The MCU helped turn Iron Man in a familiar name, but the character already had a rich history in the world of Marvel Comics long before. Now that Tony Stark’s time in the movies appears to be over (for now), there will certainly be fans eager to seek out and enjoy stories to delve deeper into the character. Or die-hard comic book readers looking to revisit some of their old favorites.
Whether expanding the consequences of the infamous Civil WarExploring various versions of Tony Stark across the Multiverse, these stories explore the character’s complexity, his darkest moments and his greatest triumphs that help cement him as one of Marvel comics’ greatest heroes. These are the 20 best Iron Man stories in Marvel history.
20
Black Iron Man (2010)
Scott Snyder, Manuel Garcia
Many readers are familiar with Spider-Man Noir and how this character has proven to be a fun expansion of the Spider-Verse. An underrated – but equally entertaining – representation of Noir is this four-part limited series. While Spider-Man Noir was a detective look at Peter Parker in the Great Depression era, Iron Man Noir focuses on industrialist Tony Stark in a story that follows the same vein as 1930s action films. Think ‘The Rocketeer’ for the Marvel Universe, with a dash of Indiana Jones.
After suffering a heart problem, he went on an expedition in search of the Jade Mask, prophesied to cure any and all health problems. Unfortunately for Tony, his quest has put him on the same path as the Nazis who also want the mask. One twist after another, plus some fun action sequences, make this a must-read for any Iron Man fan.
19
Iron Man: The End (2008)
David Michelinie, Bob Layton, Bernard Chang, Mike Cavallaro
David Michelinie and Bob Layton are two names readers will see a lot on this list, and for good reason. The duo’s contributions to the character of Iron Man (which includes the critically acclaimed “Demon in a Bottle” storyline) are still highly celebrated today. It only makes sense that they would come together to help the character ride off into the sunset in this 2009 one-shot.
Almost 50 years after the character first hit stores, This one-shot takes place several decades in the future, as Tony Stark prepares to hang up his hoverboots in an emotional farewelltaking on a final project known as “Big Jump”, but not without some opposition and challenges ahead. Using one final suit of armor in his arsenal, Tony proves once again why he has and continues to stand the test of time as one of the most exciting heroes in Marvel’s roster.
18
Iron Man: The Rapture (2010)
Alexander Irvine, Lan Medina, June Chung
This four-part limited series seems to get better with age, especially with current concerns about artificial intelligence being more prevalent now than when this story was released. As this story ages like a fine wine, now is the perfect time to revisit it. Things begin darkly when Tony suffers a heart attack that nearly kills him. Both his best friend Rhodey and his partner Pepper Potts try to convince him to have an operation, but being as self-sufficient as he has always been, he chooses to take matters into his own hands.
What it looks like is building a new heart for yourself with your Iron Man armor. As he continues to rebuild himself into a machine, his repairs manifest in an AI that takes control of Tony’s mind, body and life. It’s up to Pepper and War Machine to stop him and do what they can to save what’s left of Tony.
17
Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin (2007)
Joe Casey, Eric Canete
In 2007, writer Joe Casey joined forces with artist Eric Canete for the opportunity to reimagine the first meeting between Iron Man and the Mandarinone that originally happened in 1964 Tales of Suspense #50. Trying to revamp the official Marvel canon for a story that began 43 years ago is no easy task, and years later, after the Marvel Cinematic Universe presented the Mandarin in a more comedic light, it’s even harder for casual audiences to see how intimidating Mandarin can be.
However, Casey and Canete accepted the challenge and passed with flying colors. For anyone who hasn’t yet realized just how dangerous the Mandarin can be when used to his full potential, especially after seeing him in the MCU, this six-part series is the perfect branching point to see exactly why the Mandarin is doing so well. classified as one. of Iron Man’s deadliest rivals.
16
I am Iron Man (2023)
Murewa Ayodele, Dotun Akande
One of the most recently released entries on the list, I am Iron Man is a five-part limited series that exists to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the character that audiences around the world fell in love with. To celebrate the character, the series chooses to show some of the best adventures that fans have never seen, taken from different points in his superhero career.
Not only that, but the series tells these stories as a means of dissecting, analyzing, and ultimately recontextualizing Tony Stark as a character in ways never before seen. The series looks at all of his ups and downs, strengths and weaknesses that make Iron Man the genius, billionaire, and playboy philanthropist that audiences love him for being. Whether exposing other heroes by criticizing Tony Stark or gifting him new Samurai armor, I am Iron Man it expanded the Iron Man mythos as much as it celebrated it.
15
The Infamous Iron Man (2016)
Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev
How to redeem one of the most diabolical villains in the Marvel Universe. You rebrand him as the next Iron Man, at least that’s the path writer/artist duo Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev chose to take when facing off against Victor Von Doom. This results in one of the best redemption arcs Marvel has ever had to offer. The infamous Iron Man takes place after the events of
The Infamous Iron Man takes place after the events of Second Civil War and with Tony Stark out of commission after that event, Doctor Doom reveals he will take command of Iron Man for himself. What follows is one surprisingly emotional rollercoaster of a ride that feels like a companion piece to the Superior Spider-Man arc that reshaped Doctor Otto Octavius in a similar way.
14
Iron Man: Extremis (2005)
Warren Ellis, Adi Granov (Iron Man #1-#6)
MCU fans may be familiar with “Extremis” thanks to Iron Man 3 (2013). It’s true that the film adapted several key details from the comics, but the original plot is very different from what fans saw on screen, as Iron Man takes on the results of a supersoldier experiment gone wrong.
“Extremis” not only helped inspire the third and final Iron Man film, but it also seemed to influence how the character would end up being portrayed in the films. There are a few stories on this list that form the basis for the character’s on-screen presence, For readers curious about which comics built the basis for Tony Stark’s latest appearances in the MCU, look no further than “Extremis.”
13
Invincible Iron Man (2016)
Brian Michael Bendis, Stefano Caselli (starting in Invincible Iron Man #9)
Moviegoers know that Iron Man’s legacy is still part of the MCU, even with the character’s departure. The same thing happened after Tony fell into the comic book universe, leading to the introduction of Riri Williams, aka Ironheart. Making his MCU debut on screen in Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverRiri Williams has emerged as one of the best new Marvel characters of the decade, and this series is where everything it started.
The 2015 series of “Invincible Iron Man” introduced Williams into the Marvel universe as Tony Stark’s protégé and allowed her to gain a following among fans.
12
Iron Man: The Inevitable (2005)
Joe Casey, Frazer Irving
Iron Man doesn’t have one of the most notable rogues galleries compared to other Marvel heroes. However, it’s still fun to see some of the lesser-known or forgotten villains return in “Iron Man: The Inevitable.” The story follows the events of “Extremis” and subverts the idea of hero versus villain in some interesting ways.
Without revealing too much, Iron Man comes face to face with Spymaster, a longtime rival of his from the past. Again, not the most well-known villains from the Iron Man books and some will call him one of the silliest classic Iron Man villains, but in an action-packed chapter for the character, the espionage enemy villain is used with the best of your abilities. .
11
Superior Iron Man (2014)
Tom Taylor, Yıldıray Çınar
While it’s easy to find many examples of Tony Stark being a selfless hero, he’s also a very complex character. Tony’s willingness to do anything to ensure peace is taken to the extreme in “Superior Iron Man” when he becomes a tyrannical superhero who seeks control of everything.
While stories like Civil War portray Tony Stark as an antagonist, there are still enough redeemable qualities to identify him as a hero with questionable methods. As Superior Iron Man, however, he is depicted as a complete villain who needs to be stopped. While it’s not the typical Tony Stark that fans are ready to root for, it’s an exciting look at the darker aspects of the character.
10
Armor Wars (1987)
Bob Layton, David Michelinie, Mark D. Bright, Barry Windsor-Smith, Janice Chiang, Bob Sharen (Iron Man #225 – 232)
Unlike some of his fellow Avengers, Tony Stark is a hero whose powers come from his own intellect. He is the one who builds Iron Man’s armor and uses it for good. However, he also knows that he has introduced a weapon into the world that could be very dangerous in the wrong hands. ‘Armor Wars’ is about Tony’s worst nightmare coming true when he is forced to face various villains who have acquired his technology.
In addition to inspiring the next Armor Wars film with War Machine, 36 years after the conclusion of the plot, “Armor Wars” is considered one of the most exciting, exciting and twist-filled chapters in the Iron Man saga.
9
Iron Man: Director of the Shield (2007)
Christos Gage, Sean Chen
Before the MCU, Iron Man wasn’t as well-known as some of his contemporary heroes, like Spider-Man and Wolverine. However, he has always had a prominent role in the comics, as confirmed by the storyline in which he is named Director of SHIELD.
Thanks in large part to his skills as a technician and his resources as a billionaire, it was decided in the Marvel universe that Tony Stark would be the best candidate to replace Nick Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. in his absence while he investigated the Skrull invasion that followed.. Iron Man: Shield Director comes after the events of Civil War. As the new director of the spy organization, Tony faces a series of challenges as he contemplates the future of Iron Man.
8
The Invincible Iron Man (1982)
Denny O’Neil, Carmine Infantino, Dan Green, Al Milgrom, Steve Ditko and more (Invincible Iron Man #158-208)
While the character has gone through countless changes over the years, it can be a real thrill to remember the classic comics that helped shape Iron Man into the hero most fans are familiar with today. AND few runs regularly Man of Iron series are as underrated as Denny O’Neil’s narrative beginning in 1982. O’Neil’s career occurred between two seminal works on the character after “Demon in a Bottle” and before “Armor Wars.” However, he managed to stand out with some unforgettable moments.
The stories deal with Tony’s struggle with sobriety, Rhodey taking over Iron Man, Obadiah Stane taking over Tony’s company, and more. Following “Demon in a Bottle” (which, as this list will later show, is arguably the best storyline in the character’s history) was no easy task, but this comic series does an excellent job of highlighting the consequences in Demon’s life. Tony.
7
Tony Stark’s Five Nightmares (2008)
Fraction Matt, Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man #1-#7)
It’s a blessing to be the creative team behind a superhero’s flagship comics as they make their big-screen debut. Sure, your hero may be the talk of the town, but with that expanded attention comes criticism and pressure to look like and differ from the film version. Even with this fierce competition, “The Five Nightmares of Tony Stark” managed to be considered one of the best modern runs for the character.
Not to be forgotten, coinciding with Iron Man’s on-screen debut, this would serve as both an introduction to Tony Stark’s comic book journey for new fans as much as it was a new chapter for the character in Marvel’s Earth-616 canon. The story shows Tony Stark going through many difficulties as he fights against new threats after Civil Warincluding Ezekiel Stane, son of Obadiah who seeks revenge.
6
Demon in a Bottle (1979)
David Michelinie, Bob Layton, John Romita Jr, Carmine Infantino, John Costanza, Ben Sean, Carl Gafford
As fun as it is to see Marvel’s heroes face off against intergalactic threats and save the world, sometimes it’s just as compelling to see them deal with grounded, human issues. This is the case with the iconic story “Demon in a Bottle”, which explored Tony Stark’s battle with alcoholism. This would prove to become one of the most definitive stories of Tony Stark’s career as a superhero.
It would also end up being a basis for Iron Man 2 as the MCU would borrow some elements from the famous plot. It was a dark and impactful story that helped shape the character into a more troubled figure with his own problems in the years to come.
5
The Mask of Iron Man (2000)
Joe Quesada, Sean Chen, Rob Hunter and Steve Oliff (Iron Man #26-30)
Tony Stark’s armor
it has always been a way for him to deal with his trauma and avoid his natural addictive tendencies. For each new iteration, it needs to surpass itself. However, at some point, Stark’s upgrades eventually overtake him.
After his newest Iron Man suit develops its own sentience, Tony must overcome his own demons to teach his artificial son the complicated nature of morality while equipped with weapons of lethal destruction. Tony Stark can barely take care of himself and struggles significantly to care for his unintentional creation, failing to be the role model needed to guide his armor. At a time when Stark’s personal morals were significantly driven by selfishness, Tony being forced to watch his flaws be passed on to a new life forced him to reevaluate himself as a hero.
4
Liberation (1984)
Denny O’Neil, Luke McDonnell, Steve Mitchell and Bob Sharen (Iron Man #182)
Addiction is almost as essential to Tony Stark’s characterization as his armor. Tony has made great strides in overcoming his addictive habits, but addiction itself is not something that can truly be left behind. After the death of his close friend, Tony goes back to the bottle, drowning his sorrows over and over.
He feels like a failure, useless and unworthy of being called a hero. In his wallowing, drinking, and self-hatred, Tony has a chance to see a spark of hope in the world that helps him realize why Iron Man still matters, why he still matters. While this may not be a flashy Iron Man story, it is a tragically heartfelt story about Tony Stark.
3
Nightmare Knight (1981)
David Michelinie, Bob Layton and John Romita Jr.Iron Man #150)
Although Doctor Doom is most often considered
a villain from the Fantastic Four
he was also frequently an Iron Man villain. Before the rivalry between the geniuses took off in the comics, Nightmare Knight took master inventors back in time, to the Arthurian Age. The two are caught up in the ongoing war between King Arthur and the witch Morgan Le Fay.
After a comically entertaining medieval battle between knights and wizards, Iron Man and Doctor Doom are forced to call a truce, realizing this conflict was not theirs. The pair, recognizing their mutual strength and drive, force themselves to work together and return to the present. Doom swears revenge on Tony, cementing a rivalry between the two which would be revisited in the coming decades.
2
The World’s Most Wanted (2008)
Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata (Invincible Iron Man #8-19)
After the fall of the first Civil War and Secret Invasion, the Marvel universe fell into disarray. a cynically dark time how did you get into Dark Kingdom event. Having recently stopped using Extremis, Tony struggles to find his sense of strength without relying on the virus to increase his physical ability. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn labeled Tony Stark a traitorous criminal.
Stark has seen the horrors his need for control and power has left on the world, with the Superhuman Registry records still hidden in S.H.I.E.L.D.’s old database. This short run finally saw Iron Man’s personal path to redemption after the initial fallout from Civil War, showing that he ultimately wants to do what’s right. Although Stark is often characterized by his ego, he has a hero’s heart.
1
Stark: Dismantled (2010)
Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata (Invincible Iron Man #20-24)
Following the The most wanted in the world storyline, Tony nobly sacrificed himself to defend and destroy the final remains of the superhuman registration data stored in his head. Now locked in a vegetative coma, dependent on life support systems to breathe, Tony was placed in the care of his doctor, Donald Blake. After seeing how far Stark was willing to go to undo his failures during the Civil War, many of his old friends-turned-enemies find they can forgive Tony.
As they try to find a way to revive Stark’s body, Tony is forced to digress. In the constant series of disheartening tragedies that plagued the Marvel Universe after the Civil War, the last person’s forgiveness Tony Stark needed was his own. Many of Iron Man’s best stories are rooted in his struggle to overcome his trauma. However, this is one of the few stories, especially for the time, where the Avenger had to embrace his complicated layers of self-judgment that he always hid beneath his skin. facade of selfish, self-aggrandizing displays.