Tony Stark: The Invincible Iron Man 2024!

[Huntsman Spider]

Pretty cool, all things considered. Just gotta bring this up . . . apparently, an upcoming Avengers comic by Jed MacKay, with the Fall of the House of X branding on the cover, will have Iron Man leading the Avengers in backing up the X-Men against Orchis. While I'm personally all for superhuman-mutant solidarity, especially given that it never takes very much or very long for the same forces arrayed against mutants to be turned on other superhuman beings, as per events like Days of Future Past (which arguably started the "dystopian future" craze in superhero comics) and the original Civil War (atrocious as it might have been in how Tony's character was handled), I'm curious to hear everyone else's thoughts on the matter here.

[Crazyspideyfan]

Posted this on the Iron Man subreddit but not much discussion happened so I’m posting it here: Thoughts on Iron Man: Season One?

I’ve recently been reading through different retellings, adaptations, and alternate universe portrayals of Tony’s origin, and upon re-reading season one I think it misses the mark on a huge part of Tony’s character: leaving behind his past as a weapons manufacturer. This book barely dives into any themes of the military-industrial complex that Iron Man usually does beyond Tony being blown up with his own landmine, no introspection really comes from it, the criticism of Tony’s career as a weapons manufacturer is much more surface level, and the story more deals with Tony’s alcoholism as opposed to his usual origin character arc. The villian is also an extremely simple stereotype of a middle eastern extremist, the art is great but it feels as if the story is scared to make a statement.

What surprises me more is Marvel Adventures Iron Man issue 1, another retelling of Tony’s origin from the all-ages line of Marvel Adventures, actually dives far more into the political nuances of a billionaire weapons manufacturer being forced to confront the deaths his weapons have been responsible for. In general I’m surprised at how good even the mainline 616 books can be at tackling issues of the military industrial complex, such as the first arc of Iron Man Legacy and the excellent Iron Man issue 78.

Just some thoughts I wanted to share, I know in 616 it took Tony a while to reckon with what he was causing as the book didn’t focus as much on his weapons manufacturing at first, but I feel it’s important in modern adaptations that make a point to show that this is his main business without having him ever reckon with it in the story.

[K7P5V]

Is that his Heroes Return armor? It looks like it.

I know, right?! Maybe with a little bit of Alex Ross thrown in & an added dash of Heroes Reborn for good measure (XD)

[Frontier]

Posted this on the Iron Man subreddit but not much discussion happened so I’m posting it here: Thoughts on Iron Man: Season One?

I’ve recently been reading through different retellings, adaptations, and alternate universe portrayals of Tony’s origin, and upon re-reading season one I think it misses the mark on a huge part of Tony’s character: leaving behind his past as a weapons manufacturer. This book barely dives into any themes of the military-industrial complex that Iron Man usually does beyond Tony being blown up with his own landmine, no introspection really comes from it, the criticism of Tony’s career as a weapons manufacturer is much more surface level, and the story more deals with Tony’s alcoholism as opposed to his usual origin character arc. The villian is also an extremely simple stereotype of a middle eastern extremist, the art is great but it feels as if the story is scared to make a statement.

What surprises me more is Marvel Adventures Iron Man issue 1, another retelling of Tony’s origin from the all-ages line of Marvel Adventures, actually dives far more into the political nuances of a billionaire weapons manufacturer being forced to confront the deaths his weapons have been responsible for. In general I’m surprised at how good even the mainline 616 books can be at tackling issues of the military industrial complex, such as the first arc of Iron Man Legacy and the excellent Iron Man issue 78.

Just some thoughts I wanted to share, I know in 616 it took Tony a while to reckon with what he was causing as the book didn’t focus as much on his weapons manufacturing at first, but I feel it’s important in modern adaptations that make a point to show that this is his main business without having him ever reckon with it in the story.

I don't think I've actually read that one. I did red Marvel Adventures though .

[Rzerox21xx]

https://www.comicsxf.com/2024/01/11/...an-14-preview/

For those that don't go to the X thread subsection and just follow Iron-man.

[Tony Stark]

https://www.comicsxf.com/2024/01/11/...an-14-preview/

For those that don't go to the X thread subsection and just follow Iron-man.

Thanks for the preview. Really looking forward to this issue.

[Huntsman Spider]

Posted this on the Iron Man subreddit but not much discussion happened so I’m posting it here: Thoughts on Iron Man: Season One?

I’ve recently been reading through different retellings, adaptations, and alternate universe portrayals of Tony’s origin, and upon re-reading season one I think it misses the mark on a huge part of Tony’s character: leaving behind his past as a weapons manufacturer. This book barely dives into any themes of the military-industrial complex that Iron Man usually does beyond Tony being blown up with his own landmine, no introspection really comes from it, the criticism of Tony’s career as a weapons manufacturer is much more surface level, and the story more deals with Tony’s alcoholism as opposed to his usual origin character arc. The villian is also an extremely simple stereotype of a middle eastern extremist, the art is great but it feels as if the story is scared to make a statement.

What surprises me more is Marvel Adventures Iron Man issue 1, another retelling of Tony’s origin from the all-ages line of Marvel Adventures, actually dives far more into the political nuances of a billionaire weapons manufacturer being forced to confront the deaths his weapons have been responsible for. In general I’m surprised at how good even the mainline 616 books can be at tackling issues of the military industrial complex, such as the first arc of Iron Man Legacy and the excellent Iron Man issue 78.

Just some thoughts I wanted to share, I know in 616 it took Tony a while to reckon with what he was causing as the book didn’t focus as much on his weapons manufacturing at first, but I feel it’s important in modern adaptations that make a point to show that this is his main business without having him ever reckon with it in the story.

That's actually a very interesting point you raise there. I'd like to raise you another as well. Specifically, how Iron Man dovetails or juxtaposes with the sci-fi subgenre cyberpunk, which is centered around accelerated or accelerating technological advancement and development in a futuristic setting and how such advancement and development (often negatively) impacts society and humanity at large, and the role mega-sized corporate conglomerates play in exacerbating or exploiting those negative impacts of technological progress for their own benefit. Given Tony Stark's classic role as the CEO of a major technological manufacturer and him struggling with the impact of his past and present actions and inventions on the world he seeks to protect, it would be interesting to see him in a cyberpunk context, as very often, cyberpunk depicts corporate executives as ruthlessly amoral in the pursuit of (even more) wealth and power and using what they do have to immunize themselves from legal (or other forms of) accountability for how they exploit the masses.

Of course, the main difference between Tony and those cyberpunk corporate execs, who are almost uniformly the villains or antagonists, is that Tony has a conscience and a sense of empathy, both of which drive his heroism. Then we have his increasingly advanced armors, some of which are able to integrate or interface with his physiology, which is somewhat similar to the kinds of cybernetic augmentation often depicted in cyberpunk. Naturally, situations like Armor Wars or the current deal with "Stark Sentinels" also slightly parallel cyberpunk's approach of addressing the societal (and human) impact of technological advancement run amok and beyond the control of its inventors or initiators, with technology intended to help humanity and society instead being turned into yet more means to inflict harm upon humanity and society (and even profit from it in the process).

[Crazyspideyfan]

That's actually a very interesting point you raise there. I'd like to raise you another as well. Specifically, how Iron Man dovetails or juxtaposes with the sci-fi subgenre cyberpunk, which is centered around accelerated or accelerating technological advancement and development in a futuristic setting and how such advancement and development (often negatively) impacts society and humanity at large, and the role mega-sized corporate conglomerates play in exacerbating or exploiting those negative impacts of technological progress for their own benefit. Given Tony Stark's classic role as the CEO of a major technological manufacturer and him struggling with the impact of his past and present actions and inventions on the world he seeks to protect, it would be interesting to see him in a cyberpunk context, as very often, cyberpunk depicts corporate executives as ruthlessly amoral in the pursuit of (even more) wealth and power and using what they do have to immunize themselves from legal (or other forms of) accountability for how they exploit the masses.

Of course, the main difference between Tony and those cyberpunk corporate execs, who are almost uniformly the villains or antagonists, is that Tony has a conscience and a sense of empathy, both of which drive his heroism. Then we have his increasingly advanced armors, some of which are able to integrate or interface with his physiology, which is somewhat similar to the kinds of cybernetic augmentation often depicted in cyberpunk. Naturally, situations like Armor Wars or the current deal with "Stark Sentinels" also slightly parallel cyberpunk's approach of addressing the societal (and human) impact of technological advancement run amok and beyond the control of its inventors or initiators, with technology intended to help humanity and society instead being turned into yet more means to inflict harm upon humanity and society (and even profit from it in the process).

A cyberpunk universe Tony would be an amazing concept to dive into, I’m suprised something like that hasn’t exactly happened in detail yet, it would definitely be most interesting if it was a world where only Tony existed instead of a full cyberpunk Marvel Universe because then his choices would have more of an impact on the world around him, they could maybe have a new 2099 version of Tony but I feel there is too much already happening in that universe atm, also Tony would either be ai or very old, it would be cool seeing his origin retold in a cyberpunk dystopia

[Frontier]

https://www.comicsxf.com/2024/01/11/...an-14-preview/

For those that don't go to the X thread subsection and just follow Iron-man.

Are they finally going to do it ?

[Huntsman Spider]

A cyberpunk universe Tony would be an amazing concept to dive into, I’m suprised something like that hasn’t exactly happened in detail yet, it would definitely be most interesting if it was a world where only Tony existed instead of a full cyberpunk Marvel Universe because then his choices would have more of an impact on the world around him, they could maybe have a new 2099 version of Tony but I feel there is too much already happening in that universe atm, also Tony would either be ai or very old, it would be cool seeing his origin retold in a cyberpunk dystopia

Considering the original 2099 had Stark Enterprises/Industries bought out and turned into another soulless mega-sized corporate powerhouse . . . with its CEO retaining an assassin that was a futuristic samurai called the Specialist . . . it's almost a mercy whoever bought it out wasn't able to access the Iron Man Armory . . . who knows what kind of hellscape 2099 would become with corporate stooges and assassins in Iron Man suits flying around?

[MichaelC]

Added two more panels to the Mandarin vs Iron Man fight scene. Figure about 5 more to complete the fight scene.
https://i.postimg.cc/13ZVz9Mf/Unibeam-Fight-Big-One.png
https://i.postimg.cc/T3qQ92PD/Unibeam-Fight-Big-Two.png

[Tony Stark]

Considering the original 2099 had Stark Enterprises/Industries bought out and turned into another soulless mega-sized corporate powerhouse . . . with its CEO retaining an assassin that was a futuristic samurai called the Specialist . . . it's almost a mercy whoever bought it out wasn't able to access the Iron Man Armory . . . who knows what kind of hellscape 2099 would become with corporate stooges and assassins in Iron Man suits flying around?

Damn. I was unaware of this. Glad I didn’t read it.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

I know, right?! Maybe with a little bit of Alex Ross thrown in & an added dash of Heroes Reborn for good measure (XD)

Maybe it's just me, but I never liked what I called the "Smokestack Armor" from Heroes Reborn.

[Huntsman Spider]

Damn. I was unaware of this. Glad I didn’t read it.

Funny enough, the late 90s/early 2000s post-Heroes Reborn/Return run seemed to be building toward that future, since in 2099, the company that bought out Stark Enterprises was known as Fujikawa, and that same late 90s/early 2000s Iron Man run had Rumiko Fujikawa as Tony's major love interest while her father Kenjiro was set up as a business rival to him. Also in 2099, the most dominant megacorporation of that future was Alchemax, which had Tyler Stone as a top executive for scientific research and development, and the late 1990s/early 2000s Iron Man was where Tyler's father Tiberius Stone debuted as a particularly ruthless and vicious business rival for Tony. That said, yeah, it was something of a disappointment that we didn't get a proper accounting of what became of Tony Stark himself in 2099, much less a successor following in his footsteps and ideals like with Spider-Man, fighting against what his company had been turned into in his absence.

[MichaelC]

spoilers:

There's more garbage about the rings that makes me roll my eyes so hard they just about fall out of my head. Riri calls the rings "artifacts", which is nonsense. The originals were just circuitry ripped out of a warpdrive and heavily modified by the genius gadgeteer called The Mandarin. And the current rings are NOT THE ORIGINALS. The Mandarin has been gradually replacing the originals over the years, some because the technology became obsolete, others because they were destroyed in battle. He hasn't worn a full set of the original rings since literally the early Silver Age. There's zero reason why the latest iteration of a gadgeteer's gadget rings would have souls in them. It's nauseating nonsense. At least the rings are disposed of by the end of the story. I would have preferred that they be destroyed, but at least they are gone and I don't have to endure all the stupid, Homemobile garbage that has been added to them in recent years. Stark and Frost are banging, which feels like far more of an organic development than Hellcat's story.

end of spoilers