengers) at any time he wanted, because he knows all their weaknesses, where they live, etc. He makes their tech. If he wanted, he could exploit it and end their lives. Clint’s arrows? Suddenly go boom in his quiver. Nat’s widow bites? Suddenly overcharge, electrocuting her to death. You get the picture. 
• Tony wouldn’t have bothered stopping the Mandarin. Wouldn’t have bothered saving the President of the United States. 
• Could’ve easily killed Cap and the others in Civil War if he’d really wanted them “out of the way” to further his own agenda.
• Hell, he’d probably do such an efficient job cleaning house, Thanos might even be impressed. Adopting him as a “Child of Thanos.” Do you think evil Tony would care about half the population of Earth getting wiped? No. Not if he was guaranteed safe. 

My point? Supervillain Tony would have wiped. the. floor. Tony has the mental acumen, financial capital, and tech to cause massive damage. Even take over the damn world. 

It’s lucky for Earth that Tony has such a strong moral compass and decided to be a hero. Because if Tony were a villain? Earth would be beyond screwed.