Warning: Contains spoilers for Immortal Thor #16! It's no secret that Tony Stark aka Iron Man is one of the most iconic heroes in the Marvel Universe, however Thor Just confirmed that he is not just 'one of' the most iconic, he is the most iconic. The reason this is the case is due to both the nature of Tony Stark's superhero career and the nature of the significance of the Earth among the Ten Realms - and how the two are intrinsically related.
In a preview for The Immortal Thor #16 by Al Ewing and Jan Bazaldua Readers get a brief history of Midgard, and the 'gods' mortals manage to explore despite their lack of divinity. It is revealed that the original Human Torch (Jim Hammond) was the first superhero created by man, and that he ushered in an age of mortal gods. The reason this is noteworthy is that according to the comic, Midgard is forming a 'new pantheon', which evidently includes the likes of Radioactive Man.
Admittedly, this preview gives more questions than answers, and it doesn't help that the storyboards read like verses from an old song. However, the overall plot of the comic isn't necessarily the biggest takeaway from the preview, rather a seemingly innocuous point made during the explanation of Earth's 'mortal gods', when Midgard is described as, "The realm of iron".
Iron Man represents the best of Midgard's 'Mortal Gods'
Tony Stark is a mortal who has turned into a god-loving hero
While the other realms among the Ten Realms boast beings of divinity and magic, Midgard is entirely populated by mortals, but that doesn't make the realm any less important. In fact, humanity's ability to create their own 'gods' has earned the respect of other realms, such as Asgard, and makes Midgard a prized jewel in the cluster of worlds. And The one hero that stands out from the rest is Iron Man.
Without even knowing it, Tony Stark named his superhero alter ego after the world he swore to protect, as if he was destined to be Earth's greatest protector. It is as if the Kingdom of Iron forged the Iron Man, a mortal who pretended to be a god, and can stand among the greatest warriors in the history of the Tenth Kingdom. Several 'mortal gods' came before him, and many will surely come after, but there is only one Iron Man from the realm of Iron, and that is Tony Stark.
Marvel Comics needs to make the new Iron Man title official
Immortal Thor knows that Iron Man is the greatest hero on earth, and Wonder needs to confirm that
The Immortal Thor Makes it clear that Iron Man is not only named after Midgard itself (although Tony Stark did not consciously make the choice), but he also perfectly represents what makes Midgard so special on a cosmic scale. People turn into superhumans, and there is no greater example of this than Tony Stark. Now that Iron Man has been passively named as Earth's Greatest Hero, it's time for Marvel to acknowledge it, perhaps with a reverent title recognized by the other realms that represent Iron Man's significance.
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Even if The Immortal Thor does not go deeper into the "Realm of iron"Line in the preview, the implication is clear and very well received. Iron Man Represents the best of Midgard's 'mortal gods', and acts as the true son of the Iron Realm, which is perhaps the most poetic explanation for why Tony Stark is Marvel's most iconic hero.
The Immortal Thor #16 by Marvel Comics is available October 2, 2024.