Warning: contains spoilers West Coast Avengers #1!
Iron Man has worn a variety of armor over the years, but now he's named his all-time favorite. Iron Man's armor represents the pinnacle of technological advancement in the Marvel Universe, constantly changing over time. An armor that Iron Man briefly wore in the 1980s remains near and dear to his heart, as seen in West Coast Avengers #1.
West Coast Avengers #1 was written by Gerry Duggan and drawn by Danny Kim. Tony Stark, now part of the reformed West Coast Avengers team, is searching for a specific armor in an old warehouse in California. Tony goes through the boxes, finding other vintage Avengers costumes along the way. Finally, he finds something, declaring “Honey. I'm at home.” A beaming Tony pulls out his classic Silver Centurion armor, calling it his “favorite.” Tony puts on the armor the old-fashioned way, joking that it's heavier than the last time he wore it.
Iron Man sets the gold standard for other armored comic book heroes
Iron Man's red and yellow armor may be his most well-known Since its debut in Tales of Suspense #39, Iron Man set the standard for all other armored heroes in comics, whether from Marvel or another publisher.
Since its debut in Tales of Suspense #39, Iron Man set the standard for all other armored heroes in comics, whether from Marvel or another publisher. At the time of his creation, there was no other hero in American comics like Iron Man. While characters wearing armor was nothing new in comics, Iron Man helped popularize the concept, thanks to a highly grounded approach as well as a seemingly endless rotation of armor, ranging from the clunky to the stylish, the colorful to the drab.
Today, Iron Man's red and yellow armor may be his most well-known, thanks to its inclusion in the MCU. This costume is also a classic, much appreciated by fans thanks to the fact that Iron Man wore it, without exception, until the 1980s. The red and yellow set was used in the merchandising of clothes and other products. Iron Man's red and yellow outfit was used on his Mego action figure in the 1970s, as well as a similar Iron Man toy. Secret Wars line from the 1980s. Its ubiquity helped make it an iconic look.
The 1980s changed Marvel Comics forever – and Iron Man was no exception
Iron Man's 'Silver Centurion' Armor Was Sleek and Cool
However, in the mid-1980s, Marvel, under the editorial direction of then-editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, decided to shake up some of its biggest icons in drastic ways. It was around this time that Spider-Man got his black alien suit and the Hulk turned gray. Thor received a similar makeover, and the Fantastic Four's lineup underwent changes for the first time since their inception. These changes helped rejuvenate outdated properties, making them new and engaging again. Some fans complained, but many accepted these changes – and it was decided to take a similar approach to Iron Man.
However, in the mid-1980s, Marvel, under the editorial direction of then-editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, decided to shake up some of its biggest icons in drastic ways.
At this point, Iron Man, or at least Tony Stark, was at a low point. Tony stepped down as Iron Man to focus on overcoming his alcoholism. The pressures of being Iron Man took a toll on him and he began drinking. While Tony was away, Rhodey became Iron Man, carrying the mantle for a few years until 1985. Iron Man #200. Rhodey and the rest of Stark's empire were attacked by Obadiah Stane, and Tony, forced to return to heroism, forged the Mark Eight armor, or “Silver Centurion” as he became known.
At the time of its debut, the Silver Centurion was the most powerful version of Iron Man's armor. with capabilities that exceed anything that has come before. For example, the Silver Centurion armor featured a “stealth mode,” an innovation that has since been transferred to other suits. All of the classic features of Iron Man's red and yellow armor were updated for the Silver Centurion variant – plus the red and silver colors made it look undeniably cool. Tony would wear the Silver Centurion armor for a few years before returning to the classic red and yellow color scheme in 1988. Iron Man #231.
Iron Man's Silver Centurion Armor carries great sentimental value
Iron Man's silver centurion armor met Tony at a crossroads
Iron Man's Silver Centurion armor represented not only the era of its creation, but also a rebirth for the character. Tony's addictions plagued him for years, and he placed the blame squarely on his career as Iron Man. The circumstances that led to Tony donning the Silver Centurion armor showed him that he was still a hero. Since then, Tony Stark has never compromised his commitment to being Iron Man, and the Marvel Universe has been the better for it.
In the years since, Iron Man has built many other suits, including the revolutionary Extremis variant, but the Silver Centurion variant remains his favorite. Given that this heralded his return as a hero, it's easy to see why Tony looks back so fondly. As seen in West Coast Avengers #1, the Silver Centurion armor still has what it takes to defeat bad guys. Tony wearing the Silver Centurion costume once again also shows how much the Iron Man concept has continued to evolve since its destruction.
West Coast Avengers #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics!