The Comics That Inspired Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 is only about three weeks away. As we build towards the game (and movie) release, what better time could there be to go back and read some of the classic Iron Man comics? We talked to Sega, who gave us a list of their all-time favorite Iron Man stories. Whether you’re a new fan who’s only seen the film and looking to learn more about Tony Stark, or have been reading comics your whole life and are just looking to revisit the classics, there is something here for everyone.

Invincible Iron Man by Matt Fraction & Salvador Larroca (2008)

This was the first issue that Matt Fraction penned for Marvel, which was a new Iron Man series. It was a return to Iron Man’s roots as a pure solo superhero comic. Fraction’s take on the character has a very cool feel (more like the movie than any other Iron Man book), and Fraction’s run eventually went on to win an Eisner award for Best New Series. It features the emergence of a new enemy, one of Iron Man’s most devious and clever: Ezekiel Stane (Obidiah Stane’s son). Without giving anything away, the Ezekiel storyline “The Five Nightmares” ends with a bang! Awesome stuff and the reason why I wanted Fraction involved with the game. -Michael McHale, Development Director, Sega

Civil War by Mark Millar & Steve McNiven (2007)

Civil War pulled the reader deep into Tony’s mind like no other comic series in recent memory. The whole aspect of two strongly opposed sides and the decisions that Tony had to make -- namely his stance against his best friend and several of his former teammates -- made this story arc a real emotional rollercoaster. From the secret society Illuminati aspect to the internal turmoil Tony suffered with the eventual assassination of Captain America, I became really invested in how he was growing and changing as a character. Tony went through a lot across the breadth of the seven-issue limited series (and related spin-offs), and I felt it added an additional layer of depth and vulnerability to the man in the armor. -- Stephen Frost, Producer, Iron Man 2 Wii/PSP

Iron Man: Iron Monger by Dennis O'Neil and Luke McDonnell (1985)

After turning over the reins of Iron Man to James Rhodes, Tony returned to the role of Iron Man in this issue. In the climactic battle where Obadiah Stane became the Iron Monger, Tony Stark was literally fighting to gain back control of Stark Industries -- sounds like the first Iron Man movie, doesn’t it? More importantly, Tony debuted my favorite Iron Man armor of all time, the Silver Centurion. -- Beejey Enriquez; Producer- Iron Man 2 DS

Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, & John Romita Jr (1979)

Tony Stark fights Namor, Whiplash, and Justin Hammer, then accidentally kills a political ambassador, but his biggest battle is with his ever-worsening dependency on alcohol. Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle is seriously a phenomenal story. That run is why they probably chose Robert Downey in the first place. -- Kris Durrschmidt, Designer, Iron Man 2 DS

Ultimate Iron Man, Vol. 1 by Orson Scott Card & Andy Kubert (2005)

This was an imaginative Ultimate universe story, with an interesting spin on Tony Stark’s beginnings as a genius and his struggles with alcohol while masterfully giving credence to Stark’s character development. I’ve long been a fan of Orson Scott Card, so this series was a unique treasure to read. -- Kevin Sheller, Producer, Iron Man 2 Wii/PSP

Iron Man: The Inevitable by Joe Casey and Frazer Irving (2006)

I’m a super fan of Frazer Irving AND Joe Casey. I was sold the moment I heard those two were working together. Frazer’s artwork is an interesting breath of fresh air that is coupled with Casey’s rouge gallery of villains (like Ghost, featured in our game). Tony has a lot to contend with in this book, making this a great Iron Man comic series. -- Susan Bishop, Associate Producer, Iron Man 2 Wii/PSP

Iron Man: Armor Wars by David Michelinie, Bob Layton, & Mark Bright (1987)

My top story arc from Iron Man is Armor Wars. Tony Stark created the ultimate defense, but like all great technologies, his suit is turned against him and used for evil. Iron Man plays many sides of the political field while taking down an overwhelming army of suits based on his own creation. That’s classic Iron Man; *** reputation or what’s convenient, and do what’s right. -- Ken Bowen, Lead Designer, Iron Man 2 DS

Why? Because he blew up a bunch of s**t and invented several new types of armor, including his stealth armor to get into Soviet Russia. This series also introduced his next model of suit after War Machine, which was leaps and bounds beyond anything he had made before. Among others, Tony fought Stilt Man, the Devastator, and one of my favorites, Omega Red. It was all around a good series. -- Irin Berry, Programmer, Iron Man 2 Wii/PSP

Oh, Michelinie and Layton, is there any story you can't write? In this story arc (originally called "Stark Wars" but renamed "Armor Wars" by the fans), Tony discovers that many high-tech super-villains were using weapons based on stolen designs of his own armor. Since he never patented the armor, anyone who studied it is legally free to duplicate it for their own purpose. Horrified that the same breakthroughs which have made him Iron Man have been used to threaten lives, Tony goes off on a one-man crusade to attack every person using his stolen designs and render their technology useless. Unfortunately, this includes a few government employees and Iron Man finds himself facing off against the U.S. and allies such as Captain America. This is a major tale for Iron Man, and people still talk about it years later. Elements of it were echoed in Marvel's recent Civil War storyline. If you're someone who thinks that Tony Stark's manipulative ways are a recent development, this story will prove you wrong. -- Charlie Williams, Artist, Iron Man 2 Wii/PSP

Iron Man: Extremis by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov (2005)

Extremis is a good newer series and features the Extremis suit, which is my favorite out of all the in-game armors. This is a dark tale by writer Warren Ellis and artist Adi Granov. Having convinced the world that he has allowed some new anonymous individual to continue operating as Iron Man, Tony reflects on his life and whether his technology has truly benefited the world, only to discover that a new techno-virus poses a threat to humanity. Not only does this story have Tony merging with his technology on a whole new level (becoming a unique type of cyborg), but it also features a revised version of his origin story that influenced the upcoming movie. If you want an Iron Man tale that doesn't involve having to know a lot of continuity, or if you're looking to catch up on what he's like these days, this story should be in your hands already. -- Charlie Williams, Artist, Iron Man 2 Wii/PSP

Iron Man #178 by Bob Harras (1984)

I’m gonna go with Iron Man #178, because it was smack in the middle of my prime comic reading days, so it has the pull of nostalgia. I grew up in San Diego and this issue was part of Marvel’s infamous 1984 “Assistant Editors' Month,” when the editors of all of their titles were supposedly off at the San Diego Comic-Con, leaving the assistant editors in charge. This gave Marvel license to publish several wingnut stories that didn’t have to be explained within the continuity, such as the Avengers appearing on David Letterman. In Iron Man’s case, the issue centered around a kids’ version of the Avengers who kick out their own Iron Man, named Mikey. A bully finds Mikey’s Iron Man outfit and goes on a rampage around their Brooklyn neighborhood. -- Ryan Silva, Development Director, Iron Man 2 DS