Top 10 Iron Man Comics You Should Read
He dominates the big screen, but what are the comics that tell the best stories about Marvel's iron-clad hero? Join http://www.WatchMojo.com as we count down the Top 10 Iron Man Comics You Should Read. For this list, we're looking at awesome Iron Man tales that are exceptionally well told and/or have an important place in the Iron Man canon – in other words, stories that are genuinely Marvel-ous.
Special thanks to our user Godslayer79 for submitting the idea on our Interactive Suggestion Tool at http://www.WatchMojo.comsuggest
10 Iron Man Comics You Should Read
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He dominates the big screen, but what are the comics that tell the best stories about Marvel's iron-clad hero? Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we're counting down the Top 10 Iron Man comics you should read. For this list, we're looking at awesome Iron Man tales that are exceptionally well told and/or have an important place in the Iron Man canon – in other words, stories that are genuinely Marvel-ous.
#10: "Enter the Mandarin" (2007-08)
The Mandarin is one of Iron Man's oldest enemies- and one of the most cunning and dangerous. "Enter the Mandarin" re-tells the first meeting between these two foes, going into greater detail and revealing background that fleshes out the Mandarin and makes him more compelling and relevant to modern audiences. Joe Casey's script does an excellent job of respecting history while bringing a fresh approach to the material, and Eric Canete's stylized art is a treat to the eyes.
#9: "Deliverance" (1984)
Tony Stark has been through some really rough times, but few were as personally difficult as those Denny O'Neill put him through in the early 1980s. His fortune gone, his Iron Man armor abandoned and his alcoholism out of control, Tony has become a derelict wandering the streets of New York during a snowstorm. Things reach a nadir when his homeless friend, Gretl, dies giving birth, despite Tony's efforts to help her. "Deliverance" powerfully details the perils of addiction but also paints a picture of the incredible inner strength that ultimately enables Stark to bounce back.
#8: "Civil War: The Confession" (2007)
Despite the immense popularity of the "Civil War" series, many readers felt cheated by Iron Man's role as the pseudo-villain of the series. "The Confession" is a one-issue epilogue, largely a dialogue between Iron Man and Captain America, who were on opposite sides of the conflict. Readers finally got a chance to hear Iron Man explain the reasons for his actions – and to see how deeply his choices have affected him. The Golden Avenger comes across as achingly human a deeply flawed hero who must live with his tragic decisions.
#7: "World's Most Wanted" (2009)
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Iron Man became S.H.I.E.LD.'s public enemy #1 when Norman Osborn became the head of the organization. Osborn planned on using S.H.I.E.L.D.'s files on superhero secret identities to eliminate them, so Iron Man had downloaded all those files into his own brain. "World's Most Wanted" details the Tony Stark’s attempt to keep that information out of Osborn's clutches – even if it means becoming brain dead in the process. Writer Matt Fraction keeps this epic-length adventure gripping and compelling, aided by Salvador Larroca's atmospheric and dynamic artwork.
#6: "The Iron Age" (1998)
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Stan Lee's early Marvel age stories were groundbreaking, but they often glossed over a few details. Kurt Busiek's look back at the first days of Iron Man fills in a lot of the blanks in ol' Shellhead's story, adding in some retroactive continuity while filtering things through a more contemporary lens. And by letting the story be told through the eyes of long-time Iron Man alumni Pepper Potts and Happy Hogan, he adds a new perspective on the whole picture. "The Iron Age" manages to recreate the excitement and wonder of early Marvel while adding in a welcome layer of complexity.
#5: "Doomquest" (1981)
What happens when Marvel's two most famous armored figures – Iron Man and Dr. Doom – are sent back to the era of knights in shining armor? "Doomquest" lets readers see for themselves. David Micheline and Bob Layton crafted a story that is more lighthearted than many Iron Man epics. The danger in it is real, but the stories’ playful mood is refreshing. Adventure and derring-do are given a free rein here, with ample chance for character development.
#4: "The Iron Monger Saga" (1985)
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The first "Iron Man" film borrowed liberally from the Iron Monger saga – most notably in Obadiah Stane's takeover of Stark Industries and his Iron Monger suit. But the original is more detailed and offers more backstory than the film. More importantly, it features Iron Man's triumphant rebirth after having hit rock bottom – and so the stakes are higher and the pay-off has more resonance. Stane is one of the world's great corporate villains, and his long-running rivalry with Tony Stark is an important part of the Iron Man universe.
#3: "The Armor Wars" (1987-88)
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One of the problems with technology is keeping it out of competitors' hands. When criminals steal Iron Man's technology, the Golden Avenger goes into overdrive to get it back. Criminals begin using the stolen tech. to create weapons and gadgets of their own and thus begins some of the most rollicking, action-packed sequences in the Iron Man canon. Pitting Stark against not only super viallains, but S.H.I.E.L.D. as well, the Armor Wars is a must read storyline for every Iron Man fan.
#2: "Extremis" (2005-06)
This classic also features elements found in the "Iron Man" films, but Marvel fans remember it for the innovations it brought to the character. Specifically, "Extremis" provides Tony Stark with nano-technology that essentially makes the armor he wears an intrinsic part of him. The reverse of that, of course, is that he is also a part of the armor. His powers and abilities increased significantly by this development, it also sets up situations which will cause Stark trouble. "Extremis" reinvigorated a decades-old character but still stayed true to his roots – a difficult trick to pull off. Before we reveal our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: "The Mask in the Iron Man" (2000) "Crash and Burn" (1994) "The Beginning of the End" (1969-70) "Director of S.H.I.E.L.D." (2007-08) "War Machine" (1992) “Iron Man 2020”
#1: "Demon in a Bottle" (1979)
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Hailed by most fans as the most emotional and intense Iron Man story arc, "Demon in a Bottle" is a harrowing exploration of Tony Stark's personality. Specifically, it deals with his chronic dependence on alcohol and on the toll that an addiction can take on a man – and how that toll increases when the man has the responsibilities of a super hero. Although the arc has plenty of action, it's the raw emotions and the gut-wrenching portrayal of a devastated Tony Stark that give this story its true and undeniable power. Agree with our choices? What other stories with Ol' Shellhead should we have included? For more enthralling top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.
