I was reading an article about the MCU and how Iron Man was a really big gamble for Marvel Studios at the time because he wasn't a really well known character. I say how? The character had been around for almost 50 years by that point comics publishing wise, had numerous storylines, Armor Wars, Armor Wars II, Demon in a Bottle, anyone? James Rhodes had by that point been War Machine since the 80s. What am I missing? So, he was supposed to be more of a cult favorite? It wasn't that much of a stretch. Tony was a founding member of the Avengers after all.