The Complete Evolution of the Iron Man Suit

The suit may not make the man, but it doesn't hurt either.

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Batman has his fancy utility belt and Wolverine's claws are always dangerous, but neither can compare to the firepower of one of Iron Man's shiny suits. The world got its first look at one of these mean machines in Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963, where Ol' Shell Head was seen sporting a bulky grey hunk of junk that saved his life during a daring escape from a Vietnamese prison camp. Since then, Tony Stark has used his engineering expertise to craft new state-of-the-art armors that have pushed the limits of the human imagination.

Over the past five decades, the Iron Man armor has changed size, color, and material to suit whatever fight the Golden Avenger finds himself in. These armors have come a long way from what we saw during his debut, but there has always been a common thread of Stark's pioneering spirit to link them all together.

In Iron Man 3, which hits theaters today, we’re set to see the debut of dozens of new armors to Stark’s inventory, many of which have their roots set in the original comics. So in order to catch you up on some of our favorites that you'll see on the screen, here's the Complete Evolution of the Iron Man Suit.

The Classic Gray Armor

First appearance: Tales of Suspense #39 (1963)

By now the story of Tony Stark cobbling together a crude armored suit to save his life while being held prisoner in Vietnam is the stuff of comic book legend, but it’s easy to forget just what a beast this thing was. It's aesthetics are lacking, but it tore through a Vietnamese prison camp like a Mack truck, etching itself into comic book history in the process.

Obviously Iron Man needed to do some serious upgrades on it if he wanted to become one of the Big Three in the Marvel Universe, and improvements were made. But you can't help but nostalgic when you flip past this hulking monstrosity of twisted metal. After all, this suit marks Tony Stark’s first steps into the world.

The Golden Avenger

First appearance: Tales of Suspense #40 (1963)

When Tony Stark decided to keep on doing the superhero thing after he got back from his stint overseas, he realized he his outfit needed a few enhancements. Giving the rusty gray exterior a fresh coat of gold paint, Stark took the first steps on a slow evolution to what would become his modern Iron Man armor.

Equipped with more weapons, a force field projector, a sonar device, and a radio (so hot back then), this armor helped launch Iron Man into the spotlight.

First Red and Gold Armor

First appearance: Tales of Suspense #48 (1963)

When a villain named Dr. Doll took control of Iron Man’s bulky gold armor, Stark knew that he needed an upgrade to defeat him, thus the first red and gold armor was born. Outfitted with even more gizmos, like attachable repulsor rays, advanced rocket boots, and even an inexplicable pair of roller skates, this Iron Man suit more closely resembles what we know today.

Designed by the legendary Steve Ditko, the mask on this suit would often alternate between pointed and flat, but other than that difference, this is the way the Golden Avenger would be seen for more than a decade.

The Classic Red and Gold Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #85 (1976)

For longtime fans of Iron Man, this is how the character looks when you close your eyes and picture him. The classic red and gold armor is the standard by which all others are judged. Debuting 13 years after the character’s creation, this suit features all of the weapons and gadgets that are staples of his armory today, and it left all of his previous armors looking like prehistoric relics in the process.

The armor is made of a super thin steel mesh that's flexible enough to fold into a briefcase at times, yet turns nearly indestructible when the metallic molecules polarize. Seriously, none of this makes any sense, but in 1976, it was the shit.

Space Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #142 (1981)

Up until Iron Man debuted his space armor, there were few gimmick suits in the arsenal. The main suit would catch the occasional upgrade, but up until issue 142, readers had never seen an entire suit dedicated to one adventure like this. The space armor doesn’t look a whole lot different from the original suit, except for the emotionless faceplate and extra bulk.

The extra junk in the trunk is necessary for the suit to travel in deep space for extended periods of time. Over the years the space armor has been improved upon, as recently as earlier this year when Marvel debuted a new one after Iron Man joined the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Stealth Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #152 (1981)

Whenever Tony Stark needs to evade enemies and sneak his way into restricted airspace, he dons his famous Stealth Armor, which gives him the ability to jam radar, launch chaff grenades, and employ a built-in cloaking device. Originally designed without weapons, the suit has been upgraded numerous times over the years to include missile launchers and repulsor beams.

Eventually Stark took the stealth tech to another level by creating an advanced version of the suit made from ceramics and Kevlar to further make him immune to detection. Still, the original all-black version of the suit is our favorite. It’s not flashy or gaudy, but the deep black, blue highlights and red eyes make it stand out from the rest of Stark’s gear.

The Silver Centurion

First appearance: Iron Man #200 (1985)

Tony Stark first debuted the Silver Centurion armor in an effort to defeat Obadiah Stane in Iron Man #200. At the time, this design differed greatly from past armors because of its distinctive silver and red color scheme, as well as its bulkier frame and angular features. This suit debuted during a time when the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, and the Hulk all sported new costumes and skin tones, so the Silver Centurion fit in with a growing trend.

In terms of a standout feature, this suit employs a chameleon technology that allows the armor to project a hologram image of its surroundings over itself so Iron Man can conceal his appearance from others. This suit was the main look for the character throughout the late ‘80s, until it was destroyed towards the end of the “Armor Wars” storyline.

The Hydro Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #218 (1987)

Hydro Armor lets Tony Stark dive deeper, longer, and more effectively for oceanic research or battles. It retains the traditional Iron Man helmet, coupled with a bulkier all-gold suit that features a powerful propulsion system, a nearly-indestructible dome that rests over his head and a built-in escape pod that allows Stark to eject in case of an emergency.

The biggest problem with this aqueous get-up? It's too cumbersome for use on land. Stark can't make a quick transition between water and airborne combat wearing this one.

Neo-Classic Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #231 (1988)

In the final moments of “Armor Wars,” Tony Stark needs a brand new armor to fight off Firepower after the destruction of the Silver Centurion suit. Going back to his classic red and gold style, he creates the Neo-Classic Armor, nicknamed that for its close resemblance to the old school suit from the ‘70s. This suit packed more weaponry than his previous once, in addition to being a a lot larger. Still, it's sleek.

War Machine Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #281 (1992)

War Machine may have burst onto the mainstream as the suit of choice of Tony Stark’s pal, James Rhodes, but in the comics it was Stark who first wore the suit to do battle with the Masters of Silence. This was at a time when Stark was woefully overmatched and needed to create a new suit that was capable of carnage and destruction on a wide scale.

Shrugging off the traditional red and gold look for a more intense black and silver scheme, this suit has none of the frills that Stark usually enjoys. Instead it is decked from head to toe in more weaponry than entire battalions. Eventually the suit went to Rhodes. Makes sense. All of those guns and missile launchers aren't really Stark’s style.

Modular Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #300 (1994)

If you grew up watching the Iron Man cartoon from the ‘90s or have played Marvel vs. Capcom, this is the armor you know best. The term “Modular” refers to the fact that every part of this armor can act as an independent component, as opposed to one large piece of equipment. This allowed Iron Man to swap in different gloves, helmets, and boots for every situation, including space exploration and underwater battles.

But the most important aspect of any armor is the appearance, and, in our humble opinion, the Modular Armor still ranks as one of Stark’s best. It wasn’t overdone, nor did writers and artists try to bog it down with too much “real world” science. This was a superhero suit, plain and simple.

Hulkbuster Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #304 (1994)

Easily the most popular of all of Iron Man’s advanced armors from the ‘90s, the Hulkbuster suit is a mountainous exoskeleton of brute strength and domination. As the name suggests, Tony Stark developed this suit in case he ever had to go toe-to-toe with the Hulk, which indeed happened after the Green Goliath and Ol’ Shell Head came to blows over Stark’s involvement in producing gamma weaponry for Stane Industries.

This wasn’t a separate suit from his base armor; instead, it was a series of additional add-ons that came together to create a beast. With the suit’s ability to lift around 175 tons, the Hulkbuster armor actually has the ability to out-lift the Jade Giant himself.

Heroes Reborn Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #1 (1996)

Please, take it away! Not only was the the plot behind Heroes Reborn mind-numbingly terrible, Marvel let a lot of gaudy artists from the ‘90s come in and tinker with the designs of its characters in the process. The plot of these books revolved around the Avengers and Fantastic Four living on an alternate Earth after they were thought to be killed in the original Marvel Universe.

What followed was a series of comics so hideous that they almost destroyed the entire industry. And Iron Man’s new look was a microcosm of everything that was wrong with comics at the time. It was garish and loud, without any hint of nuance or functionality. He made Michael Bay's Transformers designs look like they were sculpted by Rodin in comparison. Let’s just move on, shall we?

Renaissance Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #1 (1998)

Now this is more like it. True, writer Kurt Busiek and artist Sean Chen had an uphill battle ahead of them to undo the damage of Heroes Reborn from a storytelling standpoint, but Iron Man’s revamped suit for the Heroes Return storyline at least looked great. It had a charm that was simultaneously modern and nostalgic. Artists and writers today should refer back to this.

As for the stats on the armor, it isn't the most powerful Stark's ever built, nor is it one he used much. But the design is so crisp and clean, you have to appreciate it.

S.K.I.N. Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #44 (2001)

After his armor became sentient and attempted to kill him in “The Mask in the Iron Man” storyline, Tony Stark thought about hanging up his repulsor rays for good. But when a new substance called S.K.I.N. was invented, he saw an idea for a new armor. S.K.I.N. is a liquid metal that could alternate between pliable and indestructible, which Stark implemented with the glee of a child playing with an Erector Set.

The most noticeable difference here is the pure size of the S.K.I.N. armor. Stark ditched S.K.I.N. after Ultron took over its controls, so readers never got to see its full potential. However, it was a novel concept and another example of Tony Stark’s continuing drive to improve himself.

Tin Man Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #50 (2002)

After the S.K.I.N. debacle, Tony Stark went for a more traditional armor, known as the Tin Man. Almost a cross between the Heroes Reborn and the Heroes Return suits, this armor had elements of the classic look of the character, while also blending in some rather ostentatious touches.

The highlight of this armor was its ability to protect Stark in any Earth-based environment, as well as the fact that it can be recharged through simple household outlets and appliances. This armor only lasted a little less than two years, and before long Stark was back at the drawing board looking to improve it.

Ultimate Iron Man

First appearance: Ultimates #2 (2002)

When Marvel launched the Ultimate Universe in the early 2000s, it was designed to re-introduce the classic heroes of Marvel into the modern world. Every hero got a revamp for this line of comics, including Iron Man. And what would a relaunched universe be without an updated suit of armor? In the Ultimate Universe, Iron Man’s armor wasn’t a simple suit that Tony Stark carried around in the briefcase; instead, it was a mass of machinery that he got on with the help of an entire team of military personnel.

The suit has undergone some radical changes over the years, varying in size and shape, but the iteration from Ultimates 1 remains the most memorable. Unfortunately recent Ultimates issues have just made Iron Man look like a photocopy of the movie suit, which pretty much negates the point of the Ultimate Universe to begin with.

Thor Buster Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #64 (2003)

During Mike Grell’s criminally underrated Iron Man run, the character was part of a crossover event that saw Tony Stark trade blows with Thor after the God of Thunder tried to use force against the nation of Latveria. This caused serious problems, as its the country ruled by Doctor Doom.

Using an Asgardian power crystal that Thor had given him in the past, Stark created a suit powerful enough to take down the thunder god. It was a massive armor that was nearly indestructible, highlighted by its ability to handle the legendary Mjolnir. Though it only appeared in this one storyline, it's still one of Iron Man’s most impressive armor alterations.

Secretary of Defense Stark

First appearance: Iron Man #72 (2003)

In 2003, Tony Stark was appointed Secretary of Defense and decided to upgrade his armor to be able to do battle with the world's political climate. This is when his look really began to morph into the style that we see in the movies. Sleeker and more functional than ever, this armor was built more like a military jet than a traditional Iron Man suit.

One of the most interesting aspects of this suit is the fact that it was built of tiny plates that become magnetized in order to literally snap into place onto Stark’s body on their own. It was an impressive suit during a time when the character was finally clawing his way back up from the ‘90s abyss.

Extremis

First appearance: Invincible Iron Man #5 (2006)

When Iron Man needed another reboot in 2005, Marvel went with writer Warren Ellis and artist Adi Granov to give Ol’ Shell Head a modern makeover. The Extremis armor that Ellis and Granov came up with tied into the plot of their first storyline, which saw Tony Stark inject himself with the Extremis virus in order to fight the terrorist known as Mallen. The Extremis virus is basically a bio-tech super solider formula, and when Stark injected it into his body, it changed his body chemistry so that he was physically linked to his armor and computer systems around the globe, at all times.

This meant that Tony Stark was literally part of his armor and could control the Iron Man suit with a thought, or, as he explained it in the book, like it was another limb. His body was also capable of creating a metal sheath over his skin that acted like a conduit between his flesh and the armor. It’s a mouthful to try to accurately explain, but there's no doubt that it's still the most extensive overhaul the character has received.

Bleeding Edge Armor

First appearance: Invincible Iron Man #25 (2010)

Perhaps the most intriguing armor that Tony Stark has ever created, the Bleeding Edge was made of a technology that allowed the suit to be stored inside of his bone marrow. This made it possible to have his Iron Man armor with him at all times; all he needed to do was give a mental command and the suit would actually bleed out onto his body.

This suit continued the trend of blurring the line between Stark and his armor began. With all of the circuitry and armor built into his own body, he had effectively turned himself into a cyborg of sorts. Eventually the suit was compromised and he was forced to expel the tech from his bones, but for a while, this armor turned Tony Stark into the perfect piece of machinery.

Marvel NOW! Armor

First appearance: Iron Man #1 (2013)

In the latest of Iron Man’s countless comic book relaunches, this time for the Marvel NOW initiative, the company showcased a brand new armor for Tony Stark that replaced the classic red and gold color scheme with a new black and gold look. Aside from the colors, the shape of the suit and faceplate is almost an exact replica of the movie armor that Adi Granov designed, so fans both new and old should be able to find something to love about it.

The suit doesn’t differ greatly from past armors in terms of new technology, but it does have the ability to completely turn into a liquid that Tony Stark can mentally control to cover his body and suit him up. Also, BLACK AND YELLOW!