Thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark has become one of the biggest superheroes in pop culture. But for fans of the films, it might be hard to come to terms with never seeing one of their favorite characters again. Of course, there are comics, but with so many unique and varying titles existing.
Though, not many people want to start at the very beginning when there are so many comics available to be read. Since his first appearance, there has been no shortage of important Iron Man comics. These stories are crucial to understanding the character as he is in Marvel Universe today.
9 Extremis Defined Iron Man's Powers For Over A Decade
Though the run only lasted a brief six issues, it defined the character through the 2000s (until the Iron Man film.) Even then, the ramifications of Extremis were felt for decades. In this storyline, Iron Man’s origin is retold and the character battles against a threat that makes his older armors obsolete.
From here, Iron Man begins delving into more transhumanist elements again, and introduces armor that cannot be piloted without either being directly connected to the armor or a hyper-advanced AI.
8 Civil War Showed Tony As The Director Of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Civil War isn’t technically an Iron Man comic book, but Iron Man’s such a central character that it might as well be. The book arguably has one of the most intense portrayals of Iron Man that’s ever been written- as Iron Man essentially turns into a fascist trying to force the other superheroes to play along with S.H.I.E.L.D.
The book was so popular it became Tony Stark’s de-facto characterization for years to come. But more importantly, it showed Tony Stark in his new role as leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. and raised his profile in the Marvel Universe.
7 World's Most Wanted Had Tony Take Responsibility For Leading S.H.I.E.L.D.
Civil War is a crucial read because it’s necessary to show Tony Stark’s rise, but World’s Most Wanted shows Tony Stark’s fall. During Secret Invasion, all of Tony Stark’s technology is hacked by the Skrulls and essentially made worthless.
Because of Stark's failings during the Secret Invasion, and Norman Osborn finishing the Skrull Queen off on national television for everyone to see, Norman Osborn is placed in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D., which turns into HAMMER. Realizing the danger in having Osborn possess knowledge of every secret identity of any registered hero, Tony Stark goes on the run to try and delete the information. In the end, it’s these actions that allow Tony Stark’s heroism to shine through while he’s battling a twisted, mirror image of himself.
6 Stark: Resilient Had Tony Settle Into His Role As A Businessman Again
Stark Resilient wraps up much of the storyline from the Extremis era forward. Civil War showed Tony Stark placed in charge of America’s homeland defense forces, World’s Most Wanted showed him being unseated from all of that, and Stark Resilient shows how he bounces back and goes back to being regular Tony Stark.
He manages to improve on Extremis to give himself an even more impressive armor in the Bleeding Edge suit, which makes him one of the most powerful heroes in the Marvel Universe again. Generally, for people who were turned off by the characterization of Tony Stark in the Civil War era, World’s Most Wanted and Stark: Resilient are capable of bringing them back.
5 The Secret Origin of Tony Stark Revealed Tony Stark Was Adopted
The first run after Matt Fraction left Iron Man, (Kieron Gillen’s run) created one of the biggest changes to the character. After tying the Stark family into a sci-fi story, the character’s origin is completely reset. It turns out that Howard and Maria Stark were so desperate to have a kid they made a deal with alien to make it happen.
Despite Recorder 451 having his own purpose for the Stark child, he would eventually learn that Tony wasn’t his parents’ son. Fortunately, this fact being kept secret from Recorder 451 was the only thing that saved Stark’s life, but it would be years before the question of who Stark’s parents was was answered.
4 International Iron Man Showed Who Tony Stark's Parents Were
When Brian Bendis took over the character, he managed to answer the burning question everyone had in the back of their mind: who was Tony Stark’s parents? Over the course of seven issues, Tony would get involved with the first girl he ever fell in love with, have parts of his origin re-written again, and eventually meet his mother.
Like Tony, Amanda Armstrong was a renaissance woman: part rock star, part super-spy. His father? Jude, a member of HYDRA. No one said things were supposed to be less complicated once Tony Stark got the answers he wanted.
3 Invincible Iron Man: Ironheart Introduced Fans To Tony Stark's Protege, Riri Williams
The other major thing Brian Bendis managed to do during his run was create a protege for Iron Man, something he’d never had before. Riri Williams was a young super-genius who built her first suit by reverse-engineering one of Tony Stark’s older armors.
Despite Tony’s massive ego, he was more impressed by Riri’s genius and encouraged her to become a hero. He encouraged her so much, that he implanted an AI based on his own personality into the Ironheart Mark 3 armor.
2 Iron Man 600 Revives Tony Stark And James Rhodes (And Features Both Of His Parents)
The last issue of Brian Bendis’ Invincible Iron Man comic was Iron Man #600, and it’s something everyone should read in order to understand where Tony Stark is now. After the events of Civil War 2, Tony Stark was rendered out of action for a time, but Iron Man #600 managed to revive Tony Stark and James Rhodes.
It also gave Stark control of Stark Industries again, and re-introduced Tony Stark’s father, who turned out to still be alive, and still working with HYDRA. The comic also explores some fun plot points like Leonardo Da Vinci being alive and trying to create a new S.H.I.E.L.D. with the help of Miles Morales and Riri Williams. Which, to be fair, might have been a bit too much.
1 A New Status Quo Is Set Up For Him In Tony Stark: Iron Man: Self-Made Man
Dan Slott's opening issue introduces Tony running a new company in Stark Unlimited. What’s impressive about this opening arc is that it features characters from across Stark history and makes them relevant again.
Amanda Armstrong? Still around. James Rhodes? A co-star in the book. Tony’s real one true love Bethany Cabe? Present as security officer. And it introduces plenty of new ideas and elements to make things fresh.
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