Iron Man (comic book)

Publication history

Volume 1

The character made his first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39 (cover dated March 1963). After issue #99 (March 1968), the Tales of Suspense series was renamed Captain America. An Iron Man story appeared in the one-shot issue Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1 (April 1968), before the "Golden Avenger" made his solo debut with Iron Man #1 (May 1968). The series' indicia gives its copyright title as Iron Man, while the trademarked cover logo of most issues is The Invincible Iron Man. Artist George Tuska began a decade-long association with the character with Iron Man #5 (Sept. 1968). Writer Mike Friedrich and artist Jim Starlin's brief collaboration on the Iron Man series introduced Mentor, Drax, Starfox, and Thanos in issue #55 (Feb. 1973). Friedrich scripted a metafictional story in which Iron Man visited the San Diego Comic Convention and met several Marvel Comics writers and artists. He then wrote the multi-issue "War of the Super-Villains" storyline which ran through 1975.

Writer David Michelinie, co-plotter/inker Bob Layton, and penciler John Romita Jr. became the creative team on the series with Iron Man #116 (Nov. 1978). Micheline and Layton established Tony Stark's alcoholism with the story "Demon in a Bottle", and introduced several supporting characters, including Stark's bodyguard/girlfriend Bethany Cabe; Stark's personal pilot and confidant James Rhodes, who later became the superhero War Machine; and rival industrialist Justin Hammer, who was revealed to be the employer of numerous high-tech armed enemies Iron Man had fought over the years. The duo also introduced the concept of Stark's specialized armors as he acquired a dangerous vendetta with Doctor Doom in the "Doomquest" storyline. The team worked together through #154 (Jan. 1982), with Michelinie writing three issues without Layton.

Following Michelinie and Layton's departures, Dennis O'Neil became the new writer of the series and had Stark relapse into alcoholism. Much of O'Neil's work on this plot thread was based on experiences with alcoholics he knew personally. Jim Rhodes replaced Stark as Iron Man in issue #169 (April 1983) and wore the armor for the next two years of stories. O'Neil returned Tony Stark to the Iron Man identity in issue #200 (Nov. 1985). Michelinie and Layton became the creative team once again in issue #215 (Feb. 1987). They crafted the "Armor Wars" storyline in issues #225 (Dec. 1987) to #231 (June 1988). John Byrne and John Romita Jr. produced a sequel titled "Armor Wars II" in issues #258-266 (July 1990-March 1991). The series had a crossover with the other Avengers-related titles as part of the "Operation: Galactic Storm" storyline. This initial series ended with issue #332 (Sept. 1996).

Volume 2

Main article: Heroes Reborn (1996 comic)

Jim Lee, Scott Lobdell, and Jeph Loeb authored a second volume of the series as part of Heroes Reborn, which was drawn primarily by Whilce Portacio and Ryan Benjamin. This volume took place in a parallel universe and ran 13 issues (Nov. 1996 – Nov. 1997).

Volume 3

Volume 3, whose first 25 issues were written by Kurt Busiek and then by Busiek and Roger Stern, ran 89 issues (Feb. 1998 - Dec. 2004). Later writers included Joe Quesada, Frank Tieri, Mike Grell, and John Jackson Miller. Issue #41 (June 2001) was additionally numbered #386, reflecting the start of dual numbering starting from the premiere issue of Volume 1 in 1968. The final issue was dual-numbered as #434.

Volume 4

The next Iron Man series, Iron Man (vol. 4), debuted in early 2005 with the Warren Ellis-written storyline "Extremis", with artist Adi Granov. It ran 35 issues (Jan. 2005 - Jan. 2009), with the cover logo simply Iron Man, beginning with issue #13, and Iron Man: Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., beginning with issue #15. On the final three issues, the cover logo was overwritten by "War Machine, Weapon of S.H.I.E.L.D.", which led to the launch of a War Machine ongoing series.

The Invincible Iron Man (vol. 1), by writer Matt Fraction and artist Salvador Larroca, began with a premiere issue cover dated July 2008. For a seven-month overlap, Marvel published both Volume 4 and Volume 5 simultaneously. This Invincible volume jumped its numbering of issues from #33 to #500, cover-dated March 2011, to reflect the start from the premiere issue of Volume 1 in 1968.

Volume 5

After the conclusion of The Invincible Iron Man (vol. 1), a new Iron Man series was started as a part of Marvel NOW!. Written by Kieron Gillen and illustrated by Greg Land, it began with issue #1 in November 2012, and ended with issue #28 in June 2014. The fifth volume consists of the "Iron Metropolitan" and "Rings of the Mandarin" story arcs. The volume also revealed that Tony was adopted, and that he had a disabled half-brother named Arno.

Collected editions

''Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man''

''Essential Iron Man''

Iron Man ''Epic Collection''s

''Iron Man Omnibus''

''Iron Man''

''Heroes Reborn''/''Heroes Return''

''Iron Man'' (vol. 4)/''Invincible Iron Man'' (vol. 1)

Marvel NOW!

Tony Stark: Iron Man

Miniseries

References

References

1. Beard, Jim. (July 12, 2007). "Spotlight on Iron Man/Tony Stark". Marvel Comics.
2. (2008). "Marvel Chronicle A Year by Year History". [[Dorling Kindersley]].
3. (2005). "The Art of George Tuska". [[TwoMorrows Publishing]].
4. [[Peter Sanderson. Sanderson, Peter]] "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 158: "In this issue, scripted by Mike Friedrich, plotter and penciler Jim Starlin introduced a miniature mythos of his creations."
5. (January 1975). "Iron Man".
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8. (August 1975). "Iron Man".
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12. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 187: "In December [1978], co-plotters David Michelinie and Bob Layton, and penciler John Romita Jr...came up with Bethany Cabe, a highly capable professional bodyguard and a different sort of leading lady."
13. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 188: "Writer David Michelinie and artists John Byrne and Bob Layton introduced James Rhodes, Tony Stark's best friend and future superhero War Machine, in ''Iron Man'' #118."
14. Sanderson "1970s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 189: "Tony Stark's billionaire nemesis Justin Hammer made his first appearance in ''Iron Man'' #120 by writer David Michelinie and artist John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton."
15. (January 1981). "Iron Man".
16. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 202: "In ''Iron Man'' #152, Iron Man unveiled his all-black stealth armor."
17. (November 1981). "Iron Man".
18. (August 1981). "Iron Man".
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20. Zimmerman, Dwight Jon. (August 1986). "Denny O'Neil". [[Fictioneer Books]].
21. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 211: "Jim was the natural choice to replace [Stark] as Iron Man when Tony's problem's with alcohol prevented him from doing the job. Jim continued in his role until ''Iron Man'' #199 (Oct. 1985)."
22. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 223
23. DeFalco "1980s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 233: "Although actually called 'Stark Wars', the story arc that became known as 'Armor Wars' began in this issue and ran until June 1988."
24. (March 1992). "Iron Man".
25. (April 1992). "Iron Man".
26. Manning, Matthew K. "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 280: "Part of the 'Heroes Reborn' event, Iron Man was relaunched into a new universe courtesy of writer Scott Lobdell and Jim Lee, with pencils by Whilce Portacio."
27. [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/ironman6.htm#S387 ''Iron Man'' (II)] in the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
28. Manning "1990s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 289: "Tony Stark returned in style...in this new ongoing series by writer Kurt Busiek and artist Sean Chen."
29. [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/ironman3.htm#S476 ''Iron Man'' (III)] in the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
30. Manning "2000s" in Gilbert (2008), p. 325: "Writer Warren Ellis teamed up with illustrator Adi Granov to create a new spin on Iron Man that would have long-lasting effects."
31. Ong Pang Kean, Benjamin. (September 11, 2007). "Forging Iron: Adi Granov talks Iron Man". Newsarama.
32. [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/ironman8.htm#S4745 ''Iron Man'' (IV)] in the Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
33. Esposito, Joey. (January 14, 2011). "''Invincible Iron Man'' #500 Preview". IGN.
34. Richards, Dave. (December 26, 2008). "The Osborn Supremacy: Iron Man". [[Comic Book Resources]].
35. "''The Invincible Iron Man'' (V) (2008-2011)". Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators.
36. (November 7, 2012). "''Iron Man'' (2012) #1". Marvel Comics.