Summary
As a new era begins for Tony Stark,Iron Manis officiallydebuting a new, steampunk-themed suit. The new look comes as a new volume ofIron Manlaunches this October,from Spencer Ackerman (Waller vs Wildstorm) and Julius Ohta (Hellverine.) The new volume will focus on an angrier, more brutal Tony Stark - one who just recovered from a major loss and refuses to fall that hard again.
The series will see Tony Stark’s prior suit fail him, leading him to create an improvised armor"unlike any seen in his over 60-year history.“The new suit is named the"Improvised Iron Man,” and readers will see Tony build, adjust and improve the armor over the course of the new series, as he goes to war against terrorist group A.I.M. and the evil corporation Roxxon.
Cover Artist:
Yasmine Putri (main), Sumit Kumar (variant)
Roxxon and A.I.M. team up to take on Stark Unlimited! But they’re ready for the old Tony Stark. This one? He’s a lot angrier than he used to be. Iron Man is going to war! New armor, old enemies, and unbelievable twists abound in this fresh take on a fury-powered Iron Man!
The covers shared so far promise “the Stark/Roxxon War,” suggesting Tony is going to war with the Minotaur - aka heartless Roxxon CEO Dario Agger, who has recently been posing a major problem to Thor.Sumit Kumar’s variant cover offers a more detailed look at Tony’s new armor, showing interesting details such as the fact his entire body won’t be armored (at least at first), with a definite steampunk aesthetic with various energy ports and tubing.
ROXXON: Who Are Marvel Comics' Shadiest Corporation (& Is Their CEO Really A Minotaur?)
Marvel Comics' recent acquisition by Roxxon Corporation has led many readers to ask who the publisher’s new parent company, and their CEO, really are.
Warning: spoilers in this section for Invincible Iron Man #20 - skip to the next section to keep reading spoiler free.
Iron Man Gets New “Improvised Iron Man” Armor
Tony’s New Suit Is a Unique New Approach to His Armor
InInvincible Iron Man #20,Tony just defeated his recent nemesis Feilongandhad his vast fortune restored by Emma Frost. Having lost friends and irreplaceable resources at Feilong’s hands. It seems that having been restored to his full power, Tony is unwilling to ever lose so much again, even when sizable enemies like AIM, Roxxon, and a new Iron Monger come calling. Marvel’s press release for the issue states:
Following today’s conclusion of Gerry Duggan’sInvincible Iron Man, Tony Stark is back on top after regaining control of his company, armor, and confidence. He’s determined to never hit rock bottom again, so when familiar threats like Roxxon and A.I.M. resurface, they’ll be met by an Iron Man more than willing to fight back, play dirty, and unleash every bit of his intellect to bring them down! When the best of his own technology fails him, Tony will build a brand-new armor unlike any seen in his over 60-year history. Dubbed the “Improvised Iron Man,” fans will see it assembled throughout the series as Tony does what he does best - tinkering and upgrading it to counter anything the world throws at him. The series will also debut a new Iron Monger, complete with a mysteriously-powered new armor.
Iron Man Is Replacing His Mysterium Armor
What Could Motivate Tony Stark to Retire His Most Powerful Suit Yet?
What will be most interesting to fans is that Tony’s new Improvised Iron Man suitreplaces his recent Mysterium Armor- a suit made of near-indestructible metal that’s immune to everything from magic to Spider-Man’s spider-sense. It’s among the most powerful suits Tony has ever worn, and certainly the most powerful human-sized armor he owns, so why is he trading down to a seemingly more ramshackle model?
Only the series will answer this question, but the information provided so far suggests Mysterium may fail Tony. Given the metal is currently propping up the entire galactic economy, that could have cataclysmic consequences across Marvel Comics. However, the lack of Mysterium doesn’t mean the new Improvised Iron Man won’t have its advantages, as it seems incredibly modular and capable of adapting to different threats.Ackerman’s experience covering real life experimental weaponry as a journalist will also come into play, with the writer saying:
Winning a Pulitzer is cool and all, but it’s not writing for Marvel Comics. And to write IRON MAN is a very specific dream come true. A lot of comics' best creators have used Iron Man to tell big stories about security and freedom - with a whole lot of super hero action, of course - and I can’t wait to build on their legacy.
In my day job reporting on national security, I’ve covered the real-life equivalents of the Stark Expo, watched experimental weapons in action, seen their impact on human beings, and tracked the massive wealth they generate for a select few. Tony struggles with challenges - and is sure about to struggle with challenges - that I’ve covered for years. Only now I can write about them the way I’ve always wanted to: in a super hero universe!
The debut of a new Iron Monger will be welcomed by fans.Obadiah Stane was one of Tony’s most iconic villainsand even appeared in the MCU, played by Jeff Bridges. Someone else is now behind the mask, taking on the legacy (and threat level) of Iron Man’s most personal, dangerous and famous dark reflection. Big things are coming withIron Man’s new series, as Tony Stark takes a wild new approach to building the best armor possible for any given threat.
