20 Best Iron Man Stories in Marvel History

The MCU helped turn Iron Man into a household name, but the character had a rich history in the world of Marvel Comics long before. Now that Tony Stark’s time in the movies seems to be over (for now), there are sure to be fans eager to seek out and enjoy stories to dive deeper into the character. Or diehard comic readers looking to revisit some of their old favorites.

Whether it’s expanding on the fallout of the infamous Civil War, exploring various versions of Tony Stark throughout the Multiverse, these stories explore the complexity of the character, his darkest moments, and his greatest triumphs that help to cement him as one of Marvel’s greatest comic book heroes. These are the the 20 Best Iron Man Stories in Marvel History.

20 Iron Man Noir (2010)

Scott Snyder, Manuel Garcia

Many readers are familiar with Spider-Man Noir and how that character proved to be a fun expansion on the Spider-Verse. One underseen – but just as fun – Noir depiction is this four-part limited series. While Spider-Man Noir was a detective style glance at Great Depression era Peter Parker, Iron Man Noir focuses on industrialist Tony Stark in a tale that’s in the same vain as 1930s pulp actioners. Think ‘The Rocketeer’ for the Marvel Universe, with a dash of Indiana Jones.

After suffering a poor heart condition, he went on an expedition in search of the Jade Mask, prophecised to cure any and all health problems. Unfortunately for Tony, his search put him in the same path of Nazis who also want the mask. One twist after another, on top of some fun action sequences, make this a must-read for any Iron Man fan.

19 Iron Man: The End (2008)

David Michelinie, Bob Layton, Bernard Chang, Mike Cavallaro

David Michelinie and Bob Layton are two names readers will be seeing a lot of in this list, and with good reason. The duo’s contributions to the Iron Man character (which include the critically acclaimed “Demon in a Bottle” storyline) are still celebrated highly today. It only makes sense for them to reunite to help the character ride off into the sunset in this 2009 one-shot.

Almost 50 years after the character hit shelves for the first time, this one-shot takes place several decades into the future as Tony Stark prepares to hang up his hoverboots in an emotional sendoff, taking on one final project referred to as “Big Jump,” but not without some opposition and challenges ahead of him. Using one final armor in his arsenal, Tony proves once again why he has and continues to withstand the test of time as one of the most exciting heroes on Marvel’s roster.

18 Iron Man: The Rapture (2010)

Alexander Irvine, Lan Medina, June Chung

This four-part limited series is one that seems to improve with age, especially with current concerns about artificial intelligence being more prevalent now than when this story first came out. As this story ages like fine wine, now is the perfect time to revisit it. Things kick off somberly as Tony suffers a heart attack that nearly kills him. Both his best friend Rhodey and his partner Pepper Potts try to convince him to get an operation, but being as self-sufficient as he’s always been, he opts to take matters into his own hands instead.

What that looks like is building a new heart for himself out of his Iron Man armor. As he continues to re-build himself into more of a machine, his repairs manifest into an A.I. that takes over Tony’s mind, body, and life. It’s up to Pepper and War Machine to stop him and do what they can to save what’s left of Tony.

17 Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin (2007)

Joe Casey, Eric Canete

In 2007, writer Joe Casey joined forces with artist Eric Canete for the opportunity to reimagine the first meeting between Iron Man and The Mandarin, one that originally happened in 1964’s Tales of Suspense #50. Trying to revamp the official Marvel canon for a story that first began 43 years ago is no easy task, and years later after the Marvel Cinematic Universe showcased the Mandarin in a more comedic light, it’s even harder for casual audiences to see how intimidating the Mandarin can be.

However, Casey and Canete rose to the challenge and pass with flying colors. For anyone still not sold on just how dangerous the Mandarin can be when used to his full potential, especially after seeing him in the MCU, this six-part series is the perfect branching off point to see exactly why The Mandarin ranks so highly as one of Iron Man’s deadliest rivals.

16 I Am Iron Man (2023)

Murewa Ayodele, Dotun Akande

One of the more recently released entries on the list, I Am Iron Man is a five-part limited series that exists to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the character that audiences around the world have fallen in love with. To celebrate the character, the series opts to showcase some of the best adventures fans have never gotten to witness, pulled from several different points in his superhero career.

Not only that, but the series tells these stories as a means to dissect, analyze, and ultimately recontextualize Tony Stark as a character in ways never before seen. The series looks at all of his highs and lows, strengths and weaknesses that make Iron Man into the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist that audiences love him for being. Whether it’s exposing show other heroes criticize Tony Stark or gifting him new suits of Samurai armor, I Am Iron Man expanded the Iron Man mythos as much as it celebrated it.

15 The Infamous Iron Man (2016)

Brian Michael Bendis, Alex Maleev

How does one redeem one of the most diabolical villains to come out of the Marvel Universe. You rechristen him as the next Iron Man, at least that’s the route that the writer/artist duo of Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev opted to go in when tackling Victor Von Doom. It results in one of the best redemption arcs that Marvel has ever had to offer. Infamous Iron Man takes place after the events of

The Infamous Iron Man takes place after the events of Civil War II and with Tony Stark out commission following that event, Doctor Doom makes it known that will be taking the Iron Man helm for himself. What follows is a surprisingly emotional rollercoaster of a ride that feels much like a companion piece to the Superior Spider-Man arc that remodeled Doctor Otto Octavius in a similar vein.

14 Iron Man: Extremis (2005)

Warren Ellis, Adi Granov (Iron Man #1-#6)

Fans of the MCU might be familiar with “Extremis” thanks to Iron Man 3 (2013). It is true that the movie adapted several key details from the comic, but the original storyline is very different than what fans saw on screen, as Iron Man takes on the results of a super-soldier experiment gone wrong.

Not only did “Extremis” help to inspire the third and final Iron Man movie, but it also seemed to influence how the character would eventually be portrayed in the movies. There are a few storylines on this list that form such a basis for the character’s onscreen presence, for readers curious as to what comics built the foundation for Tony Stark’s final few MCU appearances, look no further than “Extremis.”

13 Invincible Iron Man (2016)

Brian Michael Bendis, Stefano Caselli (Beginning in Invincible Iron Man #9)

Movie audiences know that Iron Man’s legacy is still very much a part of the MCU even with the character gone. The same was true after Tony fell in the comics universe, ultimately leading to the introduction of Riri Williams, AKA Ironheart. Making her MCU debut on screen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Riri Williams has emerged as one of the most best new Marvel characters of the decade, and this series is where it all began.

The 2015 run of “Invincible Iron Man” introduced Williams into the Marvel universe as a protégé of Tony Stark and allowed her to gain her own following among fans.

12 Iron Man: The Inevitable (2005)

Joe Casey, Frazer Irving

Iron Man does not have one of the most noteworthy rogue’s gallery of villains compared to other Marvel heroes. However, it is still fun to see some of the lesser-known or forgotten villains make a comeback in “Iron Man: The Inevitable.” The story follows the events of “Extremis” and subverts the hero vs villain idea in some interesting ways.

Without giving away too much, Iron Man comes face-to-face with the Spymaster, a longtime rival of his from the past. Again, not the most well-known villains from the Iron Man books and some will call him one of Iron Man’s lamest classic villains, but in an action-packed chapter for the character, the villainous espionage enemy is used to the best of his abilities.

11 Superior Iron Man (2014)

Tom Taylor, Yıldıray Çınar

While it is easy to find plenty of examples of Tony Stark being a selfless hero, he is also a very complex character. Tony’s willingness to do anything to ensure peace is pushed to the extreme in “Superior Iron Man” as he becomes a tyrannical superhero who seeks control over everything.

While storylines like Civil War depict Tony Stark as an antagonist, there are still enough redeemable qualities present to identify him as a hero with questionable methods. As Superior Iron Man, though, he is depicted as a full-blown villain who needs to be stopped. Though it is not the typical Tony Stark that fans are ready to cheer for, it is a thrilling look at the darkest aspects of the character.

10 Armor Wars (1987)

Bob Layton, David Michelinie, Mark D. Bright, Barry Windsor-Smith, Janice Chiang, Bob Sharen (Iron Man #225 – 232)

Unlike some of his fellow Avengers, Tony Stark is a hero whose powers come from his own intellect. He is the one who builds the Iron Man armor and uses it for good. However, he is also aware that he introduced a weapon into the world that could be very dangerous in the wrong hands. “Armor Wars” is very much about Tony’s worst nightmare coming true as he is forced to face off with multiple villains who have acquired his tech.

Along with inspiring the upcoming Armor Wars movie with War Machine, 36 years after the storyline concluded, “Armor Wars” holds up as one of the most exciting, thrilling, and twist-filled chapters in the Iron Man saga.

9 Iron Man: Director Of Shield (2007)

Christos Gage, Sean Chen

Before the MCU, Iron Man was not as well-known as some of his contemporary heroes like Spider-Man and Wolverine. However, he always had a leading role in the comics as confirmed by the storyline in which he is made the Director of SHIELD.

Thanks largely to his skills as a techie and his resources as a billionaire, it was decided in Marvel’s universe that Tony Stark would make for the best candidate to replace Nick Fury as SHIELD director in his absence while investigating the ensuing Skrull invasion. Iron Man: Director of Shield comes following the events of Civil War. As the new director of the spy organization, Tony faces a number of challenges while also contemplating the future of Iron Man.

8 The Invincible Iron Man (1982)

Denny O’Neil, Carmine Infantino, Dan Green, Al Milgrom, Steve Ditko & More (Invincible Iron Man #158-208)

Though the character has undergone countless changes over the years, it can be a real thrill to look back on the classic comics that helped to shape Iron Man into the hero most fans are familiar with today. And few runs on a regular Irom Man series are as underrated as Denny O’Neil’s storytelling beginning in 1982. O’Neil’s run came in between two seminal works on the character after “Demon in a Bottle” and before “Armor Wars.” However, he managed to stand out with some unforgettable moments.

The stories deal with Tony’s struggle with sobriety, Rhodey taking over a Iron Man, Obadiah Stane taking over Tony’s company, and more. Following up “Demon in a Bottle” (which, as this list will showcase later, is arguably the best storyline in the character’s history) was no easy task, but this run of comics does a superb job at highlighting the aftermath in Tony’s life.

7 The Five Nightmares of Tony Stark (2008)

Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca (Invincible Iron Man #1-#7)

It’s a mixed blessing to be the creative team behind a superhero’s main comic while they make their big screen debut. Sure, your hero may be the talk of the town, but with that amplified attention comes criticism and pressure to both resemble and stand apart from the movie version. Even with that stiff competition, “The Five Nightmares of Tony Stark” managed to be regarded as one of the best modern runs for the character.

Not to be overlooked, with this coinciding with the onscreen debut of Iron Man, this would serve as much as an introduction to Tony Stark’s comics journey for new fans as much as it was a new chapter for the character in the Earth-616 canon of Marvel. The story finds Tony Stark put through a lot as he fights against new threats in the aftermath of Civil War, including Ezekiel Stane, the son of Obadiah who is seeking revenge.

6 Demon In A Bottle (1979)

David Michelinie, Bob Layton, John Romita Jr, Carmine Infantino, John Costanza, Ben Sean, Carl Gafford

As fun as it is to see Marvel’s heroes taking on intergalactic threats and saving the world, sometimes it is just as compelling to see them deal with grounded and human issues. Such is the case with the iconic “Demon in a Bottle” story which explored Tony Stark’s battle with alcoholism. This would prove to become one of the most definitive stories in Tony Stark’s career as a superhero.

It would also wind up being a basis for Iron Man 2 as the MCU would borrow some elements from the famed storyline. It was a dark and impactful story that helped to shape the character as a more troubled figure with his own issues for years to come.

5 The Mask In the Iron Man (2000)

Joe Quesada, Sean Chen, Rob Hunter, & Steve Oliff (Iron Man #26-30)

Tony Stark’s armorhas always been a means for him to cope with his trauma and avoid his natural addictive tendencies. For every new iteration, he has to outdo himself. However, at some point, Stark’s upgrades eventually surpass himself.

After his newest Iron Man armor develops its own sentience, Tony has to overcome his own demons to teach his artificial child the complicated nature of morality while equipped with weapons of lethal destruction. Tony Stark can barely take care of himself and significantly struggles to take care of his unintentional creation, failing to be the role model needed to guide his armor. At a time when Stark’s personal morals were significantly selfishly motivated, Tony being forced to see his flaws be passed to a new life compelled him to reevaluate himself as a hero.

4 Deliverance (1984)

Denny O’Neil, Luke McDonnell, Steve Mitchell, & Bob Sharen (Iron Man #182)

Addiction is almost as quintessential to Tony Stark’s characterization as his armor is. Tony has made great strides to overcome his addictive habits, but the addiction itself is not something that can ever truly be left behind. After the death of his close friend, Tony returns to the bottle, drowning his sorrows without pause.

He feels like a failure, worthless and undeserving to be called a hero. In his wallowing, drowning in booze and self-hatred, Tony is given a chance to see a spark of hope in the world that helps him realize why Iron Man still matters, why he still matters. While this may not be a flashy story about Iron Man, it is a tragically heartfelt story about Tony Stark.

3 Knightmare (1981)

David Michelinie, Bob Layton, & John Romita Jr. (Iron Man #150)

While Doctor Doom is more often considered a Fantastic Four villain, he has just as often been an Iron Man villain too. Before the genius’s feud took off in the comics, Knightmare took the master inventors back in time to the Arthurian Era. The two are caught in the ongoing war between King Arthur and the witch Morgan Le Fay.

After a comically fun medieval battle between knights and sorcerers, Iron Man and Doctor Doom are forced to call a truce, realizing that this conflict was not their own. The pair, recognizing their mutual strength and drive, force themselves to work together and return to the present. Doom swears his revenge against Tony, cementing a rivalry between the two that would be revisited for decades to come.

2 World’s Most Wanted (2008)

Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca, & Frank D’Armata (Invincible Iron Man #8-19)

After the downfall of the first Civil War and the Secret Invasion, the Marvel universe fell into a cynically dark time as it entered into the Dark Reign event. Recently having stopped using Extremis, Tony struggles to find his sense of strength without relying on the virus to augment his physical prowess. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn has labeled Tony Stark a traitorous criminal.

Stark has seen the horrors that his need for control and power left on the world, with the records of the Superhuman Registration still hidden within SHIELD’s old database. This short run finally saw Iron Man’s personal path to redemption after the initial fallout of the Civil War, showing that, at the end of the day, he wants to do what’s right. While Stark is frequently characterized by his ego, he does have a hero’s heart.

1 Stark: Disassembled (2010)

Matt Fraction, Salvador Larroca, & Frank D’Armata (Invincible Iron Man #20-24)

Following the World’s Most Wanted storyline, Tony nobly sacrificed himself to defend and destroy the final remnants of the Superhuman Registration data stored within his head. Now locked in a vegetative comatose state, dependent on life-support systems to even breathe, Tony has been surrendered to his doctor, Donald Blake’s, care. After having seen the lengths at which Stark was willing to go to undo his failures during the Civil War, many of his old friends-turned-enemies find it in themselves to forgive Tony.

As they attempt to find a way to revive Stark’s body, Tony is forced to wander his mind. In the constant string of disheartening tragedies that overcame the Marvel Universe following the Civil War, the last person’s forgiveness Tony Stark needed was his own. Many of Iron Man’s best stories are rooted in his struggles to overcome his trauma. However, this is one of the few stories, especially for the time, where the Avenger had to embrace his complicated layers of self-judgment that he has always hidden under his facade of self-aggrandizing egotistical displays.