41 Greatest Moments In The Marvel Cinematic Universe

12. Iron Man 3 – Iron Man plays “Barrel of Monkeys” to pull off a mid-air rescue

Being an inventor and one of the most intelligent characters in the Marvel universe, Tony Stark can improvise at a moment’s notice. Such is the case when Air Force One is attacked and its passengers — government officials — free fall towards the ground.

Tony asks J.A.R.V.I.S. to perform a quick evaluation of the situation, and his trusty AI tells him that there are 13 people in need of help — but he can only carry four. Can we make this more difficult?

Never allowing any obstacle to get in his way, Tony expands his carrying capacity by linking each passenger up with the next by electrifying their bodies, causing their muscles to contract so that they won’t accidentally let go. Reaching for the last person, Tony successfully saves him right before hitting the water at a fatal speed.

Safely dropping the rescued passengers into the water, Tony credits them for a “good team effort.” Flying off, a train hits him, separating his armor into a dozen pieces. However, we find out that his Iron Man armor has been empty all this time — it was being remotely controlled by Tony himself. Another testament to his genius.

(Write-up by Steve Lam, Bam Smack Pow staff writer)

Next: No. 11: Restoring the thunder