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October 18, 2006
Armor Wars: Iron Man Rebels With a Cause
David Micheline and Bob Layton sent the standard for Iron Man stories back in the 70s and 80s. They fleshed out Tony Stark's corporate world (featuring corporate espionage and villains like Justin Hammer, Spymaster) and personal life (girlfriend Bethany Cabe and bodyguard Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes). The classic "Demon in a Bottle" storyline, which told the story of Tony Stark grappling with an addiction to alcohol, will always remain the high point of the Iron Man mythos (no matter what Joe Quesada says). I believe the forthcoming Iron Man movie by Jon Favreau will borrow many of these concepts. Micheline and Layton's first Iron Man (116-153) run ended in 1981. They returned in 1987 to kick off a second historic run (215-250), which included my second-favorite Iron Man storyline of all time.
"Stark Wars" (later re-named Armor Wars) ran through Iron Man 225-232 (volume 1, 1987). The war begins after Stark examines the armor of a former adversary called Force (who went straight in the previous issue). Upon close inspection of the circuitry, Stark discovers that his own technology was powering Force's armor. Since he had never published or patented the designs for the Iron Man armor, Stark thought it was in safe hands--but a villain called Spymaster had stolen Stark's designs and sold them to evil industrialist Justin Hammer. Hammer in turn used these designs to power the armor of numerous super-villains. It infuriates Stark to think of innocent people suffering from something he created. After making every effort to stop them legally, Stark makes a list of these guys (Controller, Beetle, Stilt-Man, Titanium Man, Crimson Dynamo) and goes after them one by one.
Stark's resolve to eliminate all outside use of his technology goes beyond attacking third-tier super-villains. He decides that even the government can't be trusted with it. As long as a government-sanctioned agent uses a variation of his armor, there's always the possibility that Justin Hammer will steal it. At the end of Iron Man 225, Stark makes a declaration: "...with the government's support, or its hindrance...by the law or against it...I'm going to get back what's mine. And Heaven help ANYONE who gets in my way!"
This includes the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and Nick Fury. In Iron Man 226, Stark believes the Avenger called Stingray has Stark-related components in his armor. After a battle that leaves Stingray unconscious, Stark discovers that his information was incorrect. The world believes that Iron Man is a renegade, and Stark publicly fires Iron Man on national television. Iron Man 227 features a terrific battle between Stark and five S.H.I.E.L.D. sanctioned Mandroids that were built with Stark's technology. (I had been waiting to see such a fight ever since Avengers 94!) Stark outwits Fury and sets up an ambush against under the S.H.I.E.L.D. directors nose. You have to wonder why Fury is clueless about Stark's secret identity when Steve Rogers knows the truth.
And speaking of Captain America, Civil War isn't the first time he has come to blows with Iron Man. Armor Wars tore his relationship with Tony Stark to pieces and it was years before they trusted each other again. In this case, it was the inverse of Civil War. Tony Stark was the rebel with a cause, while Steve Rogers backed the government's right to use Stark's technology for self-defense. This all came to a head in Iron Man 228, when Steve Rogers appeared in a new costume as "The Captain" (having briefly quit his job as Captain America).
Iron Man invaded a government facility called The Vault (where the most dangerous super-villains were interred) to neutralize the armor of the Guardsmen. Stark attacked the Vault despite Steve Rogers asking him to back off. When the Captain showed up, Stark paralyzed him with an electrical charge--while his back was turned!
Now what recent event does that remind you of? Cap's sneak attack in Civil War #3! He paralyzes Iron Man's armor with an electron scrambler. It makes me wonder if Mark Millar has read Armor Wars and just reversed the situation.
Enough of the crappy present, let's go back to Armor Wars. Stark's paralyzed his good buddy Steve Rogers, who fixes Stark with a steely gaze as he prepares to destroy the Guardsmen armor.
It's a historic moment that was captured with the reflection of the Captain's face on Iron Man's helmet. This could doubtlessly be better executed today with computer effects, but for 1987, it was very well done. Steve Rogers later went after Tony Stark in Captain America 341, which ended in an temporary truce between the heroes. Years later, they kissed and made up, which I am predicting will eventually happen after Civil Wars is over--though it may take years!
Armor Wars ended with a bang. After Stark seemingly causes the death of the Gremlin (who unwisely decided to operate Titanium Man's armor) in Russia, the military sends an armored agent called Firepower after Iron Man. Firepower is an enormous battle suit, equipped with heat seaking missiles and mini-nukes. Iron Man seemingly perishes in battle with Firepower, but it's only a ruse to make the government believe that Stark's former agent is now dead. Stark seems resolved to give up his secret identity for good, but when Firepower rages out of control, he builds a new suit of armor and takes up the Avenging life again.
The outside world (even the Avengers for a time) believed that a new Stark Industries employee has taken the mantle of Iron Man. When he rejoined the Avengers West Coast, they treated him suspiciously until he proved himself once again. The splash page of AWC 54 has Iron Man facing down his comrades and thinking, "maybe this wasn't such a bright idea after all!"
Armor Wars is about to be reprinted again in a TPB from Marvel in early 2007, and it will include the epilogue issue drawn by Barry Windsor Smith. It's essentially a dream sequence where Tony Stark is tormented by visions of the people his technology has killed over the years. But man, Barry Smith draws a technological hell better than anyone! In re-reading these comics, I was struck by the similarities with Civil War, but also with the differences in modern vs classic storytelling. Each issue of Armor Wars packs a good amount of story, with dense layers of plot. I think I can read any issue of most modern comics in less than five minutes, where it took me 10-15 minutes for these back issues. Great stuff, and if you want more classic Iron Man goodness, check out Bob Layton's site below. Nuff said.
External Link:
Bob Layton's Web Site
Comments
I always though "Stark Wars" was a really pretentious title, but this is one of my favourite stories ever. :)
I loved it in the Iron Secretary storyline when they told Star that the patents were out there, in the coporate machinery of 90 or so companies and no Armour Wars was going to get the genie in the bottle.
That story would have been so different is Firepower wasn't a power-mad dick as well that Tony didn't have insti-redemption on tap.
Posted by: Nudity Buffer | October 19, 2006 5:34 PM
Again another great article on Iron man, even though the crossing has to be his darkest hour, its good it doesn't get ignored.
Oh ta for the pics of the Captain appearance.
Posted by: Will_G | November 7, 2006 1:51 AM
