A is for Avengers
Even the world's most egocentric billionaire playboy philanthropist needs a team to hang around. When faced with a challenge too great for any one hero to overcome, Iron Man turns to Earth's Mightiest to get the job done. In Marvel's The Avengers, that group numbers only six plus assorted S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, but dozens and dozens of heroes have called themselves Avengers in the comics. Even though Tony faces one of his greatest challenges yet in the form of the Mandarin, don't expect him to be turning to his fellow Avengers for help. He's going to handle things with a little help from his armory.Honorable mentions: A.I.M., arc technology, Armor Wars, Afghanistan, alcoholism
B is for Bethany Cabe
Pepper Potts isn't the only redhead to catch Tony Stark's eye. Cabe is a security expert who has shared a long and tumultuous romantic history with Tony in the comics. Most recently, she was hired to discover the identity of a spy among the ranks of Stark Resilient. Cabe has yet to appear in the Iron Man movies, despite a rumor that Kate Mara would play her in Iron Man 2.Honorable mentions: Black Widow (see N), Beginning of the End, Blacklash, Blizzard; Bain, Sunset
C is for Civil War
Not to be confused with the terribly bloody War Between the States in the 19th Century, Civil War was a storyline that played out in 2006-07 in Marvel's various comics. The conflict revolved around the Superhuman Registration Act, a bill that required all heroes to reveal their identities to the government and submit to training. Iron Man was the chief proponent of the act, while Captain America led an underground resistance group. The final battle culminated in Cap's surrender (and subsequent assassination) and Iron Man's rise to power as Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. The movie universe is too young to be dealing with such a dark storyline, but don't be surprised if a future Avengers movie tackles the events of Civil War.Honorable mentions: Crimson Dynamo, Coldblood; Coulson, Phil
D is for
Demon in a Bottle is the name of one of the most popular and focused Iron Man comic book storylines ever. This nine-issue saga was by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. It dealt with Tony Stark's increasingly dangerous battle with alcoholism, a subject rarely broached in superhero comics in the 1970s. The movies have dealt with this subject matter to some extent, with Iron Man 2 showcasing the danger caused when a drunk Tony Stark puts on the armor. But Iron Man 3 reportedly won't focus directly on Tony's alcoholism, leaving it to future sequels to possibly explore the full consequences of his risky behavior.Honorable mentions: Dark Reign, Doomquest, Death Squad
E is for Extremis
Since the creation of Captain America, there have been numerous attempts to recreate the lost Super-Soldier Serum and usher in a new generation of superhuman warfare. Extremis is the brain child of Drs. Maya Hansen and Aldrich Killian. This technological virus hacks the body's repair center and allows for all manner of interesting transformations. In the case of villains like Mallen, Extremis allows for great strength and the ability to spit fire. In the comics, Tony infected himself with Extremis and gained the ability to interact with his armor and computer systems on a telepathic level. It remains to be seen if that transformation will take place in the movie. It also remains to be seen what exact role Dr. Hansen (Rebecca Hall) will play in Iron Man 3, and if she'll serve as either a love interest or enemy to Tony (or both).Honorable mentions: Ezekiel Stane, Eddie March; Ellis, Warren; Elon Musk
F is for Fraction, Matt
Matt Fraction is undoubtedly one of the most influential writers to have tackled Iron Man in the 21st Century. Alongside artist Salvador Larroca, Fraction penned the entirety of Invincible Iron Man from 2008 to 2012. That series introduced new villains like Ezekiel Stane and Justine Hammer, revamped others like the Mandarin, and presented a humbler, more psychologically troubled Tony Stark. During Fraction's run, Tony designed the ultra-advanced, liquid metal Bleeding Edge armor and renewed his struggle with alcholism. Fraction's comics have had a clear influence on the more recent Marvel movies, and the writer has served as part of Marvel's Brain Trust - comic creators who consult on the films.Honorable mentions: Fury, Nick; Fujikawa, Rumiko; Favreau, Jon; Force; Frost, Whitney
G is for Guardians
If the Avengers safeguard Earth from all manner of terrestrial threats, the Guardians of the Galaxy look to the stars. The team -- whose members include Earthman Peter Quill, sword-slinging warrior Gamora, gun-toting Rocket Raccoon, and Groot the talking tree -- is charged with pinning down various cosmic threats and putting a stop to them before they grow out of control. So what does any of that have to do with Iron Man? For one thing, the Guardians will be making their cinematic debut in August 2014, the final Marvel Studios movie in the build-up to Marvel's The Avengers 2. For another, Iron Man has donned his spare armor and recently joined the newest incarnation of the Guardians in the comics. This has fueled speculation that Iron Man will also play a role in the GotG movie next year.Honorable mentions: Granov, Adi; The Ghost, Gargantus; Gina Dyson; Gurdsman, Gwyneth Paltrow
H is for Happy Hogan
Tony Stark doesn't let many people into his life. Happy Hogan is one of the few exceptions. Happy is a former boxer-turned-driver, bodyguard and personal assistant to Tony. He also serves as moral support to his boss, being one of the few people in Tony's life who isn't afraid to talk to him plainly or call him out. Happy is played in all three Iron man films by Jon Favreau, who also directed the first two films. But despite dropping out of directing Iron Man 3, he agreed to reprise his role and keep Happy in Tony's life.Honorable mentions: Howard Hughes; Howard Stark; Heck, Don; Hays, Robert; Hydra; Hansen, Dr. Maya; heart
I is for Iron Patriot
Iron Patriot first debuted during Marvel's Dark Reign storyline. Having assumed control of S.H.I.E.L.D. and re-christened it H.A.M.M.E.R., one of Norman Osborn's first acts was to commandeer Tony Stark's armory. He painted the traditional red and gold armor in patriotic hues to further win the support of the American public. But in Iron Man 3, the Iron Patriot armor is a recolored War Machine suit worn by James Rhodes. It seems that the government wants their own patriotic superhero in the wake of the Avengers' first mission, and Rhodey is their go-to man. Whether he actually wants to be America's armored golden boy is another matter.Honorable mention: Illuminati
J is for Justin Hammer
Not all of Tony Stark's enemies wear gigantic suits of armor or magical rings. Some of them attack Tony in the boardroom. Justin Hammer is one of Tony's fiercest business rivals. Hammer hired the criminal Ivan Vanko to reverse engineer the Iron Man armor and provide Hammer Industries with its own fleet it could sell to the government at enormous profit. Hammer quickly learned that it's best not to make deals with insane criminals who look like Mickey Rourke. But he lived to scheme another day, and we may yet see him return in a future Iron Man sequel.Honorable mentions: Jarvis; Jenkins, Abner "Mach-V"
K is for Killian, Aldrich
Dr. Aldrich Killian is one of two lead designers of the Extremis process that causes so much trouble in Iron Man 3. Killian had a very minor role in the original Extremis comics' story, committing suicide after selling Extremis to a terrorist cell. But his role looks to be expanded at least somewhat in Iron Man 3, where he's played by Guy Pearce. It's a safe bet that Killian strikes up a bargain with Mandarin and his cultists to unleash Extremis upon the world.Honorable mentions: Kang the Conqueror, Killer Shrike; Kingsley, Sir Ben
L is for Lee, Stan
Anyone who's read a Marvel comic or watched a Marvel movie knows the name Stan Lee. Lee has co-created many of Marvel's most iconic characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, Hulk, and the Fantastic Four. And yes, that list includes Iron Man. Lee's bubbly personality has made him a popular fixture in the comics community, even though most of his comic book output in recent years has been limited to the Amazing Spider-Man newspaper strip. Lee has played a cameo role in all of Marvel Studios' films save Punisher: War Zone. He was mistaken by Tony Stark for Hugh Hefner in the first Iron Man and Larry King in the sequel. Will he again be the victim of mistaken identity in Iron Man 3?Honorable mentions: Layton, Bob; Lieber, Larry; Life Model Decoy, Living Laser
M is for Mandarin
Mandarin is one of Iron Man's most iconic recurring foes, but he took his sweet time appearing in the movies. In the comics, Mandarin is the son of an English aristocrat and a Chinese businessman who discovered a fallen spacecraft that contained ten rings of immense power. He has frequently targeted Iron Man and other fixtures of Western capitalist society. In Iron Man 3, Mandarin is a terrorist leader of ambiguous origin who may or may not actually have magical rings. Mandarin's presence was first teased in the original Iron Man, which made references to the Ten Rings. Further references were dropped in Iron Man 2, and the villain finally appears in the flesh now. Though his tattoos suggest he has a fascination with Captain America, Mandarin clearly has no love for Tony Stark.Honorable mentions: Marvel; MODOK; Michelinie, David; Maggia; Mandroids; Moses Magnum; Madame Masque; Mark Scarlotti; Maya Hansen (see E)
N is for Natasha Romanov
Natasha Romanov is the real name of S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Black Widow. Like Iron Man, she was originally created by writers Stan Lee and artist Don Heck in the pages of Tales of Suspense. In the comics, she was an elite Russian spy who defected to America and has frequently served as an Avenger as well as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. How much of that origin holds true for the movies has never been made clear. In addition to her years of intense training and conditioning, Widow's primary weapons are her twin gauntlets that fire poison darts. Scarlett Johansson first portrayed Natasha in Iron Man 2. She won't be returning in Iron Man 3, but will play a role in next spring's Captain America: The Winter Soldier.O is for Obadiah Stane
Obadiah Stane was a partner of both Howard and Tony Stark for many years, but his villainous side came out in the first Iron Man movie when he attempted to have Tony killed and take over the company. When Tony survived his ordeal in Afghanistan, Obadiah became obsessed with replicating the technology that makes Iron Man possible. That culminated in the big battle between Iron Man and iron Monger, resulting in Stane's death. We don't picture Stane returning to plague Tony again in these movies, but it's possible a future sequel could introduce Stane's even smarter and more ruthless son, Ezekiel.Honorable mentions: Osborn, Norman; Ozzy Osbourne
P is for Pepper Potts
Pepper Potts is Tony Stark's faithful secretary/business partner and sometimes lover, and perhaps the only reason Stark Industries has run smooth all these years. Gwyneth Paltrow returns to the role for a fourth time in Iron Man 3. Her romantic relationship with Tony remains in play, though the hero is now forced to deal with his near-death experience in The Avengers and how he can best protect the woman he loves. According to Paltrow, that includes suiting up in her own armor and joining the fight. Thank you, Miss Potts.Honorable mention: Project: Pegasus
Q is for Quicksilver
Quicksilver is a mutant with the power of supersonic speed. He's also the son of Magneto, which has cast a pretty heavy shadow over his adult life. He and his sister Scarlet Witch started out as members of Magneto's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, until Iron Man convinced him to give the Avengers a try. It's been a rocky road to public acceptance ever since. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch have yet to appear in either Marvel's cinematic universe or Fox's X-Men films. Whether Marvel Studios is even allowed to use the character and to what extent is still very much the question.Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. is the actor who has become synonymous with Tony Stark in recent years. Downey plays Stark in all three Iron Man films, as well as The Avengers and The Incredible Hulk. His charismatic, humorous take on the billionaire superhero is so popular that it now informs how Stark is handled in every form of media. Downey's contract with Marvel Studios concludes with Iron Man 3, leaving fans to wonder if he'll reprise the role in Marvel's The Avengers 2 and future Iron Man sequels. For many, it's tough to imagine another actor in the role.Honorable mentions: Rescue, repulsors, Rumiko Fujikawa, Roxxon Oil
S is for Stark
The Stark family are a fixture of Marvel's cinematic universe. Of course there's Tony Stark, billionaire-turned-superhero and inventor of the world's most advanced battle-suit. But there's also his father, Howard Stark. Howard built Stark Industries as a weapons manufacturer. He featured prominently in both Iron Man 2 and Captain America: The First Avenger, designing Cap's trademark vibranium shield and combat suit. The elder Stark wished nothing more than to see his son achieve his own destiny, and his parting gift to Tony was the formula for a new element that both saved his life and will allow for incredible new inventions. Another Stark, Howard's wife Maria, is named in the charity foundation that financially supports the Avengers.Honorable mentions: S.H.I.E.L.D., Shane Black; Spymaster; Scarlotti, Mark
T is for Tales of Suspense #39
Iron Man made his debut way back in 1963's Tales of Suspense #39, in a story written by Stan Lee and Larry Lieber and drawn by Don Heck. This issue presented the original version of Iron Man's origin story, where Tony Stark was injured, imprisoned in a Vietnam POW camp and forced to design a suit of armor. It's an origin that has been retold and updated any times over the years, but the basics remain the same. Tony's nemesis in this first issue wasn't the Ten Rings, but Communist leader Wong-Chu. Tales of Suspense eventually changed its name to Iron Man and dropped the anthology format to focus solely on the Armored Avenger.Honorable mentions: Ten Rings, Titanium Man; Technovore
U is for U.S. Government
In both the comics and the movies, Tony Stark has had a fairly rocky relationship with the U.S. government. He refuses to sell his Iron Man technology to any outside party, and has often taken extreme, politically dangerous measures to ensure that tech doesn't fall into the wrong hands. On the other hand, Tony has often sided with the government, serving both as Secretary of State and as the head of the 50-State Initiative. In Iron Man 3, the government is still reeling from the aftermath of the Chitauri invasion and is redoubling its efforts to produce its own sanctioned heroes like Iron Patriot.Honorable mentions: Ultron, Ultimo, Unicorn
V is for Vanko
Vanko is the surname of Iron Man 2 villain Whiplash. Vanko's father, Anton, was a partner of Howard Stark and helped design the experimental arc reactor that powers both Stark Industries and the Iron Man armor. The younger Vanko holds Tony accountable for his family's woes and designed his own arc-powered battle-suit and energy whips. Iron Man clashed with Vanko twice in the second movie, eventually putting him down for good with the help of War Machine. This take on Whiplash also shares similarities with the comic book villain Crimson Dynamo.Honorable mentions: Vietnam; The Vault
W is for War Machine
Jim Rhodes has been a major player in the Iron Man comics for decades, even taking over the mantle of Iron Man for a time. But he gained his own identity in Iron Man #282, when he donned the War Machine armor. This black and silver suit is designed with offensive power in mind. In Iron Man 2, the first War Machine armor was reverse engineered by military technicians from the Iron Man Mark II armor. A newer model appears in Iron Man 3, and aside from the color scheme, it looks to be identical to the Iron Patriot armor that Rhodey also wears. Rhodes was played by Terrence Howard in Iron Man and Don Cheadle in Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3.Honorable mentions: Whiplash, Whitney "Madame Masque" Frost
X is for XLII
If you're not fond of the Roman numeric system, XLII stands for 42. Tony Stark has been very busy designing new Iron Man armors since the events of The Avengers. The Mark XLII improves upon the remote summoning technology of the Mark VII, allowing Tony to summon each individual piece on a whim. This suit is inspired by the Extremis armor in the comics, offering a much greater degree of mobility and functionality than any previous suit. But whether the Extremis process is actually used in the design of the Mark XLII remains to be seen. As for the other 34 armors in between the Marks VII and XLII, they'll be appearing in the movie as well.Honorable mentions: X-O Manowar; Xavier, Charles
Y is for Yinsen
Ho Yinsen is a gifted scientist who finds himself a fellow captive of Tony Stark when both are kidnapped by the Ten Rings. Yinsen cobbled together the magnetic harness that prevented Tony's shrapnel wounds from killing him. Together, the two constructed the Iron Man Mark I armor. Tony escaped with his life, but only because Yinsen sacrificed his own to buy his friend the necessary time. It was a harsh lesson that profoundly shaped the formerly selfish billionaire. We don't expect to see more of Shaun Toub's Yinsen in the movies, but it's always possible a sequel will introduce his son, who in the comics targeted Tony for revenge.Z is for Zzaxx
Zzaxx is a sentient creature composed of pure electricity. It has the ability to absorb and channel an electric current, growing stronger the more it absorbs. Zzaxx is primarily an enemy of Hulk, though it's battled everyone from Spider-Man to Luke Cage over the years. The premise of the upcoming direct-to-DVD animated film Iron Man & Hulk: Heroes United, sees the two heroes team up to battle Zzaxx after the villain absorbs the power grid of the entire Eastern seaboard.Honorable mention: Zodiac