Just like every other hero, Iron Man has his share of villains, some one shot guys and some who have been around as long as he has. Of course some stick out more than others, and to no surprise they last the longest because they tend to be the most original and interesting. So which do I feel these are? Well, I give you what I believe to be Iron Man’s best villains.
5) Crimson Dynamo
I wanted to put him as the first because the Dynamo always represented Tony if he was born in Russia, plus at the time with the Cold War that meant a lot more. It was two men whose only real difference was that they grew up on the other side of the world. Unfortunately the problem with the Dynamo was the guy in the armor kept changing, so it became more a suit than anything. I guess you can call it the Tin Man: the character lacked a heart. His latest appearance was little more than a joke, wearing armor like the original and getting beat with no real effort. The Dynamo really needs to get an established wearer so it can be used to full potential. Still he has managed to continually be interesting, so he makes the list.
4) Justin Hammer
Tony with no morals is probably a good way to explain Hammer. He was driven by money and power and didn’t care who he stepped on to get it. Of course, he didn’t get where he was by being stupid and every time he looked down for good something he did in the past blew up in Tony’s face and he was back in it. Until that whole Bad Blood thing, but of course in comics, is anyone ever truly dead?
3) Titanium Man
The T-Man always represented a bit of a step up from Iron Man, a David vs Goliath if you will. Plus he represented somewhat of a great fear at the time: an unstoppable Russian weapon. He was loyal to a fault and would never give up. Even after Tony had upgraded his armor multiple times, the T-Man was still a match in the same armor he wore. It says something when after beating the T-Man with the classic armor, the far superior Modular armor was having trouble taking him down. It shows how powerful the Titanium Man truly was, and it was only death that really stopped him.
2) Obadiah Stane (Iron Monger)
Stane was Tony’s most crafty and intelligent enemy, and in ways actually smarter than him. Stane avoided direct conflict seeking instead to stay behind the scenes and ruin Tony emotionally, taking away his company and driving him to alcoholism. Tony was at his worst when Stane wanted him. But in the end Stane underestimated Tony, thinking Tony was broken for good and he had won, Stark came back with the Silver Centurion armor and not only outfought Stane in his Iron Monger but out-thought him. Everything Stane threw at him Tony waded through with little problem. Unwilling to give Tony the final victory Stane took his own life. Of all the Iron man villains, none have ever managed to make Tony steep so low.
1) Mandarin
It’s really hard to put Mandarin anywhere but the top spot. Not only is he the most intriguing, but he is the only villain who continually evolves. After every battle the Mandarin comes back with a changed philosophy and strategy, and sometimes new powers. He has done everything from creating his own armor to trying to control Fing Fang Foom and Ultimo. He always has a new scheme vastly different from the last, and he has the intelligence to use his supreme powers. The only thing I don’t like is that he is almost always been physically frail, so the battle between him and Iron Man is usually the Mandarin dodging repulsors. But still, what the Mandarin brings more than offsets that. Intelligent, resourceful and driven the Mandarin time and again has proven to be Stark’s greatest enemy.
5) Crimson Dynamo
I wanted to put him as the first because the Dynamo always represented Tony if he was born in Russia, plus at the time with the Cold War that meant a lot more. It was two men whose only real difference was that they grew up on the other side of the world. Unfortunately the problem with the Dynamo was the guy in the armor kept changing, so it became more a suit than anything. I guess you can call it the Tin Man: the character lacked a heart. His latest appearance was little more than a joke, wearing armor like the original and getting beat with no real effort. The Dynamo really needs to get an established wearer so it can be used to full potential. Still he has managed to continually be interesting, so he makes the list.
4) Justin Hammer
Tony with no morals is probably a good way to explain Hammer. He was driven by money and power and didn’t care who he stepped on to get it. Of course, he didn’t get where he was by being stupid and every time he looked down for good something he did in the past blew up in Tony’s face and he was back in it. Until that whole Bad Blood thing, but of course in comics, is anyone ever truly dead?
3) Titanium Man
The T-Man always represented a bit of a step up from Iron Man, a David vs Goliath if you will. Plus he represented somewhat of a great fear at the time: an unstoppable Russian weapon. He was loyal to a fault and would never give up. Even after Tony had upgraded his armor multiple times, the T-Man was still a match in the same armor he wore. It says something when after beating the T-Man with the classic armor, the far superior Modular armor was having trouble taking him down. It shows how powerful the Titanium Man truly was, and it was only death that really stopped him.
2) Obadiah Stane (Iron Monger)
Stane was Tony’s most crafty and intelligent enemy, and in ways actually smarter than him. Stane avoided direct conflict seeking instead to stay behind the scenes and ruin Tony emotionally, taking away his company and driving him to alcoholism. Tony was at his worst when Stane wanted him. But in the end Stane underestimated Tony, thinking Tony was broken for good and he had won, Stark came back with the Silver Centurion armor and not only outfought Stane in his Iron Monger but out-thought him. Everything Stane threw at him Tony waded through with little problem. Unwilling to give Tony the final victory Stane took his own life. Of all the Iron man villains, none have ever managed to make Tony steep so low.
1) Mandarin
It’s really hard to put Mandarin anywhere but the top spot. Not only is he the most intriguing, but he is the only villain who continually evolves. After every battle the Mandarin comes back with a changed philosophy and strategy, and sometimes new powers. He has done everything from creating his own armor to trying to control Fing Fang Foom and Ultimo. He always has a new scheme vastly different from the last, and he has the intelligence to use his supreme powers. The only thing I don’t like is that he is almost always been physically frail, so the battle between him and Iron Man is usually the Mandarin dodging repulsors. But still, what the Mandarin brings more than offsets that. Intelligent, resourceful and driven the Mandarin time and again has proven to be Stark’s greatest enemy.
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