Iron Manwasn’t always the iconic adept of Marvel that he is today , as the case spent most of his comical book career as a B to degree Celsius - tilt hero below the likes of Spider - Man , the X - Man , and the Fantastic Four . However , in the current age of Marvel Comics ( thanks in - part to Tony Stark ’s outstanding adaptation in the MCU by Robert Downey , Jr. ) , Iron Man is easily a prime A - lister who ’s been the cornerstone of some of the most important events in Marvel Comics story .

So , how did Iron Man go from being a somewhat pop funny book role to the international icon he ’s become ? Well , it all has to do with the part ’s backbreaking journeying throughout his issue history . Out of every moment , only a few are notable enough to have played a major factor in Iron Man ’s life , and helped shape Tony Stark into the torpedo buff screw and love today . Here are the Top 10 most significant Iron Man moments that defined not only his own history , but that of Marvel Comics as a whole .

1The Origin of The Iron Man

Tony Stark ’s Iron Man originis one of the most impactful moments of his entire living , as it not only transformed him into the superhero Iron Man , but it also propose him a dispirited look at on the dot what his part to the world really was . Tony Stark was a weapons trader / manufacturer with military contracts , think of he profit from warfare . When he was appropriate behind enemy lines and was made a prisoner of war inTales of Suspense#39 by Stan Lee , Larry Lieber , and Don Heck , Stark determine first - hand the horrors of his artillery in action . So , when he made his first Iron Man suit and get out , he vowed to expend his obscene riches and unparalleled genius to make the man a in effect shoes , and he decided to do so as the superhero Iron Man .

2Iron Man Founding The Avengers

3Iron Man Welcomes Thanos To Marvel

Everyone is intimate with post - Infinity Gauntlet Thanos , the Mad Titan who is a threat to not only the Avengers , but also some of the strongest cosmic entities in the entire Marvel Universe . However , what many might not know is thatThanos was introduced in anIron Mancomicas a villain - of - the - calendar week who very well could never have been utilize again . The Invincible Iron Man#55 by Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich was Thanos ’ first appearance , after which he ’d go on to continue terrorizing Iron Man as well as characters like Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock until finally he would become the Avengers - level terror fans recognise him as today - though it all start with a single appearing in anIron Mancomic .

4Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle

This stage in Tony Stark ’s life sentence is one that hit many fans close to home , as it tell the story not of a superhero gearing up in a mellow - tech suit to fight aliens , but of a man battling alcoholism . The story was called “ Demon in a Bottle ” , and it ran inIron Man#120 - 128 by David Michelinie , Bob Layton , John Romita , Jr. , and Carmine Infantino . This storyline humanise Tony Stark even more than his official origin , giving him a very real and very serious obstacle to defeat that he could n’t just crucify with his repulsor cannons . Stark had to face his demons head - on , without his protective suit of armor .

5Iron Man Creates The War Machine

A Heron is nothing without their keep arrangement , and there is no one who supports Tony Stark more than his best friend in the world , James Rhodes . Rhodey made his first visual aspect inIron Man#118 by David Michelinie , Bob Layton , and John Byrne . While this intro was pregnant in terms of playing the role of Tony Stark ’s best Quaker , Rhodey would n’t genuinely come into his own until he became War Machine inIron Man#284 by Len Kaminski and Kevin Hopgood . Both bit were immensely significant for Tony Stark for their own reasons , as one gave Iron Man a superhero partner , and the other pass on him a friend for life .

6Iron Man: Armor Wars

The seven - part “ Armor Wars ” outcome by David Michelinie , Bob Layton , Mark D. Bright , and Barry Windsor - Smith reintroduced the thought that the engineering make by Tony Stark could be used for the detriment of humankind . This is something Tony had n’t had to worm with since his debut , and this event made it a much more urgent matter give the extent of the applied science at bid . In “ Armor Wars ” , the Iron Man designs are being used by rival companies to make fresh suits that have the potency to make death and end . The event end with Tony Stark renouncing Iron Man just as he foreswear his weapons - dealing way inTales of Suspense , a narrative parallel of latitude that showed Tony that sometimes put down the proverbial sword is sometimes the best mode to use it for good .

7Iron Man: Extremis

“ Extremis ” is a six - part storyline inIron ManVol . 4 by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov that not only introduce a new scourge to Iron Man canon , but also gives Iron Man himself the upgrade of his life . The Extremis was a super soldier project developed under a Stark Industries subordinate called FuturePharm . Using nanite engineering , the Extremis drug offered those who took it superhuman healing as well as a slew of other ability include strength , hurrying , and even ( in extreme cases ) fervidness breath . After he was injured in fight , Tony Stark took a modify pane of the Extremis drug . away from saving his life , this give Tony Stark actual power for the first time in his career , fusing Tony ’s nanotech armour with his body and granting him direct cybernetic interface , while also grant him superhuman reflexes , enhanced endurance , and heighten brain function . “ Extremis ” gave Tony Stark a newfangled starting time as Iron Man in a refreshful and exciting way , stimulate it more than just an iconic story , but an integral moment in Tony ’s account .

8Iron Man Fights Marvel’s Civil War

Civil Warby Mark Millar and Steve McNiven was one of the most impactful moments in all of Marvel Comics history , and Iron Man was responsible for one half of the conflict . When Tony Stark agreed with the federal government that superheroes needed to be registered , he was come across with extreme opposition from Captain America . The two Avengers leaders then accumulate their own various followings until an all - out war break out between them . Neither side was willing to profess , and the issue was a lasting crack in the foundation upon which the Avengers were build ( as well as some more direct fallout ) .

9The ‘Death’ of Iron Man, Director of SHIELD

The straightaway result ofCivil War(which Iron Man technically won ) was Tony Stark becoming the new director of SHIELD . However , after the Skrull invasion of Earth during Secret Invasion , along with Tony Stark ’s refusal to release the name of registered heroes only he had access to ( after he download the only copy of it directly into his brainpower ) , Stark was removed from his posture . This chain of events was the start point ofDark Reign , during which time Tony Stark was the most wanted criminal alive , as he held the classified information of register heroes in his mind illicitly . So , Tony began deleting selective information from his own judgement to keep it out of the hand of Norman Osborn , who had rebel to power duringDark Reign . This process threw Tony into a coma , and his brainiac stopped forge , meaning he was technically bushed for a time . While a backup of Tony ’s brain was saved in his computer and just needed to be ‘ upload ’ into his body to convey him back , this full plot line was fundamentally just Tony suffering the consequences of his own actions , as he divided the Avengers for the information he was now literally dying to keep out of the hands of the public .

10Iron Man Learns He’s Adopted (& Has a Secret Brother)

InIron ManVol . 5 # 17 by Kieron Gillen and Carlo Pagulayan , Tony Stark learns a shocking truth of his past times : he ’s adopted . Not only that , but he also find out that he has a orphic brother named Arno Stark ( who lover may be more familiar with as Iron Man 2020 ) . Tony has had to address with the radioactive dust of monumental upshot likeCivil War , Secret Invasion , andDark Reign , he ’s had to come to terms with developing superpowers , and even had to front the grim truth that his technology has the potential to do more harm than salutary in the world . However , away from “ Demon in a Bottle ” , this is perhaps the most powerful minute of personal impact Tony has ever had to care with , as it made him interrogate everything he thought he knew about his own history , not as Iron Man , but as Tony Stark .

These moments in Iron Man ’s biography throughout his funny history chronicle Tony Stark ’s metamorphosis from a selfish , warmongering businessman to a human race - form superhero , and then in the end , a fully - realized good person . That is why these are the Top 10 most importantIron Manmoments that delimit his history , and the history of Marvel Comics .

Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma looks back on Chandrila during Leida’s wedding reception, edited with circular imagery.

Close-up of Wes Chatham as Amos in The Expanse TV Show

Robin Curtis and Kirstie Alley as Lt. Saavik in Star Trek.

Iron Man suit and Tony Stark

Iron Man’s debut.

Iron Man and the founding Avengers.

Thanos' first appearance.

Iron Man: Demon in a Bottle.

War Machine.

Armor Wars.

Iron Man: Extremis.

Iron Man vs captain america

Iron Man: Director of SHIELD.

Iron Man 2020.

Iron Man