5 Times MCU Mirrored Real-Life Historical Events with a Superhero Twist
Marvel movies aren't always completely made up.
While many of the events depicted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe are purely fictional, there are instances where real-life historical events have served as inspiration for the movies.
Let's take a look at some of these fascinating connections.
Babylon
One of the most significant instances of historical events in the MCU can be seen in Eternals. Spanning over 7000 years, this movie showcases the ancient heroes known as the Eternals and their impact on human civilization.
One of the focal points is the city of Babylon, which existed from around 1770 to 1670 BC and again from 612 to 320 BC. In history, Babylon was renowned as the largest city of its time, with a population surpassing 200,000.
The Eternals' involvement in the development of Babylon and other ancient cities parallels their role in helping civilizations progress.
World War II
Another notable historical event mirrored in the MCU is World War II. In Captain America: The First Avenger, we witness the origin story of Captain America, who was created to defeat the Nazis.
While the concept of Super Soldiers is fictional, the inspiration behind the events of the film is rooted in reality.
War in Afghanistan
Moving to a more recent historical event, we encounter the War in Afghanistan. Iron Man, the movie that launched the MCU, presents Tony Stark's origin story with a modern twist.
In the comics, Tony is captured during the Vietnam War, but the film updates the setting to Afghanistan. This change reflects the shift in global concerns, from the fear of communism in the 1960s to the fear of terrorism in the 2000s.
Atomic bombing of Hiroshima
The devastating atomic bombing of Hiroshima is another real-life event touched upon in the MCU. In the Eternals movie, Phastos, an Eternal with the power of invention, is seen standing amidst the ruins of Hiroshima after the atomic bomb's destruction.
This heartbreaking scene showcases Phastos' remorse as he believes his technological innovations contributed to the creation of the atomic bomb.
Destruction of Pompeii
Lastly, the destruction of Pompeii finds its way into the MCU through the Loki TV series. Loki, the mischievous god, theorizes that a rogue variant of himself is hiding in apocalyptic events to avoid detection.
To test this theory, Loki and his companion Mobius visit Pompeii just before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.