Iron Man: 10 Best Comic Issues Of The 1980s

The success of the MCU and Iron Man’s prominent role in it has catapulted the character into undeniable A-List superhero status. In the comic book Marvel Universe, however, it took a little while for Iron Man to achieve that recognition.

While he became a founding Avenger in the 1960s, it wasn’t until subsequent decades that Iron Man’s most memorable stories would see print. In the 1980s, Iron Man’s comics really hit their stride, shaking up the status quo and introducing many memorable new characters and stories, some of which influenced the films that launched him into superstardom.

“A Cry Of Beasts” Iron Man #160, 1982

A fill-in issue between changing creative teams, Iron Man #160 arrived during a stretch in which the book had yet to settle upon a new regular artist. Written by Denny O’Neil, the story, featuring Iron Man battling the Serpent Squad at the Long Island Zoo, is fun enough, but the real treat comes from the issue’s visuals, guest penciled by none other than legendary artist Steve Ditko!

Most known for designing Spider-Man’s iconic costume, this marks Ditko’s only work ever on the Iron Man comic. 20 years after helping to launch the Marvel Universe, Ditko’s pencils still dazzle, transforming a “filler” story into a significant issue for readers and collectors alike.

“Stark Wars, Chapter I” Iron Man #225, 1987

Due to reprints and collected editions, the story originally published as “Stark Wars” is better known today as “Armor Wars”. Unquestionably one of Iron Man’s greatest adventures, Iron Man #225 kicks off the story with a giant-sized issue featuring appearances from every iteration of the Iron Man armor to that point.

When Tony discovers that many of his enemies are empowered by his own designs, he sets out to disable them to reclaim his intellectual property. In the process, he discovers it’s not only his enemies who have repurposed his technology but his allies as well, bringing Stark into conflict with Nick Fury and Captain America years before “Civil War”. While the entire storyline is a must-read for any Iron Man fan, this issue kicks off the event and establishes the “Stark against the world” trope that would become a hallmark of the character in the following years.

“Knightmare” Iron Man #150, 1981

As two of the smartest characters in Marvel Comics, Tony Stark and Victor Von Doom have inevitably come into conflict throughout the years. “Doomquest”, taking place between Iron Man #s 149-150, is one of their most memorable encounters. Iron Man #149, the first part of the story takes place in Latveria, in the modern-day, before the two are transported centuries into the past at the end of the issue via Doom’s Time Platform.

The second issue of the story, entitled “Knightmare” is the most memorable though, as the duo find themselves in 12th Century Camelot, where Iron Man teams up with King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, while Doom seeks out the services of the sorceress Morgan Le Fay. A fan-favorite story, “Doomquest” has been republished numerous times, and even spawned a sequel, “Recurring Knightmare”, 100 issues later in Iron Man #250.

“Revelations” Iron Man #198, 1985

1985’s Iron Man #198 details the previously unknown history of Obadiah Stane, who would eventually don a suit of armor of his own as the Iron Monger, as depicted by Jeff Bridges in the first Iron Man film. Before becoming the Iron Monger, Stane spent the first half of the decade dismantling Tony’s life, piece by piece, in a diabolical plot to take over Stark International. Bringing a new layer of nuance to Stane’s motives, “Revelations” added some much-needed depth to the character, validating his status as Iron Man’s most recurring and successful antagonist of the 80s.

“Stark Wars, Epilogue” Iron Man #232, 1988

Scripted and penciled by Barry Windsor-Smith, Iron Man #232 takes place entirely within a nightmare, as Tony battles his guilt following the “Stark Wars” event. Notably surreal in contrast to Iron Man’s typically more grounded adventures, the issue peels back the layers of Tony’s psyche and humanizes the larger-than-life hero.

Although he was only aboard for a single issue, Windsor-Smith’s art is a treat, and his contribution to the Iron Man comic here would set him on the trajectory that eventually led to the critically acclaimed “Weapon X” storyline in Marvel Comics Presents, where portions of Wolverine’s long mysterious origin were detailed for the first time.

“A Duel Of Iron” Iron Man #192, 1985

In a symbolic ushering in of the next phase of Iron Man comics, Iron Man #192 sees a passing of the torch from the original to the second Iron Man, James Rhodes. Unfortunately for Rhodes, Stark has no intention of passing the proverbial torch willingly, donning his classic Mark I armor to battle his fledgling replacement.

Stark, at this point, was in the midst of a relapse into alcoholism, prompting Rhodes to assume the armor out of necessity. While Rhodes’ victory is less impressive considering Stark’s mental state and outdated armor, his heroic actions and moral conviction during this confrontation cemented him as a more than worthy substitute.

“The Empty Shell” Iron Man #167, 1983

Obadiah Stane, Iron Man’s most persistent recurring foe of the 1980s, finally sees his plans come to fruition. While the deconstruction of Tony Stark was a slow burn up to this point, Stane’s machinations finally become too much to bear. After four years of sobriety following the 1979 landmark storyline, “Demon in a Bottle”, Tony falls off the wagon, relapsing into alcoholism. The climax of Iron Man #167 represents the tipping point for Tony Stark, as his life spirals out of control, culminating in the loss of his business, his friends, and the Iron Man armor itself.

“Deliverance” Iron Man #182, 1984

Following his relapse, Tony has lost his business to a buyout orchestrated by Obadiah Stane, and his best friend James Rhodes has turned his back on him, taking over the role of Iron Man himself. Homeless and destitute, Stark has all but given up, just in time to weather one of the worst snowstorms to ever hit Marvel’s Manhattan. While the authorities urge the vagrant Stark to seek shelter, Tony refuses to escape the tundra until finding Gretl Anders, a pregnant homeless woman whom he’d recently befriended.

Gretl succumbs to the elements, but her baby survives, and Tony finally finds the impetus to get his life back on track. Heartbreaking and poignant, the issue reminds readers of Tony’s inherent humanity and the often forgotten sense of altruism hiding behind his hubris. At his lowest, Tony finally swallows his pride and begins his path to redemption against a thematic backdrop of death and birth amongst tragedy and turmoil.

“And Who Shall Clothe Himself In Iron?” Iron Man #170, 1983

While Marvel Comics had featured legacy heroes before, these had mostly been new characters reusing established names, with little association to the original. Iron Man #170’s arrival set a new precedent, featuring a passing of the mantel of one of the publisher’s most prominent heroes.

Following multiple reckless decisions by the recently relapsed Tony Stark, James Rhodes usurps the armor, becoming the all-new Iron Man. A watershed moment in not just Iron Man comics, but the Marvel Universe as a whole, the success of Rhodes’ ascension would set the precedent for similar passings of the roles of the Avengers’ remaining “Big Three” in the 80s, with John Walker becoming the new Captain America in 1987 and Eric Masterson assuming Thor’s identity in 1989.

“Resolutions” Iron Man #200, 1985

A half-decade in the making, Obadiah Stane and Tony Stark finally come face to face. Throughout the early 80s, Stane had systematically dismantled Stark’s life, taking his business, destroying his relationships, and contributing to the relapse that forced him to step down as Iron Man. After spending the last two years at rock bottom, Tony finally finds redemption, reaffirming his sobriety and returning as Iron Man just in time to battle a newly armored Stane, who himself has commandeered Stark tech to become the Iron Monger.

The issue that heavily influenced the hit 2008 film which kicked off the MCU, Iron Man #200 closes one of the most tumultuous chapters of Tony Stark’s life, returning him to his role as one of Marvel’s greatest heroes and setting up future stories for years to come.

About The Author

Drew Beaty
(53 Articles Published)

Drew Beaty is a third-generation superhero fan who was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He began his collection with hand-me-down comic books from a used book store owned by his father and grandfather in the late 1980s. Today, Drew owns and has read over 50,000 individual comics. He was once ranked “Best In The World” in the Marvel Comics category of the mobile trivia game Quiz-Up and still has the screenshots to prove it. When he’s not reading or writing about masks and capes, Drew spends his time with his wife and cats, or rubbing elbows with Portland’s music scene, where he has performed in the hip hop group Bad Habitat since 2008.

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