Iron Man has been a major hero in the Marvel Universe for decades, and he's had more comic books than he's had technologically advanced armors. Some of these stories have sent Tony Stark to the veritable edge, whereas others gave him some of his greatest triumphs. One example of both is the iconic Armor Wars, which remains the veritable height of the Armored Avenger's adventures.
Following Tony Stark after his technology gets stolen, Armor Wars tested Iron Man's valor by pitting him against a variety of villains from his rogues gallery. It's since gone on to inspire a sequel, retellings, and adaptations in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
10 Iron Man's Rogues Gallery Made an Extensive Appearance
Iron Man's enemies don't always get a lot of respect within the Marvel Universe, though they were a major part of Armor Wars. With Iron Man's advanced technology stolen, he seeks everyone else who wears an armor like his own. This forces him to confront some of his oldest enemies, including such armored adversaries as the Crimson Dynamo and Titanium Man.
Armor Wars showcased characters who otherwise were simply used as interchangeable villains-of-the-week. It also introduced new foes such as Firepower, a massive armored character who dwarfed Iron Man. The storyline remains one of the few times these characters shared a unified spotlight and respect.
9 Armor Wars Has Had Various Retellings and Adaptations
Armor Wars was followed up two years after the original storyline ended with Armor Wars II. This sequel wasn't the only new version of the original concept to be published. An all-ages retelling — Iron Man & the Armor Wars — released a year after the first Iron Man movie. There was also Ultimate Comics: Armor Wars, the modern equivalent of the story set in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Other divergent comics explored what may have happened if the Armor Wars never ended.
Both the 1990s Iron Man cartoon and the CGI series Iron Man: Armored Adventures had their own takes on the iconic storyline. Elements of Iron Man 2 resembled Armor Wars, and the comic events will soon be adapted more completely as the MCU movie of the same name. Even Armor Wars II got its time in the limelight as inspiration for Iron Man's Game Boy Advance video game.
8 Armor Wars Brought Tony Stark's Story Full Circle
When Tony Stark first became Iron Man, he reexamined his life as a weapons manufacturer. Seeking to use his technology for more benevolent means, he also took to heroism in the guise of Iron Man. Of course, the very premise of Armor Wars upended this entirely.
With his technology in the hands of other, Iron Man devoted himself to stopping it from used for evil means. This represented where he was at the beginning of his career, as well as the continued danger that his gadgetry posed to the world. In many ways, it was the ultimate Iron Man story that perfectly explored how advancing tech could easily become dangerous.
7 Armor Wars Showcased What Made Iron Man Different from His Enemies
Armor Wars upgraded many of Iron Man's enemies, turning them into bigger threats. Iron Man himself had to update his proverbial and literal software in order to keep up. This showed the main difference between Tony Stark and his greatest enemies, who largely paled in comparison to his brilliance.
Even with his technology, Iron Man beat his opponents through sheer force of will and more ingenuity. Iron Man's alter ego was a genius who knew his own armor inside out. Likewise, his opponents were many times just copycats who wore armor similar to Tony's. Armor Wars epitomized that even with the same technology, the "man" was the most important part of the equation.
6 Armor Wars Put Rhodey In Center Stage
James "Rhodey" Rhodes was introduced in this iconic run on Iron Man, and he's also a pivotal part of Armor Wars. Rhodey helps Tony track down his technology and recover it from any guilty villains. He even joins the fray on several occasions, including a time when he disguises himself the Spider-Man villain Electro.
Iron Man seemingly sacrifices himself at one point to save Rhodey's life, though it was actually a lifeless armor that was caught in a massive blast. This showcases the friendship between Tony Stark and James Rhodes, proving that Tony did indeed have a heart. It also paved the way for Rhodey to become his own armored hero, War Machine.
5 Other Marvel Heroes Appeared In Armor Wars
Though Armor Wars is explicitly an Iron Man event, there are appearances from unrelated Marvel heroes. Chief among these is Tony's friend and fellow Avenger Steve Rogers, who at the time wasn't operating as Captain America. Nick Fury, Hawkeye, and the West Coast Avengers were also present at different times — although the former was particularly antagonistic.
Nick Fury's desire for Iron Man's armor emphasized how Tony Stark had to be the one controlling his technology. Likewise, the presence of these other heroes continued to give Iron Man credibility as a major part of the Marvel Universe. Though he was years from movie stardom, Iron Man was still a cool and respected hero with a heart of steel.
4 Armor Wars Celebrated the David Michelinie/Bob Layton Iron Man Run
David Michelinie and Bob Layton previously worked on the Iron Man ongoing series before to the book in 1986. Unfortunately, they felt that this momentous event was properly advertised or promoted, giving the series itself similar treatment. In response, then-editor-in-chief Jim Shooter tasked them with creating a massive storyline worthy of being hyped up.
The result was Armor Wars, which made Iron Man responsible for his villains' action through his technology. It's now considered a standout storyline for the hero, as evidenced by the aforementioned adaptations. In an era where Iron Man wasn't A-list in the Marvel Universe, Armor Wars helped showcase why his book was worth reading.
3 Introduced One of Iron Man's Coolest Armors
By the end of Armor Wars, Iron Man dons a new armor: the Neo-Classic Armor. This advanced suit took things up a notch while also taking them back to basics. Its color scheme and general design returned Tony Stark to his roots after the divergent Silver Centurion armor.
This armor remained Iron Man's go-to look for years. It and the Modular Armor were his definitive suits in the 1990s, and they were largely what fans associated with the character before his more modern look in Extremis. In the end, it was the perfect representation of a new beginning for Tony Stark.
2 Gave Iron Man a True Psychological Battle
In the climax of Armor Wars, Tony Stark fights his strongest armored opponent: Iron Man. This battle in his mind is more than just a nightmare sequence. It forces Tony to come to terms with himself and the deadly legacy of his technology and weapons.
This was the perfect epilogue for a story that was already dealing with these themes. Armor Wars also showcased that Iron Man's greatest enemy was his own past and the self-doubt he had in his heroic acts. This gave it an edge over another beloved storyline featuring Iron Man.
1 Armor Wars Is Better Than Demon In a Bottle
"Demon In a Bottle" is regularly heralded as one of Iron Man's best stories. Though his battle with alcoholism was a key part of Tony Stark's character development, the sentiment behind it became the main reason the story is so lauded. Notably lacking in action and even somewhat tame compared to other "topical" comics of the time, "Demon In a Bottle" is mainly important because Iron Man had few standout storylines at that point.
Armor Wars is a much better representation of Tony Stark's character, not to mention featuring a lot more action. It's also more of a full-fledged narrative, whereas "Demon In a Bottle," despite misconceptions, isn't. Add in that the epilogue of the story addresses Tony's alcoholism, and Armor Wars is the true definitive Iron Man event, both in spectacle and themes.