Once, Tony Stark was known as a genius weapons designer and a ruthless businessman. A change of heart drove him to mend his ways as the invincible Iron Man and stop manufacturing weapons. Yet he was still as cool and clinical as ever when it came to managing his business affairs. However, a preview of the new series by Spencer Ackerman and Julius Otha suggests a kinder, gentler Tony Stark. Albeit one who can still kick butt when needed.
The opening pages of Iron Man #1 find Tony Stark inspecting one of the factories he recently reacquired following the fall of Orchis. The previous management had strong opinions on unions organizing and employed shape-shifting thugs to handle the labor dispute. This leaves Tony stuck between a mob of workers who hate his guts and the union-busters guarding his factory.
The first six pages of Iron Man #1 may be viewed below.
New Iron Man is a union supporter
Some might be surprised to find Iron Man standing on the side of union organizers. Most iterations of Tony Stark, while striving to be generous to his employees, were still businessmen first and foremost. They were also reluctant to cede control of their technology or company to anyone else, no matter how good their intentions. This would seem to reflect how Tony’s attitude has changed in recent years, given that independent attitude was partly responsible for his losing control of Stark Enterprises in the first place.
While this Iron Man might be more agreeable to collective bargaining, it would be a mistake to think he’s completely lost his edge. The early announcements regarding the series promised a Tony Stark willing to “fight back, play dirty, and unleash every bit of his intellect” on his enemies. These enemies include a new version of the Iron Monger. Luckily, Tony will have a new-and-improved Improvised Iron Man armor to go with his new attitude.
Disney+ Has the Best Bundle in the Business
Sign-up today for access to Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+
Sign-ups support Superhero Hype
via affiliate commission
Iron Man #1 arrives in comic shops everywhere on October 23, 2024.
