Iron Man's armor

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Iron Man's armor refers to the various powered armor suits used by Tony Stark in his superheroic activities. Unlike most other superheroes, the appearance and abilities of the Iron Man armor are continually in flux as Stark continually modifies and upgrades his equipment.

1 Common Features
2 Armors of the 1960s
3 Armors of the 1970s
4 Armors of the 1980s
5 Armors of the 1990s
6 Armors of the 2000s
7 Armors from Alternate Realities & Possible Futures
8 Other Media
9 Gallery
10 External links

[edit] Common Features

All of Stark's armors provide protection from physical and energy attack (through both the materials the suit is made of and the force field the suit can generate), a sealed environment, assorted onboard weapons systems, enhanced strength, flight, and various communications arrays and sensors (such as radar and radio).

[edit] Armors of the 1960s

[edit] Original (Grey)

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #39

The original grey armor was built around an iron chestplate designed to prevent the piece of shrapnel he'd received in Vietnam from traveling to his heart and killing him. The armor had a semi-rigid interior & 3D knitted metallic exterior made from actual, ordinary iron provided protection from physical attacks (completely resistant to small arms fire) as well as heat, cold, some energy forms, and acid. Powered by flat linear armature DC motors (rechargeable via any electrical outlet), the exoskeleton boosted the strength of the wearer by about 10 times, and employed negative feedback for motion sensing. Air pressure jets allowed for extended jumps, but not true flight. Weaponry included a chest-mounted monobeam (proton beam generator; useful range was only a few yards), a miniature hacksaw that extended from the gauntlet's fingertips, and magnetic turbo-insulators that allowed him to magnetically deflect metal projectiles or bring metal objects to him. Sensors consisted of a short-wave radio. All of the armor's devices and functions were manually controlled by the wearer.

[edit] Golden Avenger

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #40

Stark soon changed his grey armor to gold, so as to make it less frightening to the general public, and slowly added more and more improvements to the suit. The chestplate was streamlined so that it could be worn under normal clothing without being noticeable. The suit had a semi-rigid interior with 3D knitted metallic exterior of a lightweight iron alloy, providing protection from physical attacks as well as heat, cold, some energy forms, and acid; the groin section was covered by a kilt made of the same alloy. This was the first suit to be equipped with a force field generator. Power was still provided by flat linear armature DC motors, rechargeable via any electrical outlet and via solar recharger, and motion sensing was still provided by negative feedback. The Mk I boot-jets provided limited flight; steering while flying was accomplished by bodily movement. Weaponry consisted of the chest-mounted Mk II Monobeam (usable as either a conscussive force beam or a heat beam), a sledgehammer, hacksaws extending from the fingertips, hand drills, electromagnets allowing him to pull things to him and push them away, and an electrical field generator. Communications and sensor arrays consisted of a loudspeaker, short-wave two-way radio, radar, and a tape recorder. Other features in this armor included knee- and hand-mounted suction cups (allowing the armor to stick to walls and ceilings) and rollerskates for accelerated ground movement. Like the previous suit, all of the armor's devices and functions were manually controlled by the wearer.

[edit] Red & Gold

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #48

This armor, composed of ultra-fine 3-D knit alloy and incorporating motors into the knitting to allow full mobility, ran on batteries and was able to recharge itself from electrical sources. However, the power handling was improved making this armor much more efficient. The chestplate still served as Stark's pacemaker. The boot jets were actually chemically-fueled thrusters, which provided a much faster flight speed. Weaponry consisted of the chest-mounted Mk II Monobeam (useful range was still only several yards), Repulsor Rays, and a Proton Gun, and powerful electromagnets to pull metal objects to him or repel/push them away. Communications and sensors consisted of a short-wave radio. Other features included an image reproducer and collapsible roller skates. Most functions were controlled by miniature electronic switches mounted on the insides of various pieces of the armor such as the helmet and the gloves; by pressing various combinations of them, different systems were engaged. The switches in the helmet were enabled by the wearer's tongue; other functions were utilized with wrist-mounted controls.

Beyond these features, Stark also occasionally experimented with cosmetic modifications such as adding a nose indentation on his faceplate.

[edit] Armors of the 1970s

The armor, including the red and gold color scheme remained largely intact. A depolarizing armor was introduced in #85 but was soon replaced with a more conventional design.

[edit] Armors of the 1980s

During this period, Stark came to realize there were several situations where his regular model armor, while functional in most environments or situations when necessary, was not wholely appropriate. In response, Stark began to develop numerous specialized suits for special missions.

[edit] Space Armor, Mk I

First Appearance: Iron Man #143

This suit was composed of impact-resistant carbon composites overlayed on top of layered "flex-metal" which could condense itself like a 3-dimensional accordion pleat. Micro-Scale suit tiles fabricated by genetically engineered metal-affinity bacteria, which assemble themselves in specific orderly arrays and then expire, leaving behind various metallic deposits which form all the metal shapes and micro-electronic circuits. This suit's matrix was formed non-collapsable to increase its protection from the rigors of deep space. Power was provided by a Mk IV micro-nuclear supply pack, supplemented by solar power converters. Systems were controlled via a cybernetic interface, though it proved to be overly sensitive. The suit was designed for extended time outside of the atmosphere, up to two days in orbit (food and catheterization capable). The life support, boot jets and attitude maneuvering were powered by an on-board supply of liquid oxygen. Weaponry consisted of palm-mounted third-generation Repulsors (electron beams which require laser ionized path of air to travel through the atmosphere; the beam is moderated using a pulsing beam and and early form of adaptive optics; objects are jolted away from the beam path by the combination of ionized air and the accelerated neutron beam) and a chest-mounted Unibeam (a variable intensity light source usable as a spotlight or a laser; the pentacle shape of the emitter allowed for more accurate laser pulsing while in an atmosphere), and epaulet-mounted concussion-burst cannons. Sensors consisted of radar, sonar, infrared scanners, and radio. Additional features included ECM against radar and sonar, and the fully-articulated hands could be fired out on retractable cables for use as long-range grapples.

[edit] Stealth Armor, Mk I

First Appearance: Iron Man #152

The Stealth armor is another of the specialized suits of armor developed by Tony Stark for specific missions, similar to the Space Armor. The Stealth Armor was designed using current "stealth" technology to allow Iron Man to foil detection devices and slip unknown in and out of restricted areas. This sleek, jet black suit (composed of impact resistant carbon-composites overlayed on top of layered "flex-metal" which can condense itself like a 3-dimensional accordion pleat) was a polarized metal mesh armor that uses every bit of space for detection and evasion components, and therefore was originally designed with no weapons. Most of this armor used solar power to charge the batteries and run most of the integrated circuitry, though the pods on the sides were batteries that could maintain the suit's functions for a short time. It was able to recharge itself from electrical sources, a thermocouple to siphon power from extreme heat or cold, and solar power. The suit utilized force field technology to render Iron Man electronically invisible -- a layer of low density plasma would be held in place by a focused magnetic field, and the tripole waveform reflected radar, along with a wave modifier that bent the radar around it. To quash any detectable infrared signature, the armor's boot-jet exhaust was "washed" by bursts of super cooled air. The micro-turbines on his jet boots posses assisted air liquification devices, rings of liquid oxygen jets, that cool the boot emissions.

[edit] Silver Centurion

First Appearance: Iron Man #200

Stark began recreating the Silver Centurion armor as a method of working out ideas and experimenting. The S-circuit, which uses its energy more efficiently, is an example of the breakthrough developed by Stark, using the armor as a model. With the destruction of Circuits Maximus by Obadiah Stane, Stark donned the newest set of armor to battle the foe that stripped him of his business, his friends, and almost his life. The battle with Stane was the first field test of this armor, and resulted in the defeat of Stane and the destruction of Stane International.

The suit had a rigid interior and a 3-D knitted metallic exterior, providing protection from physical attacks as well as acid, heat, cold, most forms of energy, radiation, and electricity. A 3-D knitting pattern on a submolecular construction level gave the armor itself more strength, while allowing for the most comfortable suit interior. By expanding the field that keeps the armor rigid, the armor could encase itself in a protective force field that was effective against most forms of attack; Stark could also use this field to polarize the armor to either attract or repulse other items via magnetic polarity. Most of this armor used solar power to charge the batteries and run most of the integrated circuitry, though the pods on the sides were batteries that could maintain the suits functions for a short time. It was also able to recharge itself from electrical sources, a thermocouple to siphon power from extreme heat or cold. Flight was accomplished via Mk IV boot-jets (which incorporated high-speed duo-source turbines), supplemented by a booster pack that enabled the armor to attain speeds up to 750mph in the air and 180mph in the water. Weaponry consisted of a chest-mounted Mk III Unibeam (search light, heat beams, tractor beam, laser beam, and ultraviolet light beam), palm-mounted Mk III Repulsors (laser-guided particle beam emitters), pulse bolts (slow-moving high energy plasma discharge "torpedoes" that build in intensity as they travel through the atmosphere, picking up static and ambient energy and thus doing more damage the farther they travel), and a sonic emitter (generating high-frequency sound waves). Sensors consisted of a full band audiovisual transceiver, radar, sonar, infrared scanners, and an electromagnetic scanner that could, by measuring the variences in the magnetic fields in structures, reverse-engineer a schematic of the layout where power lines ran inside of the walls and overlay the layout onto the visual display inside the helmet. One notable feature of the suit was the hologram emitter, which could generate up to 12 simultaneous images of the armor. It could also be used to generate a "chameleon field" around itself -- the computer in the armor would analyze its surroundings and generate a hologram to make it blend in with the surroundings making it effectively invisible visually and to cameras. Unfortunately, the "chameleon effect" module interfered with the cybernetic controls of the armor, providing nasty feedback and massive headaches.

[edit] Hydro-Armor/Undersea Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man #218

This unit was designed for salvage missions at the bottom of the deepest oceans -- while Stark's conventional suits function underwater, they were noisy, inefficient, and they leaked. The exact composition unknown; it is assumed to be composed of the same layered "flex-metal" micro-scale suit tiles fabricated by genetically-engineered metal-affinity bacteria which assemble themselves in specific orderly arrays and then expire, leaving behind various metallic depoaits which form all the metal shapes and micro-electronic circuits. This unit was made non-collapsable in order to increase it's protection from the pressure of the ocean depths; the armor was rated at 8,000 lbs./sq. inch, making it capable of traveling to depths of up to three miles. Power was provided by a Mark IV micro-nuclear supply pack, supplemented by solar power converters. The suit featured dual mode boot jets -- they breathed air for flight, but when underwater, silent water impellers engaged to provide movement. Air filtration and recycling systems allowed Stark to stay underwater for up to 2 days. Weaponry consited of palm-mounted Repulsors and a chest-mounted Unibeam, along with mini-torpedoes. Sensors consisted of radar, sonar, infrared scanners, and communication was via radio. Other features included ECMs against radar and sonar, long-range grapples in the gauntets, crampons for holding on to rocks and coral so as not to lose stable footing, a holding bay in the back large enough to hold a stereo speaker, an ink-cloud generator (similar to those generated by the ink sac of an octopus), and an inner "Escape Suit" that could be jettisoned from the main suit in case of emergency (this inner suit possessed a Unibeam, 2 torpedoes, and the holding bay). Functions were controlled by cybernetic interface.

[edit] Stealth Armor, Mk II

First Appearance: Iron Man #229

This armor was nearly identical to the Mk I Stealth Armor, with two additional features. The first was a camouflage effect, similar to the chameleon effect generated by the Silver Centurion armor. This suit's camouflage effect was entirely manually controlled, providing the wearer with invisibility to visual or camera detection, but only against backgrounds that are mostly of one color. The second addition were palm-mounted Mk IV Repulsors, though they only had enough energy to fire three shots at full power.

[edit] Armors of the 1990s

[edit] Space Armor, Mk II

First Appearance: Iron Man #278

Upgrade of the previous space armor. It was able to evade the sophisticated sensors on Kree and Sh'iar spaceships as well as interface with their technology. It also possessed an extremely powerful self-destruct mechanism via its fusion reactor.

[edit] Telepresence Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man #280

The cybernetic interface and battle computer was integrated with the Telepresence Neural Net. While it was still worn as a suit of armor, the functions and muscle control were carried out by the suit, not by the wearer.

[edit] War Machine

Main article: War Machine

First Appearance: Iron Man #281

This suit was created initially by Stark to deal with the Masters of Silence threat, but was later modified specifically for James Rhodes. It was designed for all-out warfare, and was also known as the "Variable Threat Response Battle Suit."

Repulsors: Laser-guided particle beam emission units mounted in the palm of each hand.
Unibeam (Rhodes model): Multi-band light and force beam emitter. Can be adjusted for a variety of effects such as search light, heat beams, tractor beam, lasers, image inducers, ultraviolet light, and electromagnetic pulse.
Pulse Bolt Generators: Plasma discharges that build in intensity as they travel through the atmosphere, picking up static and ambient energy.
Force Shield: A focused photon emitter on the back of his left wrist that shapes into a shield.
Electromagnetic Pulse.
Gatling Gun: Shoulder-mounted and using an electronic firing system. This is a state of the art gatling machine gun firing caseless ammunition. It can be loaded with a wide array of various bullet types including stun and armor-piercing. Default loadout is 1800 rounds of depleted uranium bullets.
Double-barreled cannon: Wrist-mounted, fires various ammo types. Ammo is user-selectable and is fed from belt circling the upper wrist.
Flame-thrower. Largely ineffective while in-flight.
Laser Blade.
Micro-Rocket Launcher: Holds a variety of up to eight rockets, including High Explosive, Concussion, Smoke, Flare, and Miniature Nuclear.
Particle Beam Discharger.

[edit] NTU-150 Telepresence Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man #281

Though similar in design to both the Silver Centurion armor and its remote-controlled counterpart, the NTU-150 incorporated the new SE TelePresence technology, enabling the unit to be operated under full Virtual Control. This unit was not a wearable suit of armor -- rather, it was a fully-articulated device controlled by the mental impulses of the user via a remote headset apparatus. The remote headset transmitted commands to the active unit in much the same way as the human brain transmits commands to the central nervous system (in this case, it is via a subspace radio connection, lessening reaction time to almost zero). Similarly, the visual, aural, and (to a lesser degree) tactile information collected by the NTU-150 could be interpreted by the user's brain in the same way as normal sensory data. The primary difference is that the sensory data collected by the NTU-150 includes a full range of electromagnetic spectra and computer-processed data normally unavailable to humans, while the active devices contained in the unit includes not only analogues to the human body, but weaponry, data collection and processing hardware as well, all under autonomic and voluntary nervous system control. In contrast to traditional robotic devices, the NTU-150 contains no mechanical framework to mimic the action of the human body; the unit's outer shell is articulated by a multiprocessor-controlled structural integrity field which allows for a much greater range of movement.

[edit] Modular Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man #300

This unit is a drastic departure from all of the previous armors. Instead of a single cohesive unit, each piece of the armor is a stand alone subsystem that can be interchanged at will. As such, while the overall unit is still referred to as the Mark 11, the actual configuration at any given time will vary. The shell was composed of layered "flex-metal" which could condense itself like a 3-dimensional accordion pleat. Micro-scale suit tiles were fabricated by genetically engineered metal-affinity bacteria, which assembled themselves in specific orderly arrays and then expired, leaving behind various metallic deposits which form all the metal shapes and micro-electronic circuits.

The Modular Armor is rather well-known outside of comics due to it being the main armor in the Iron Man (TV series) and Capcom's Marvel vs. Capcom videogame series.

[edit] Hulkbuster Armor, Mk I

First Appearance: Iron Man #304

The Hulkbuster armor is a heavy-duty exo-frame (an add-on to the Mk. XI Modular Armor) designed for maximum strength amplification at the cost of reduced versatility and mobility. As its name suggests, it was specifically designed for hand-to-hand combat with the rampaging Hulk. The armor was rated with a lift (press) capacity of 175 tons. During its maiden run, the armor enabled Stark to hold his own in sustained physical combat with the Hulk. In subsequent battles with the Hulk, however, Stark has declined to utilize this armor, so it is unclear whether it is indeed capable of defeating the Hulk.

[edit] Arctic Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man #318

Very little is known of this armor. Stark -- or possibly an evil doppelgänger -- used it to travel to an Arctic bunker. It is hypothesized that the armor may have special thermal units for added wearer insulation.

[edit] Lunar Armor

First Appearance: Fantastic Four vol.3 #15

Experimental armor incorporating safe power systems. Transported to the moon to help the Fantastic Four; however a malfunction caused a brief battle between Iron Man and the FF.

[edit] Armors of the 2000s

[edit] Heroes Return Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man vol. 3 #1

[edit] Sentient Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man vol. 3 #15

Incorporated 'safe' power systems, which insulated the wearer. Too large to fit into the traditional case, a special module was used instead. It became sentient due to the Ultron Imperative (although the original tale controversially involved the Y2K bug as the explanation)

[edit] Outer Atmospheric Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man: Bad Blood (miniseries) #4

An upgrade of older space models. It requires a booster rig for takeoff. While it offers less protection than previous models, it is also stealthier and far more maneuverable in space.

[edit] SKIN Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man vol. 3 #42 (prototype); Iron Man vol. 3 #44 (finished design)

This armor's main difference from its predecessors is its sheer size. No longer does the suit seem to contour to Tony's body, but rather gives Iron Man a larger presence. The new armor comes after Tony's last armor became Sentient and with Tony's need to rebuild his armor part by part. The armor is powered by a Beta Particle Generator and solar power converters and controlled by a Cybernetic Interface and Battle Computer to enhance reactions when in combat.

The golden sections of Iron Man consisted of S.K.I.N, a flexible elastic alloy that can be manipulated to conform to any desired shape. It is lightweight but very dense and is harder than titanium, approaching low-grade adamantium. S.K.I.N. can be contracted to fit into a small container or stretched/shaped into another form. The alloy's wondrous properties were developed by Askew Technologies, and the exact elements incorporated into the S.K.I.N. remain unknown. Tony had set up the S.K.I.N. of his armor to be stored in a small container. On his command the S.K.I.N. spilled out and assumed its default armor configuration.

[edit] Stealth Armor, Mk III

First Appearance: Black Panther vol. 3 #44

Similar to Stark's earlier Stealth Armor, the Mark III Stealth unit was also specifically designed to combat the Black Panther's anti-metal vibranium claws -- it is composed entirely of advanced composite ceramics and expermental bio-neural gel-pack circuitry, fused with a kevlar-like polymer and backed by optical fiber networks. Although the development of Stark's new cloaking technology for the Mark 25 "S.K.I.N." armor probably rendered the Mark III unit's stealth technology obsolete, the Stealth armor is nevertheless an effective weapon against opponents such as the Black Panther and Magneto because of its plastic/ceramic design.

[edit] Thorbuster

First Appearance: Iron Man vol. 3 #64

The Thor Buster armor was designed by Tony Stark as a precaution against Thor -- if his good deeds went bad. The power source for the armor was a mystical Asgardian crystal, originally part of a new type of power generator that Thor left Tony Stark to possibly use as a new energy source for mankind. Outwardly, it resembled the Asgardian Destroyer.

[edit] Tin Man

First Appearance: Iron Man vol. 3 #50

Largely a return to conventional designs. Improved scanning included GPS and a particle mist that could be used to 'mark' targets.

Carbon dioxide provides underwater propulsion.

Repulsors were improved with a 'crowd control' setting.

[edit] Cobalt Man imposter

First Appearance: Avengers/Thunderbolts #1

Used to impersonate the Cobalt Man.

[edit] Ablative Armor

First Appearance: Iron Man vol. 3 #71

This prototype armor had "honeycomb" tiles that are several layers thick. Each tile was made of high-impact polymer. When one of the tiles was damaged, it popped off and the next one below it snapped into place. This armor was originally designed to be used in space, where micrometeoroids provided an impact-rich environment.

[edit] High-G suit

First Appearance: Iron Man vol.3 #83

Designed to withstand high gravity environments. Unfortunately, the wearer is still susceptible to nitrogen narcosis and the bends.

[edit] Extremis Armor

After being critically injured during a battle with a nanotech-enhanced foe, Stark injected his nervous system with a modified techno-organic virus to save his own life. This fused Stark's armor to his body, allowing him to store the inner layers of the Iron Man armor in the hollows of his bones as well as control it through direct brain impulses. The integration of the virus has given him the ability to control a magnetic field, allowing Stark to fit the outer armor to his body without the need to manually fit each piece. He is also able to remotely connect to external communications systems such as satellites, cellular phones, and computers throughout the world. Because the armor's operating system is now directly connected to Stark's nervous system, its response time has been significantly improved.

[edit] Modern Hydro Suit

First Appearance: Wolverine #45 (2006)

During the Civil War arc of Wolverine solo series, Wolverine borrows Stark's armor to pursue Namor who undersea in New Pangea. A new hydro suit is used by Wolverine that correlates to the style of the modern Iron Man suit.

[edit] Armors from Alternate Realities & Possible Futures

Iron Man 2020
Heroes Reborn "Prometheum" Armor
Iron Man of Earth X
Marvel Mangaverse Iron Man
Ultimate Iron Man
Iron Maniac
The Lord Iron armor from Marvel 1602.
Somatic Combat Vehicle from Iron Man:Crash
Overload armor from "What If Vol.1 #64 (What If Iron Man Sold Out?")
Sorceror armor from What If Vol. 1 #113 (What If Tony Stark was Sorceror Supreme?")

[edit] Other Media

As noted above, Iron Man's modular armor was his standard suit for his appearance in the 1990's Iron Man animated series, but with a slightly modified face plate to give it the traditional mouth-slit. A slight redesign to the armour for the second season restored the modular armor's comic-styled face.

The trademark of a changing armor remained a constant in the animated series, with the first season featuring the hydro-armor, straight from the comics. The second season, however, was when the variant armors became a focal point of the series; the new modifications Stark made to his suit allowed it to "adapt" into different forms, altering design, function and shape on the spot. New variant armors included:

Subterranean armor - brown and gold, with an arm-mounted pneumatic drill for underground burrowing.
Inferno armor - pink-orange and gold, resistant to extreme temperatures, which proved helpful in combat with Firebrand.
Samurai armor - never actually used in combat, this highly-stylised armour was blue and grey.
Radiation armor - blue and silver armor to shield against radioactive danger.
Lava armor - red and silver armor that can resist submergence in magma, which proved helpful when Iron Man had to recover one of the Mandarin's rings from within a volcano.
Magnetic armor - purple and silver, with the ability to generate electromagnetic pulses, once used by a microscopically reduced Iron Man to fibrilate Hawkeye's heart

Armors lifted from the comics which were also featured were the stealth armor, the Hulkbuster armor, and space armor. The main reason for such a variety of armors, of course, was to sell the myraid action-figure representations of them that filled out the Iron Man toyline. The toyline also featured two armors which did not appear in the series; an entirely silver arctic armor and a hologram armor based on the Silver Centurion suit.

[edit] Gallery

Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963): Cover art by Jack Kirby and Don Heck.	Iron Man's gold painted armor.	Iron Man's standard model red and gold armor.	Iron Man's space armor, Mk 1.
Iron Man's Stealth armor, Mk I.	Iron Man Vol. 1, #222 (Sept. 1987). Art by M.D. Bright.	Iron Man's Hydro-Armor.	Iron Man Vol. 1, #283 (August 1992). Art by Kevin Hopgood.
Modular armour.	Hulkbuster armor. Art by Kevin Hopgood.	Promotional Art used for Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 2. Art by Pasqual Ferry.