[[{“value”:”
Warning: Contains spoilers for West Coast Avengers #6!The Avengers are Marvel’s mightiest heroes, charged with protecting the world from any and all threats. But the definition of what really makes an Avenger apparently isn’t tied to saving anything. According to Tony Stark’s oldest friend, you can only be a real Avenger if Iron Man has betrayed you at least once.
This insight comes courtesy of West Coast Avengers #6 by Gerry Duggan, Ton Lima, Arthur Hesli, and Joe Caramagna. The issue pits Captain Marvel’s Avengers against Iron Man and War Machine’s West Coast Avengers, fighting over exactly what to do with the new “good” Ultron. Though Tony and Rhodey both believe in his ability to change, their East Coast teammates aren’t so convinced, and the conflict forces Stark to reveal the killswitch he put in place to stop Ultron if it becomes necessary.
For maximum effect, he and Rhodey lied about its existence to all their teammates, leading War Machine to assure Ultron: you can’t be an Avenger until “Tony Stark looks into your face and lies.” It’s a rude, yet surprisingly accurate definition.
Being Betrayed By Iron Man is The Real Avenger Initiation
Tony Stark Has Stabbed Almost All of His Greatest Allies in The Back
Iron Man has been a staple character in the Avengers since the team’s beginning, and yet Tony Stark has been a constant source of Marvel drama. His history is littered with ups and downs, both personally, and in his relationships with his friends and teammates. It’s painful to admit, but the closer a character is to Tony Stark, the higher their chance of getting hurt or lied to at some point, so War Machine’s jab certainly isn’t without merit. If the Avengers are the heart of the Marvel Universe, then joining the team means a considerable chance of getting pulled into one of Tony Stark’s divisive plans or controversies.
Related
10 Iron Man Armors That Prove How Vicious Tony Stark Really Is
Iron Man’s armors have always been flashy and awesome, but sometimes, Tony Stark builds a truly devious suit of armor in order to combat evil.
The most famous and oft-cited example is certainly Tony’s central role in the Civil War event, placing him in direct conflict with his friends and teammates, most notably Captain America. Even those who sided with him were not exempt from having the tables turned, as Spider-Man learned after unmasking himself to the world. Consider how many times Tony has faced a conflict with Scarlet Witch, his questionable efforts to control and even kill Hulk, and the years he’s spent pulling Rhodey in different directions, and even if Tony has grown substantially as a person, his track record speaks for itself.
Iron Man’s Past Actions Earn His Negative Reputation
Tony Stark often thinks of himself as the smartest person in any given room, and even his biggest fans know that he’s more likely to be guided by his ego and arrogance than he’s willing to admit. Making decisions on his own, based on personal logic, is Stark’s regular behavior. In reality, other heroes being left to play catch-up, or understand their role in a plan they didn’t realize was happening is nothing personal.
That’s precisely what Ultron just experienced in West Coast Avengers #6, sending a clear message about where the former villain’s allegiances now lie. War Machine’s comparison may seem harsh, but few Avengers (if any) have walked away from the team completely unscathed, making Iron Man’s penchant for deception an unofficial rite of passage for new Avengers.
West Coast Avengers #6 is available now from Marvel Comics.
“}]] All Avengers encounter one downside to Iron Man. Read More