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Tony Stark’s Iron Man has become perhaps Marvel’s most iconic hero, and no wonder – Tony’s quest for redemption and constantly updated suits offer comic and movie fans a compelling hero who always has something new going on in terms of his visuals and abilities. With the MCU killing off Robert Downey Jr. in the role as of Avengers: Endgame (and recasting him as Doctor Doom), fans may think that Marvel will never be able to capture the magic of Iron Man again – however, there’s one other hero who gives them that chance.
The hero in question is Abner Jenkins, aka Mach-IV… among several other codenames. A fixture of the Thunderbolts, Mach-IV is also a genius inventor who uses self-made armor to fight crime, seeking redemption for his early days as a supervillain. If Marvel wants to recreate everything that Iron Man brought to the MCU, this comic hero is ready and willing to fill the gap.
Technically created by Stan Lee and Carl Burgos, Abner ‘Abe’ Jenkins was reinvented to star in Thunderbolts ’97 by Kurt Busiek and a murderer’s row of artists. Originally, Abner was an enemy of the Human Torch (and later Spider-Man) named the Beetle, using a powerful suit with suction-cup fingers. However, after killing a scientist, Abe began seeking redemption, reinventing himself as Mach-1. Ever since, Abner has continued updating his armor, with each version debuting a new design and capabilities – in current comics, he’s up to Mach-X.
Mach-X’s suit powers include enhanced strength, flight, invisibility, EMP blasts and remote-control missiles, but each MACH suit has its own capabilities.
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Abner Jenkins’ Mach-X Can Be the New Iron Man… If Marvel Lets Him
Superpowered Suit? Check. Fighting for Redemption? Check. Constant Visual Reinvention? Check.
While the Beetle never excited fans in the same way as the Green Goblin or Doctor Doom, it’s one of the joys of comics that Abner wasn’t conceived as a hero seeking redemption. Abe was meant to be an out-and-out villain, working as a mercenary for hire and joining the Masters of Evil. However, in 1996 Marvel debuted the Thunderbolts – a team of former villains pretending to be heroes. The little-used Beetle was recruited to the team, sincerely embracing his chance at redemption. Going from genuine villain to sincere hero gives Abner’s comic backstory a lot of genuine texture – his days of evil weren’t calculated to make him sympathetic, they were meant to make him fun to hate.
With the Mach-1 identity debuting in Peter David and Mike Deodato Jr.’s Incredible Hulk #449, Abe showcased his genius, rapidly improving and enhancing his Mechanized Aerial Combat Harness (aka the MACH suit.) He’s one of a handful of villains to truly turn over a new leaf, being accepted by heroes like the Avengers as a genuine ally. However, Abe’s connection to his old villain friends is a constant source of both tension and humor, as he’s forced to choose between his new identity as a hero and the old friendships and favors he wants to honor.
Mach-X may have his own armor, but is he funny? Open the image gallery below for a funny scene from Nick Spencer and Steve Lieber’s Superior Foes of Spider-Man #3.
While Mach-X is a relatively obscure Marvel character, he doesn’t need to stay that way. The MCU could easily turn Abe into the new Tony Stark, serving up a new suit of MACH armor (or two) every movie while also following a hero who is doing his best to make up for the dark deeds he perpetrated in his previous life. Indeed, the upcoming Thunderbolts* could pave the way to the hero’s introduction – he’s a member of the original team, and was later recruited into Bucky Barnes’ iteration.
A non-powered hero who uses an advanced suit to keep up with superhumans is an awesome idea, and one that doesn’t have to die with Tony Stark. Marvel has a chance to recreate Iron Man’s big-screen success by promoting this D-list comic hero to a more prominent position in its universe, with his extensive backstory and adventures more than justifying the spotlight. As dissatisfaction with the MCU’s current crop of movies continues to grow, Marvel could do a lot worse than trying to recapture the magic of Iron Man by taking a chance on Abner Jenkins’ Mach-X.
“}]] The next Tony Stark. Read More