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For some time now, I have wanted to revisit some classic Iron Man, but I have been hesitant about where exactly in the character’s canon to start. This is one of the biggest inhibitions many potential readers face when they consider diving into comics, and so I think it is worth probing the problem in a little more depth in order to find a solution.
That is, I think we can use Iron Man, specifically, to talk a bit more generally about how new and returning fans can approach a new franchise in a way where we don’t feel the pressure to start in the “right” place.
While a list of the best Iron Man comics is certainly an essential resource to consult when trying to determine where to begin, it might not necessarily alleviate that overwhelming feeling of staring down sixty-plus years of continuity that many of us are familiar with – which is what I would like to try to address here.
Starting Is The Hardest Part – Assessing Different Approaches For Getting Into Iron Man Comics
Developing A Methodology For New Readers
Without question, Iron Man is the breakout superhero star of the past fifteen-plus years of Marvel Cinematic Universe ascendency. I can still vividly remember going into 2008’s original Iron Man film with low expectations, and being absolutely blown away by what I saw on screen. As primarily an X-Men fan growing up, I didn’t develop an attachment to Iron Man comics as I did to the X-titles of the early and mid-2000s. My conception of the character has largely been defined – like many contemporary fans of the character – by Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of the hero.
Still, as a fan of Marvel Comics – and more critically, someone who craves a deeper understanding of comic book history – I feel compelled to dive into Iron Man’s extensive back catalog, which, like most of Marvel’s top heroes, comprises over sixty years of stories. So, then, the question of “where do I start” arises. There are three potential answers to this question that stand out, which I think merit further exploration. Here are those methods as I would formulate them:
START AT THE BEGINNING: Go all the way back to Iron Man’s earliest appearances and work forward from there to develop an appreciation for the character’s history
START IN THE PRESENT: Jump on board with the current ongoing volume of
Iron Man
, to understand the character’s current role in comics
START WITH THE HITS: Identify the most influential and impactful
Iron Man
stories, the “greatest hits” of the character and start with those.
Each of these potential approaches has its own benefits and drawbacks, things that might make it appealing to one reader and intimidating to another. The important thing to note is that there is no single correct answer, nor is there a wrong way to become a fan of Iron Man, or any other comic book franchise. However, some readers are more suited for jumping in the deep end of the pool, so to speak, while others want to wade into the shallow end and test the waters – and what matters is figuring out which kind of reader you are.
Approach #1: Start At The Beginning (But Where Is The Beginning?)
Iron Man Volume 1 #1 (1968) – Written By Archie Goodwin; Art By Gene Colan; Ink By Johnny Craig; Lettering By Artie Simek
Like most comic book fans, I wrestle with the desire to be a completist. My natural inclination is to go back to the first novel an author ever published, and read through each of their books in turn, or in the case of comics, to go back to the very first appearance of a character and move methodically through every single appearance they have ever made. For my own sake, I have had to disabuse myself of this notion, and I would recommend that most readers do so as well.
That said, those who have the patience for this approach will definitely find it rewarding, and are bound to learn a lot about Iron Man lore and classic Marvel storytelling in the process. Still, when deciding to start at the “beginning,” there can still be some uncertainty about when exactly that is. Case in point: the character Iron Man first appeared in 1962’s Tales of Suspense, and subsequently took on a central role in Marvel’s Avengers, which debuted the next year.
How Tony Stark Became Doctor Doom in the Original Comics (EVERYTHING You Could Possibly Need to Know)
Tony Stark has become Doctor Doom multiple times in the comics, but one Iron Man corruption story is by far the most likely to be the MCU’s blueprint.
Yet it can be argued that these stories, while formative, were simply setting the foundation for the character’s first solo series, which began in 1968. Any of these would make for a suitable entry point, but considering mid-20th century comics penchant for catching readers up to speed at the start of a story, there would be little harm in skipping straight to Iron Man’s solo debut, and looping back to fill in his early Tales of Suspense and Avengers arcs after developing a greater appreciation for the character.
Approach #2: Start In The Present (But Won’t I Miss Stuff?)
Invincible Iron Man Volume 5 #1 – Written By Gerry Duggan; Art By Juan Frigeri; Color By Bryan Valenza; Lettering By Joe Caramagna
In the decades since 1968’s Iron Man #1 was first published, there have been four complete volumes of the character’s solo adventures, with a fifth currently ongoing. From what I have read of it, Gerry Duggan’s Invincible Iron Man has largely been a series MCU fans could jump right into with little hesitation – yet often, that hesitation exists, because completist-minded readers feel that they will be missing something if they start with the contemporary version of the character, rather than going back to the classics.
While the “beginning” method offers an unparalleled look at how an iconic character became what they are today, many fans might actually prefer to enjoy the end results of that process.
The intention behind the relaunch of a comic series should, in theory, be to provide a strong “jumping on point” for new readers; that is to say, the point of a relaunch is to tell a story that is not necessarily burdened by what came before. In practice, different series achieve this to different degrees – and to a certain extent, unfamiliar readers have to be able to meet a book on its terms. That said, I would argue most readers should feel confident starting with the current volume of a series like Iron Man, before going back to early stories.
Certainly, a fan starting with Invincible Iron Man Volume 5 might not get every reference or callback, but conversely, they are more likely encounter the most fully-realized version of the character. While the “beginning” method offers an unparalleled look at how an iconic character became what they are today, many fans might actually prefer to enjoy the end results of that process, rather than charting each step of the journey on the way to the destination. With this in mind, I would advocate for those fans to start with the current Iron Man series.
Method #3: Start With The “Best” Stories (To Understand What Defined The Character)
Demon In A Bottle (1979) – Written By David Michelinie & Bob Layton; Art By John Romita Jr., Bob Layton, & Carmine Infantino
The third option fans can consider when attempting to get into a character would be to eschew a chronological approach entirely, and rather focus on the stories that have defined the character, be it Iron Man, or whoever. This method offers a mix of the positives and negatives of the first two; I know I have hesitated to read Iron Man’s infamous “Demon in a Bottle” storyline in full because I felt like I needed to understand everything that came before, but that is not necessarily the case.
When Iron Man Fought Magneto, Who Actually Won?
Magneto should have been able to take Iron Man down with ease, but when the two fought, Tony Stark gave the X-Men a new Master of Magnetism.
The hallmark of any great story is that it gives the audience everything they need to know; I’m as guilty of anybody as not holding comic books to this same standard, but in truth, even the most lore-saturated plotline should be, and can be, accessible and entertaining to an audience beyond just hardcore fans. One benefit of starting with the “best” stories in a character’s ouvre is getting to discover how well they hold up to this standard; moreover, it is the fastest way to develop strong opinions about the character, so you can engage in the pop culture discourse surrounding them.
If there is one major disadvantage to this approach, it is that there will be many hidden gems and underrated storylines the reader will miss along the way. I think this is certainly another dimension of the anxiety that surrounds approaching a character like Iron Man, with such expansive lore; it is the idea that there is always more to be discovered, more to learn. Yet if this anxiety can be converted, and approached instead as one of the great joys of becoming a comic book fan, I think many more people would attempt to invest in the medium as fans.
Conclusion: Find The Right Starting Point For You
Explore Your Iron Man Fandom In More Depth
The question of where to dive in and start reading any long-running comic franchise, from Iron Man, to Thor, to X-Men, is a fascinating and fun one, and I’ve really only just begun to scratch the surface of the conversation here. Really, what I’ve hoped to do is provide a primer on this topic, so that fledgling or returning comic book fans can feel less alone when it comes to making these decisions. Once more, the important thing I want to reiterate is that there is no single “correct” starting point for a comic book franchise – instead, each reader must find the right place for them.
I am still not personally sure where I am going to start with
Iron Man
, but I feel more confident now in my ability to jump in and engage with practically any story in his canon.
This means thinking about what has captivated you about a particular character – Tony Stark’s wit, or Iron Man’s tech, for instance. If the first story you try to read doesn’t suit you, don’t get discouraged; the flip side of the deluge of comic book stories is that there is an endless sea of potential stories for you to fall in love with. I am still not personally sure where I am going to start with Iron Man, but I feel more confident now in my ability to jump in and engage with practically any story in his canon.
Iron Man
Anthony “Tony” Edward Stark, AKA Iron Man, is a Marvel Comics superhero who has enjoyed several years of the spotlight and has become a mainstay in several Marvel media franchises. After suffering a critical injury, Tony creates a specialized armored suit powered by an arc reactor, which keeps him alive. Egotistical but good-hearted, Tony utilizes his super intellect and inventions to fight to protect humanity from various threats, eventually becoming a founding member of the Avengers. In 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was kicked off with the film Iron Man, which starred Robert Downey Jr. as the superhero.
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