Tom Holland’s Spider-Man: Homecoming has been a unique addition to the MCU, which turned into a massive hit, followed by two further sequels. Now, as the film deeply connects to the larger universe, Michael Keaton appeared as Adrian Toomes, who was featured in the installment as a villain, solely because he couldn’t make a living by stealing equipment from past battles involving the Avengers.
Following this plotline of Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture, fans wondered how a guy like him knew about operating and understanding the mechanics of his flight rig. Thereafter, a theory originated which reasoned why Toomes was so adept at his technology and flight. But while the theory offered a justification, it also created a connection between The Vulture and The Falcon.
Fan Theory Justifies The Vulture’s Understanding of His Flight Rig
Michael Keaton, who is popularly known for playing Batman in DC movies, made a major appearance in MCU’s Spider-Man: Homecoming. Playing the role of a villain in Tom Holland’s superhero flick, Keaton’s Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture appeared as an antagonist, solely because he couldn’t make a living confiscating equipment from the Avengers and selling them as illegal weapons.
But while he appeared in Tom Holland‘s movie and stunned audiences with his performance in the negative role, fans wondered how a guy like Adrian Toomes possessed the knowledge of how to operate and understand the mechanics of his flight rig. Addressing this very question, Redditor Babywalker66 came up with a fan theory explaining the reason behind how Toomes was so adept at his technology and flight.
Claiming that Adrian Toomes aka The Vulture was perhaps once in the Air Force as a pilot or engineer, the Redditor tried offering a justification. Although not much is disclosed about the character’s past in Spider-Man: Homecoming, it did feature Michael Keaton’s Toomes as a hard worker who isn’t afraid of confrontation. Further, a few sequences also showed how his military background has helped him in his illegal endeavors.
Apart from this, Adrian Toomes’ mentality also hints at his previous association with the military/Air Force. As he shows his bitterness toward the wealthy, while claiming that he and Peter are the same, because they fight the battles of wealthy people, it proves that he has fought wars on behalf of the governments. Further, the attire he wears while controlling his flight rig is also synonymous with pilots, and his understanding of how to operate it.
Michael Keaton’s The Vulture Theory Connects With The Falcon
Thus, it seems the fan theory is on point at justifying how he possessed the knowledge of the mechanism of the equipment and illegal weaponry. Perhaps, he has been in the military/ air Force serving his country and people, before things took a bad turn. But while this fan theory justified the know-how of his flight rig and equipment, it also created a subtle connection.
It appears while the fan theory claimed that Michael Keaton‘s Adrian Toomes might have been an Ex-Air Force personnel, it also gave away the subtle connection between him and Sam Wilson. If indeed Toomes was an Air Force veteran, he might have been in contact with Wilson when they both served in the US armed forces. Thus, it seems that ahead of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, Keaton’s character knew one Avenger.
Further, considering The Vulture’s suit, it simply appears as a bigger and cruder prototype of The Falcon suit. Perhaps, since he was a skilled inventor who single-handedly developed his flight suit, Toomes’ engineering skills may have been a contributing factor to the Falcon’s flight apparatus. Therefore, it seems the theory simply connected The Vulture’s past to the larger MCU, by drawing a connection between him and The Falcon.
