Warning: Spoilers for Invincible Iron Man #1The perfectly polished gold and red armor of Iron Man projects both the power and wealth of Tony Stark, but in his latest comic run, Marvel's Armored Avenger is getting a whole new and far less pristine look. This new scarred and broken visage is the perfect symbol for how far the hero has fallen.
It's not easy being Tony Stark. Not only did he recently suffer a life-threatening relapse when he overdosed on morphine, but his missteps when he briefly took control of Galactus' powers mean he has few friends left in the superhero community. Most recently, Tony spent his entire fortune buying up dangerous exotic weapons from the secretive arms dealers Source Control, which left him with a warehouse of deadly weapons he intends to spend the next years of his life studying and deactivating.
It is in this broke and battered state that Gerry Duggan and Juan Frigeri's Invincible Iron Man #1 picks up. After reflecting on all his many mistakes, Tony's Mark-70 armor is damaged when the generator in his apartment explodes without warning. Though it is unclear whether the explosion was a tragic accident or a deliberate attack, it does leave Iron Man's last remaining suit badly damaged. Without the funds to create a Mark-71, Tony is forced to make do with a repaired suit that bears the visible scars of the issue's opening explosion. However, these new cracks in the Iron Man armor serve a deeper purpose in defining Tony's new status quo.
Iron Man's Broken Mask Shows Tony Is at His Lowest
The title of Invincible Iron Man is a bit of a misnomer, as Tony is proving to be anything but in his latest comic outing. Usually the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist is insulated from damage both by his armor and his vast fortune. Even when the son of Howard and Maria Stark faces the consequences of his own failures, he is usually able to buy or fight his way out. But in this new run, readers are shown very pointedly that Tony cannot buy himself out of the trouble caused by the explosion of his generator. Even more telling, his polished and perfect armor is now scratched and scarred, with Tony unable to restore its usual hot-rod appearance. All of this is symbolic of how Tony's mistakes are finally catching up with him.
Tony's New Armor Proves His Mistakes Are Here to Stay
Tony is usually an unflappable genius who can find the solution to any problem, but now fans see a Tony that can't even afford rent in New York. By the end of the issue, Iron Man is left drunk in the street asking some kids for help as they film his inebriated state. It's clear that the damage done to Tony's finances, mental wellbeing, and armor aren't going to be swept under the rug anymore - Iron Man's new 'scars' show that while a new series may have started, the scars of his recent experience are deep and lasting. Iron Man is usually invincible, but now with visible cracks and scars in his armor, fans are getting to see the true vulnerability that lies underneath the face Tony Stark chooses to show the world.
Invincible Iron Man #1 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.