"How ironic, Tony! Trying to rid the world of weapons, you gave it its best one ever! And now, I'm going to kill you with it!"
The movie: Iron Man (2008)
Who says it: Obadiah Stane
The setup: Inside the gigantic Iron Monger suit, Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) is about to crush Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). But obviously that can't happen until he reels off a pithy quip.
Why so Marvel-lous? Bridges' delivery just kills it in a Dr. Evil type of way.
"I don't know what you've got inside you already. The mix could be... an abomination."
The movie: The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Who says it? Samuel Sterns
The setup: Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) is about to be plugged full of a super serum by Dr. Samuel Sterns (Tim Nelson Blake) that's in all probability going to kill him. If he somehow manages to survive, he may become transformed in some way...
Why its Marvel-lous: Even though it's not explicitly stated in the movie, Abomination is the name of Blonsky's alterego... Yeah, you see what they did there.
"If you could make God bleed, people would cease to believe in Him, there will be blood in the water, the sharks will come. All I have to do is sit back and watch as the world consumes you."
The movie: Iron Man 2 (2010)
Who says it? Ivan Vanko
The setup: The crazed Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke) is succeeding on his mission to undermine Tony Stark with a rival arc reactor design. But not with his verbal acuity.
Why its Marvel-lous: For all of Vanko's grandstanding, the extensive metaphoric web he spins gets torn down immediately afterwards by Stark's quick-fire response: "Where will you be watching the world consume me from? Oh, that's right, a prison cell. I'll send you a bar of soap."
"If it were any smarter, it'd write a book - a book that would make Ulysses look like it was written in crayon."
The movie: Iron Man 2 (2010)
Who says it? Justin Hammer
The setup: Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle) and Major Allen (Tim Guinee) are being treated to a personal weapons demonstration by Tony Stark's main rival Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), who points out the brilliance of his latest effort that he dubs 'The Ex-Wife'.
Why its Marvel-lous: Rockwell's frothy, over-the-top enthusiasm.
"I do anything and everything Mr. Stark requires. Including occasionally taking out the trash."
The movie: Iron Man (2008)
Who says it? Pepper Potts
The setup: Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) makes arrangements for Tony's latest conquest Christine Everheart (Leslie Bibb) to return home, to which Everheart snips "After all these years, Tony still has you picking up the dry cleaning."
Why its Marvel-lous: Pepper's a badass who never quite loses that sheen of professionalism whilst still being able to dish out the insults.
"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to exit the donut."
The movie: Iron Man 2 (2010)
Who says it? Nick Fury
The setup: After his failed birthday party, a drunken Stark flies off and sits on top of a coffee shop roof, where he's found by S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson).
Why its Marvel-lous: Fury sounds like an exhausted father chastising his naughty son.
"I can do this all day."
The movie: Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Who says it? Captain America
The setup: After years of standing side-by-side battling the bad guys, the unspeakable happens: Tony Stark and Steve Rogers come to blows. Following the Avengers' split over the Sokovia Accords, the inevitable final smackdown between Captain America and Iron Man is one hell of a bloody brawl, as Tony pops Steve right in the face. Cap's reply?....
Why it's Marvel-lous: Receiving a punch to the face from a supposed friend would unlikely make any sane person respond in such a calm manner. But this is Steve Rogers. He's a strong, compassionate guy with a heart of steel who'll keep going until he's got no more to give. This line really sings because Steve used it before: in the alleyway fight scene in The First Avenger, after receiving a pummelling from a bully. He might be a super soldier now, but he's the same kid from Brooklyn underneath.
"Finger on throat means death! Metaphor!"
The movie: Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Who says it? Drax
The setup: The final battle aboard Ronan's ship is raging. Drax (Dave Bautista) manages to wipe out Korath (Djimou Hounsou) and, feeling rather proud of himself, sums it up to Peter Quill (Chris Pratt).
Why its Marvel-lous: Harking back to an earlier moment, Drax still doesnt quite understand metaphors, but you have to dig his valiant effort.
"Just a typical homecoming, on the outside of an invisible jet, fighting my girlfriend's dad."
The movie: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Who says it? Spider-Man
The setup: Oh you know, just another normal day in the life of high schooler Peter Parker. He's finally figured out Vulture's real identity - his girlfriend's father Adrian Toomes - and embarked on a battle to stop him from stealing a plane loaded with the Avenger's priceless weapons.
Why it's Marvel-lous: Having had two previous Spider-Man franchises that never quite landed solidly on the comedy/action split that makes the character work, this sums things up nicely. Plus, when you stack it all up, you've got every element that folks love about the film. Homecoming references Peter being an actual teenager, the invisible jet is a nod to some classic comic capers, and mentioning his girlfriend's dad adds a splash of conflicted romance.
"You walked right into this one. I've dated hotter chicks than you."
The movie: Iron Man 3 (2013)
Who says it? Tony Stark
The setup: During a massive tussle with one of Aldrich Killian's fire-breathing experimental lackeys, Brandt, Stark sets a trap in a store to blow her up. And can't do that without first reeling this one off.
Why its Marvel-lous: Brandt calls him on it ("That's all you got? A cheap trick and a cheesy one-liner?") to which Stark responds with "Sweetheart, that could've been the name of my autobiography." Twice as badass.
