Warning! Spoilers for Iron Man #20 by Marvel Comics below
Tony Stark is facing the public once again, as Iron Man's attempts to justify turning into a god-powered hero prove he's still got a lot to learn to become the person the MCU changed him into. In Iron Man #20 from Marvel Comics, Stark faces the music for the first time since reshaping reality and going to rehab. However, his efforts to downplay his actions show he's not quite yet the same selfless hero Tony became in the live-action films.
Tony Stark has experienced the extreme highs and lows of being a superhero in his ongoing series at Marvel Comics. Stark became stranded on a near-deserted planet in a cult, gained the Power Cosmic and evolved into his most powerful form ever, and nearly killed his closest friends and himself in the process. However, Iron Man had also experienced some great moments, like starting a romance with Patsy Walker and finding someone he could connect with, while (briefly) using his god-powers for good before they corrupted him. But Stark still has ways to go before he reaches his potential seen in the MCU.
In Iron Man #20 by Christopher Cantwell, Angel Unzueta, Frank D'Armata, and VC's Joe Caramagna, Tony Stark returns to business after a three-month stay at rehab as Iron Man wastes no time in asking Patsy Walker to marry him. In his first public appearance in front of lights and cameras, Stark deflects attention away from himself by revealing an impressive piece of solar-powered technology that will provide power and wi-fi to Tribeca for free. However, when he opens the media to questions, he's asked whether he missed having the Power Cosmic. Iron Man admits it wasn't his greatest idea but turns the negative into a positive, saying that while it had "setbacks," it also led to new cures for diseases, fuel sources, and innovation.
Iron Man referring to his godhood and the innovation that came from it as a "messy process," is underselling what happened in a big way. The media spin is no surprise, but the fact he isn't willing to publicly admit his mistake shows that he's still got a lot to learn. In his misguided attempts to use the Power Cosmic to make the world a better place, Tony killed many people, drained others of their brainpower, and gave an entire city upgrades in intellect. That wasn't just "messy," it was his worst decision ever. Despite Iron Man's attempts to pull his life back together, Stark is far from being the selfless hero he evolved to be during his final chapter in the MCU.
If Iron Man wants Patsy Walker to say yes to their engagement and for the world to trust him again, he will need to do more than try to spin a narrative. He's coming off his biggest mistake ever, and the public and his fellow heroes won't soon forget. Tony Stark needs to atone for his mistakes and not brush them off. Despite making some progress recently, Iron Man still is a far cry from his MCU counterpart and the man who sacrificed himself to save the world.