What Are the Best Iron Man Runs And/Or Arcs?

So while I'm an old time Marvel reader (X-Men, Spider-Man, Avengers, Daredevil are some of my favorites) I've never really been into Iron Man comics, but I've been curious to try for a while. I realize these kind of threads pop up every now and them, but here I'm gonna ask for runs or storyarcs focused on Tony's relationships with Pepper, Happy, Rhodey etc... My interest comes straight from the MCU movies, so I'd probably prefer stories that have that particular feel. So mainly stories where the focus is more on Tony than on Iron Man and the villain of the week, if that makes sense.

Thanks.

[QUOTE=Hi-Fi;5144607]So while I'm an old time Marvel reader (X-Men, Spider-Man, Avengers, Daredevil are some of my favorites) I've never really been into Iron Man comics, but I've been curious to try for a while. I realize these kind of threads pop up every now and them, but here I'm gonna ask for runs or storyarcs focused on Tony's relationships with Pepper, Happy, Rhodey etc... My interest comes straight from the MCU movies, so I'd probably prefer stories that have that particular feel. So mainly stories where the focus is more on Tony than on Iron Man and the villain of the week, if that makes sense.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[COLOR="#000080"]Demon in A Bottle
Armor Wars
Armor Wars II
Five Nightmares
World's Most Wanted
Stark Disassembled
Extremis
With Hands of Iron

Just a few off the top of my head.[/COLOR]

Most of the Micheline/Layton stuff is good, pretty much one of the classic 80's runs. Denny O'Neill was also very good.

I'm a fan of the Bill Mantlo/George Tuska run myself.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]100631[/ATTACH]

Micheline and Dennis O'Neil run are the classics, based in what i heard.

Fraction is divisive but it was also a gateway drug for many Iron Man fans apparently.

Goes without saying.

[IMG]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/de/45/20/de4520f7d1dd23f42be3b0fc7166ce52.jpg[/IMG]

Busiek

[img]https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1315113789l/12514311.jpg[/img]

and Fraction.

[img]https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fNYm6NFEL.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=Hi-Fi;5144607]So while I'm an old time Marvel reader (X-Men, Spider-Man, Avengers, Daredevil are some of my favorites) I've never really been into Iron Man comics, but I've been curious to try for a while. I realize these kind of threads pop up every now and them, but here I'm gonna ask for runs or storyarcs focused on Tony's relationships with Pepper, Happy, Rhodey etc... My interest comes straight from the MCU movies, so I'd probably prefer stories that have that particular feel. So mainly stories where the focus is more on Tony than on Iron Man and the villain of the week, if that makes sense.

Thanks.[/QUOTE]

[center]Since you asked about Tony's relationships, how about the "special bond" between Tony & his armor.
After a freak accident, the armor develops feelings and starts lusting after Tony.

From the mind of Joe Quesada comes...

[SIZE=5][B][I]The Mask in the Iron Man[/I][/B][/SIZE]

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/d/d2/Iron_Man_Vol_3_26_Textless.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20200826173405&format=original[/img][/center]

To me, the arc where we learn who Justin Hammer is, is The Best Iron Man You're Gonna Find.

Throwing Director of SHIELD in the ring. Loved that story.

The Knaufs run.

[QUOTE=Steel Inquisitor;5145156]Busiek

[img]https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1315113789l/12514311.jpg[/img]

and Fraction.

[img]https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51fNYm6NFEL.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

If you want to see runs were it shows his relationships with his supporting cast then these 2 are great to read.

[QUOTE=MichaelC;5145229]The Knaufs run.[/QUOTE]

Second this.

If you are going for a modern Iron Man, read from Extremis by Ellis up to the end of the Knauf's run. Follow-up with Factions run.

Matt Fraction my dude, the run that actually made me care about Stark especially after Civil War

[QUOTE=ChrisIII;5144932]Most of the Micheline/Layton stuff is good, pretty much one of the classic 80's runs. Denny O'Neill was also very good.[/QUOTE]

I second this. Many interesting long lasting elements to the Iron Man mythos came during those runs. Things that went on to feature in the MCU movies as well.

The Micheline/Layton runs introduced Hall of Armors, Tony's Alcoholism, Rhodey's debut, foes like Justin Hammer, Firepower and Ghost.
Denny O'Neill introduced Obadiah Stane and the Silver Centurion armor.

Have not read many Iron Man comics but from what i read the best ones were:

1-The David Michelinie and Bob Layton runs in Iron Man.
2-John Byrne and John Romita Jr and Paul Ryan run in Iron Man.
3-Dennis o´Neill and Luke McDonnel and Mark Bright run in Iron Man.

I only picked up one of the Iron Man comics by Kurt Busiek back then and just from that story it looked like a cool run of Iron Man comics.
The Kurt Busiek and Sean Chen run looked cool as well,it´s a run of comics that i will be reading eventually.

[QUOTE=comicscollector;5145399]I only picked up one of the Iron Man comics by Kurt Busiek back then and just from that story it looked like a cool run of Iron Man comics.
The Kurt Busiek and Sean Chen run looked cool as well,it´s a run of comics that i will be reading eventually.[/QUOTE]

[center]To the utmost, I agree. Also from Kurt Busiek, I would definitely add [B][I]The Iron Age[/I][/B] (1998):

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/6/60/Iron_Man_The_Iron_Age_Vol_1_1.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/381?cb=20171227041049[/img] [img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/d/d5/Iron_Man_The_Iron_Age_Vol_1_2.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/387?cb=20171227041114[/img][/center]

[QUOTE=K7P5V;5145402][center]To the utmost, I agree. Also from Kurt Busiek, I would definitely add [B][I]The Iron Age[/I][/B] (1998):

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/6/60/Iron_Man_The_Iron_Age_Vol_1_1.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/381?cb=20171227041049[/img] [img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/d/d5/Iron_Man_The_Iron_Age_Vol_1_2.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/387?cb=20171227041114[/img][/center][/QUOTE]

That’s a really great story. It’s basically Iron Man Year One.

^^^
Iron Age looks cool as well.
I will be looking to read that story as well.

[QUOTE=K7P5V;5145402][center]To the utmost, I agree. Also from Kurt Busiek, I would definitely add [B][I]The Iron Age[/I][/B] (1998):

[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/6/60/Iron_Man_The_Iron_Age_Vol_1_1.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/381?cb=20171227041049[/img] [img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/d/d5/Iron_Man_The_Iron_Age_Vol_1_2.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/387?cb=20171227041114[/img][/center][/QUOTE]

[COLOR="#000080"]Yes, most definitely something to add to the greatest collection.[/COLOR]

Thanks for the suggestion, guys! Yeah, the alcoholism story is something that I'm really interested in reading. Gonna try and track that down.

The only IM run I've read was Busiek's (which I really enjoyed), as I was was reading Busiek's Avengers and Waid's Cap at the time as well. But I never read The Iron Age, which looks to be exactly what I want.

[QUOTE=Hi-Fi;5145614]Thanks for the suggestion, guys! Yeah, the alcoholism story is something that I'm really interested in reading. Gonna try and track that down.

The only IM run I've read was Busiek's (which I really enjoyed), as I was was reading Busiek's Avengers and Waid's Cap at the time as well. But I never read The Iron Age, which looks to be exactly what I want.[/QUOTE]

If you're particularly interested in seeing Tony hit absolute rock bottom and climb his way out, then Denny O'Neill's run is the run for you. I should note that a good portion of the run features Rhodey as Iron Man.

Worlds Most Wanted and Stark Disassembled is fantastic

Echoing others:

[B]Busiek, Ellis, Knauf and Fraction.[/B]

For me, no need to read any others.

Hopefully we can add Cantwell (current writer) to the list…

Can anyone tell me in which run/arc Pepper first became Rescue? Thanks.

[QUOTE=Hi-Fi;5147868]Can anyone tell me in which run/arc Pepper first became Rescue? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

It was during Fractions run that Tony made her the armor and she became Rescue.

[QUOTE=Hi-Fi;5147868]Can anyone tell me in which run/arc Pepper first became Rescue? Thanks.[/QUOTE]

Look for the issues on Fraction run with the label "Dark Reign"

[QUOTE=Mr. White;5147228]Echoing others:

[B]Busiek, Ellis, Knauf and Fraction.[/B]

[/QUOTE]

It's weird, Fraction was the last person to have a run that was generally agreed to be good. It's been like eight years and none of the guys since have come close.