Warning: contains spoilers for Iron Man #10!
Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, is one of the most egotistical characters in superhero comics - but even he knows deep down that he never should have revealed his secret identity to the public. Just like in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tony Stark revealed his Iron Man persona to the public, and his life hasn't been the same since. But in Iron Man #10, from Christopher Cantwell, Cafu, and Frank D'Armata, Tony finally admits his greatest failing.
The powerful villain Korvac has made Iron Man's life a living hell as of late. He's suffered a catastrophic injury and can no longer remove his helmet, been cut off from his allies in the Avengers, and finally transported to a strange, desolate planet run by reformed villain Stilt-Man. In fact, his encounter with Stilt-Man and the local militia has made Tony Stark reconsider his place in life, and especially his decision to seek fame.
In a private moment, Tony Stark confesses to Patsy Walker, aka Hellcat, his true feelings about the community on the planet. "I've been thinking... if I died here, I wouldn't get that great statue in Central Park." says Tony, but he's clearly playing up his ego, something not lost on Hellcat. He mentions he'd like to do good deeds privately, with no one watching - something quite odd for a man like Tony. The conversation with Hellcat is enlightening, especially when one realizes that since Tony can't remove his helmet on this world, he'll never receive the recognition as Tony Stark he'd get if he were back on Earth. On this planet, he's simply Iron Man, with none of the associated baggage that accompanies his civilian identity. It's how things were on Earth back when he pretended to be Tony Stark's mysterious, armored bodyguard.
Even from his very first appearance in Tales of Suspense #39, Tony's greatest enemy has always been his hubris and his ego. A weapons manufacturer who lives in the public eye, he struggled with needing mass recognition long before he donned the Iron Man armor, a fact often linked back to his father Howard Stark - a man desperate to have a son, but seemingly disappointed when that son turned out to be Tony. In the ongoing Iron Man series, Tony appears lost and searching for a purpose, feeling despised by society, and even having been hounded off Twitter. The mysterious planet is such a departure from his usual routine that he's willing to leave his mission behind in order to help those in need within the community - and even work alongside a former villain like Stilt-Man.
Unlike his first adventure in the MCU, it took Iron Man a very long time to reveal himself in the comics, but the fallout was similar. Saving the world and getting widespread recognition has done no favors to Stark's ego, and he simultaneously feels like the public blame him for every problem and don't give him credit for his accomplishments. While it's no secret that Iron Man's inner demons will always be his downfall, his latest adventure has offered a very real opportunity to start over again with new priorities - an offer Tony seems ready to take, even if it means leaving Earth behind.