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Even though he’s one of the smartest men in the world and the owner of countless powerful armors, Iron Man is by no means perfect because he’s made his fair share of mistakes that have cost many people their lives. Still, every day he puts on his armor so that he can do good and repent for his misdeeds. It’s his tragic yet relatable motivation and weaknesses that have allowed the Armored Avenger to secure his place among the best superheroes of all time.
10) Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Following Iron Man’s victory during Civil War and the passage of the Superhuman Registration Act, the hero is rewarded for his actions by becoming the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D. The story follows Tony as he becomes one of the most powerful people on the planet and the head of a global peacekeeping agency. The weight of his new position burdens Tony, as he must balance defending the free world with keeping the superhero community in check. If all of this wasn’t enough, he must also confront his archnemesis, the Mandarin, who has returned with a new scheme to wipe out 98% of humanity. It’s an epic storyline that offers great character introspection for Tony in the lens of a political and spy thriller.
9) “The Mask in the Iron Man”
Tony has always relied on his suits to be a superhero, but in “The Mask in the Iron Man,” his own armor turns against him. When his latest armor becomes sentient, Tony must take responsibility for this new life form and teach it to use its destructive potential for good. It’s a shocking premise: Tony is practically thrust into fatherhood and must struggle with his own shortcomings if he wants to teach the armor about the nature of humanity and heroism. The armor itself is a fascinating character because it both desires its “father’s” approval but is also quick to resort to murder. “The Mask in the Iron Man” offers a unique look into the relationship between Tony and his most incredible creation.
8) “Doomquest”
Iron Man and Doctor Doom are the two most popular armored characters in Marvel Comics, and “DoomQuest” puts the hero and villain in a battle that takes them back in time to Arthurian Camelot. A magical mishap accidentally lands them in the middle of the opposing sides in the war between King Arthur and the sorceress Morgan Le Fay. Although initially Iron Man fights for King Arthur and Doctor Doom fights for Morgan Le Fay, the two super-geniuses realize that they must work together if they want to return home. The story is a fun and creative tale that sees two of the most technologically savvy Marvel characters trapped in a primitive time of magic and superstition.
7) “Extremis”
The comic series that helped lay the blueprint for Iron Man’s portrayal in the MCU, “Extremis” updates the Armored Avenger’s origin and character for the modern age. The story follows Tony as he contemplates what good his technology has actually accomplished for the world. At the same time, a new super-soldier serum called Extremis is being used by terrorists threatening to throw the world into chaos. Things become so dire that Tony begins upgrading his own body, risking becoming more machine than man. The thought-provoking story makes Tony stronger than he ever was before, as well as lays the groundwork for all future Iron Man stories and the MCU.
6) Iron Monger Saga
Another storyline that helped shape much of the first Iron Man movie, the Iron Monger Saga has Tony face off against the man who tried to systematically destroy every part of his life: Obidiah Stane, aka Iron Monger. The maniacal billionaire Stane seizes control of Tony’s company, resulting in the hero losing his fortune and spiraling into alcoholism. However, even after losing everything, Tony picks himself back up and dons his Silver Centurion armor to face off against Stane. Of course, Stane is prepared for this and debuts his Iron Monger suit to combat his heroic rival. It’s an epic story that displays Tony’s perseverance and acts as the finale of the feud between the two billionaire geniuses.
