Marvel Guides

Chance Encounter

This movie opens with a flashback to a New Year's Eve party in Bern, Switzerland. During the party, Tony Stark runs into Ho Yinsen, the man who would go on to help him build the first Iron Man suit a decade later. In the first Iron Man film, Yinsen actually mentions meeting Stark during the party but he doesn't remember due to his drunken state.

Avengers Aftermath

Much of the film's plot revolves around Tony dealing with mental trauma after his experience fighting aliens during the Battle of New York, as depicted in The Avengers. There are several references to that film throughout, including a young fan’s drawing of Iron Man flying a bomb through the wormhole above Avengers Tower.

Roxx-Off

“The Mandarin” appears to kill an accountant from Roxxon, a morally dubious corporation that has made several appearances throughout the MCU.

Ring of Truth

The character first introduced as the Mandarin in this movie turns out to be nothing more than an actor hired by Aldrich Killian. In the comics, the Mandarin is a real, powerful threat who draws his power from ten magical rings. In the short film, All Hail the King, it is revealed that the real Mandarin does indeed exist in the MCU, serving as the leader of the Ten Rings, the terrorist organization that kidnapped Tony Stark in the original Iron Man.

• Aldrich Killian notes that everything changed after Thor's arrival on Earth, which marked the existence of extraterrestrial life becoming public knowledge on Earth.

• A tattoo of Captain America's shield can be seen on Trevor Slattery's neck.

• The post-credits scene reveals that Tony has been recounting the events of the entire film to Bruce Banner, his new friend and fellow Avenger.