Warning: contains a preview of Avengers Forever #1!
A new preview suggests that Tony Stark is about to become Marvel's next Thor, as a variant version of the hero reaches for Mjolnir in a preview of the upcoming series Avengers Forever. The Tony Stark in question is a variant of the Earth-616 hero from an alternate reality, known as the Invincible Ant-Man. This Tony appears to be the hero manning the Avengers Tower from Free Comic Book Day: Avengers/Hulk #1, which stands by the God Quarry at the root of creation, monitoring the multiverse for problems that require unique solutions.
One of those problems is the Multiversal Masters of Evil, introduced in the same issue thanks to Jason Aaron and Iban Coello's 'The Tower at the Center of Everything.' This collection of alternate reality villains are coming to take out Marvel's mainstream Avengers, heralding a jaw-dropping alliance of heroes from across the many, many alternate realities shown in Marvel comics. Old faces will return, new heroes will be revealed, and it all begins with Tony Stark, the Invincible Ant-Man, discovering Mjolnir deep underground.
In an unlettered preview of Avengers Forever #1 from Marvel.com, the adventure begins with Tony's variant piloting what seems to be an armored ant deep underground, past a skull and to a hammer that lies buried in the dirt. Tony bats the dust off and grips the hammer, but the preview ends before it's revealed whether he'll be able to lift what seems to be a variant form of Thor's enchanted hammer (one whose creation Loki was seemingly unable to sabotage, giving it the long handle that was always intended.)
In a further black and white page, Tony examines the symbols of Earth's Mightiest Heroes - the same symbols that have been obsessing Iron Man and Black Panther in Jason Aaron's ongoing Avengers run (alongside a host of creators including series artist Ed Mcguinness.) It seems Tony is at the very start of assembling his multiversal team - one that the issue's cover shows will be far larger than the seven core symbols of Thor, the Phoenix, the Iron Fist, the Black Panther, the Sorcerer Supreme, the Starbrand, and the Ghost Rider.
Avengers Forever #1 promises to be packed with familiar heroes in new forms, so it makes sense that the variant Tony Stark would appear as a hybrid Iron Man/Ant-Man/Thor. Since this Tony watches over the entire multiverse with only an army of Deathloks for company, it's also possible that his sacrifices in the name of heroism (and the scope of his mission) will make him worthy of the power of Thor, allowing him to lift the hammer and transform. Sadly, given the stakes of this story, it's also possible he's exploring a world where the magic of Odin has been snuffed out, and Mjolnir is just a hammer.
Avengers Forever will be preceded by the landmark Avengers #750, unfolding in sync with that ongoing series to show the full breadth of this reality-spanning adventure. Avengers #750 is coming November 24, after which fans can find out if Tony Stark becomes Marvel's next Thor in Jason Aaron and Aaron Kuder's Avengers Forever #1, coming December 22.
Source: Marvel.com